Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Recommended Budget Overview

We will focus on completing priority capital projects to enhance our community’s parks and facilities. Key initiatives include:

• Community Parks Development: Work on Oakbrook, Shaffer, Bagley, and the Vancouver Innovation Center parks will be prioritized to increase access to green spaces.
• Neighborhood Parks Improvements: Ongoing playground replacements in Fruit Valley and other neighborhood parks to ensure safe and enjoyable play areas for children.
• Fourth Plain for All Park Enhancements: Upgrades at The Downs and Evergreen to make these parks more accessible and welcoming to everyone.
• Economic Prosperity and Housing Projects: Development of the Waterfront Gateway Plaza and The Heights Grand Loop and Plaza to support economic growth and community engagement.
• Other Acquisitions: Continuing to identify and acquire land that supports community needs.
• Trails Program Expansion: Enhancing our trails program to improve connectivity and outdoor experiences.

To effectively achieve these goals, the recommended budget includes:

• Increasing Staff Capacity: We are committed to adding staff to ensure successful project execution while maintaining all existing positions.
• Reclassifying a Trails Planning Position: This will help us better focus on the planning and development of our trails.
• Adding Two Construction Management Positions: These new roles will align with the citywide initiative to advance capital projects more efficiently.

Community Center Operations

• Firstenburg and Marshall community centers will maintain current operating hours.
• Current schedules and program levels will be maintained for pools and fitness areas.
• Reduced customer service support may result in longer wait times for in-person, phone, and email inquiries. With limited staff, some registration processes and transactions may not be available during all open hours at the Center.

Impacted Programs

• Adult sports, adult dance classes, teen late nights, teen camps, Forever Young hikes, and open climbs at Firstenburg will face significant changes.
• Potential outcomes include program cuts, shifting to fee-based or contracted services, or in some cases, program elimination.
• Program staff are continuing to review options within the budget framework to make informed decisions about impacted programs. More details will be available after the budget is adopted on Nov. 18.

Transportation Changes

• Elimination of department vans will discontinue transportation for program participants.
• Tuesday van hikes for the Forever Young Hike program will be canceled; however, trailhead meet-up hikes will continue.

To ensure we continue to serve our community effectively, we are focused on the following key initiatives:

• Maintain Core Services: We will implement strategic reductions to preserve essential services while continuing to support special events and volunteer programs that enrich our community.
• Vancouver Arts Hub Development: Complete the design process for the Vancouver Arts Hub, a vital space for creativity and collaboration in our community.
• New Arts and Culture Sales Tax: We plan to adopt a new sales tax dedicated to funding arts and culture initiatives in Vancouver, helping to sustain and enhance our vibrant arts scene.
• Increase Staff Capacity: We will introduce a new role to support the review and management of permitted events, ensuring they align with our community’s needs and standards.