Marpole residents seek more park space as development booms

Marpole’s community plan focuses on new housing developments, but residents want more park spaces.

Over the last two years, city planners have worked with residents, businesses and other stakeholders to create a plan that will help Marpole to meet the growing demands of the population. Throughout the process residents asked for new parks, but despite their push there are few concrete plans for parks in the draft, says one resident.

“In my view, there has been no genuine Marpole community plan process,” said Don Larson, a lifelong Marpole resident.

“The first Marpole plan and all revisions since have been top down, developer driven. There have been 80 meetings but the people have really not been heard,” he said.

More parks in current draft of plan

The current draft seeks to renew a few of Marpole’s older parks and to create a new park on the Pearson Dogwood lands.

“We set out to deliver on council priorities and address local issues in the community,” said Lil Ronalds, Vancouver city planner.

The proposed draft focuses primarily on increasing population while minimizing change to the neighbourhood.

“Eighty-five per cent of the existing single family zone areas will remain unchanged.” said Ronalds. “This means focusing growth along major streets where transit and services are available.”

The majority of the growth will take place near the proposed underground Canada Line station at 57th Avenue and Cambie Street, she said.

Housing needed as more move into community

According to the plan, an increase of housing options in the area as well as potential residential use of the Pearson Dogwood lands will accommodate community growth as Marpole’s current population of 24,000 is expected to grow to 36,500 by 2041. Jobs are also expected to increase from 11,800 to 21,300 by the same time.

With the arrival of more people, the plan aims to provide new and improved community amenities.

Reported by Leslie Kam