Beat the heat at Vancouver beaches, parks, and community centres

July 25 2018

 “We continue to look for ways to help people stay cool during this spell of heat and we hope that people will take advantage of the extended operating hours at pools and water parks,” said Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon

 

The Vancouver Park Board is offering more ways for residents and visitors to cool off during this heat wave.

Second Beach, New Brighton, Maple Grove, and Hillcrest outdoor pools will open an hour earlier at 9am. Kitsilano Pool already opens at 7am.

Extended hours at all spray parks and outdoor pools 

 

Hours of operation at 14 water parks will be extended from 9am to 10pm. Staff are currently in the process of adjusting timers at each water park and the new hours should be in effect by the end of the day today. Normally the water parks operate daily from 10am to 8pm.

Last year, all water parks were modified to push button to conserve water. Each push of the button provides a five-minute cool down.

Park Board staff will review the hours of operation at pools and water parks when this heat wave has ended.

“We continue to look for ways to help people stay cool during this spell of intense heat and we hope that residents and visitors will be able to take advantage of the extended operating hours at pools and water parks,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon.

“We’ve also installed misting stations at four parks—And Livingston, Emery Barnes, Oppenheimer, and Thornton—and activated cooling centres at Britannia, Hillcrest, Kerrisdale, Mount Pleasant, Ray-Cam, Roundhouse, and West End community centres.”

In an effort to ensure that pools and life-guarded beaches are accessible to everyone, the Park Board has purchased 10 water wheelchairs. They are available on a first come first served basis at no charge at beaches and pools across Vancouver. Book a water wheelchairs can be booked in advance.

Accessible beaches

 

Beach mats or Mobi-Mats have also been installed at Kits Beach and English Bay for people with walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters.

Park Rangers are increasing patrols and looking out for people showing signs of heat-related illness, as well as distributing maps with cooling centre locations.

And dogs need to stay cool, too. The following off-leash parks have access to water, but hours vary:

• New Brighton Park
• Crab Park at Portside
• John Hendry Dog Park
• Sunset Beach
• Devonian Harbour
• Hadden Park
• Spanish Banks

 

Cooling centres, more water fountains, and misting stations

 

The City of Vancouver is also taking additional measures to help people stay cool in the heat, including installing additional temporary water fountains, activating community centres and libraries as cooling centres, and providing increased support to vulnerable residents in non-market housing and the Downtown Eastside.