September 18 2020
Stanley Park will reopen to full vehicle access and cyclists will return to the seawall on Saturday, September 26, after more than 5 months of modified access due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
The park was closed to all vehicle traffic on April 8, other than first responders and essential business partners, in response to the need for greater physical distancing in busy areas such as the seawall, and amid public requests for greater access to essential recreational space for cycling and walking during the early phase of the pandemic.
Park Drive reopened to one lane of vehicle traffic on June 22, following the province’s easing of restrictions and after businesses in the park began reopening. The seawall remained closed to cyclists to allow pedestrians greater space during the busy summer months when pedestrian and cyclist traffic in the park reached an all-time high.
Park temporarily closed starting 8pm, Sep 25
Removal of the temporary Traffic Management Plan (TMP) will begin at 8 pm on Friday, September 25 and will continue through the night. The park will be temporarily closed during that time, to ensure the safety of staff as they work to remove equipment, traffic cones, and signage to restore the park to pre-COVID traffic access.
700 m of Park Drive to remain closed
Two lanes of vehicle traffic will be accessible the following morning, with the exception of 700 m of Park Drive between Beach Avenue and Lagoon Drive, where current traffic patterns will remain in place to facilitate the City’s Making Streets for People program dedicating part of Beach Avenue to cyclists.
Full vehicle access to Stanley Park will be available at the causeway entrances and all parking will be fully reopened with the exception of the parking near Ceperley Meadows.
Once full vehicle access resumes and cyclists return to the seawall, pedestrians and cyclists will be reminded to be cognizant of physical distancing to ensure all users have the space they need to recreate safely. The Park Board will continue to monitor and collect data within Stanley Park.
Survey on park access open until Sep 20
The Park Board is currently conducting a comprehensive public engagement survey External website, opens in new tab to understand how Vancouverites want to access the park in the future.
The survey, which is accessible to everyone, closes on Sunday, September 20 and has had more than 10,500 respondents to date.
Phased approach to reopening and recovery
The Park Board is taking a thoughtful and phased reopening and recovery approach in alignment with BC’s Restart Plan External website, opens in new tab, and in consultation with various government and non-government agencies and partners.
Since May, the Park Board has reopened golf courses, VanDusen Botanical Garden, Bloedel Conservatory, tennis and pickleball courts, pitch & putts, skate parks, synthetic sports fields, basketball and volleyball courts, disc golf, roller hockey, multisport courts, playgrounds, spray parks, outdoor pools, day camps, childcare services, 24 community centres, four indoor pools, and some fitness centres.
The Park Board continues to review the feasibility of reopening other facilities and services and will make adjustments to its operations based on the latest information provided by VCH, the Provincial Health Officer, and industry partners.
For more information about the status of services and facilities impacted by COVID-19, please visit: vancouver.ca/ParkBoardRestart
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