Park Board to rethink $4.25 per hour parking rate hike at Spanish Banks Beach | Daily Hive

Vancouver Park Board to consider a rethink of this summer's parking rate hike at Spanish Banks Beach, reaching $4.25 per hour

One of several parking lots at Spanish Banks Beach. (Google Maps)

A renewed debate over beach pay public parking costs is unfolding at the Vancouver Park Board, as two commissioners bring forward overlapping — but notably different — member motions aimed at addressing rising parking rates at Spanish Banks Beach and the nearby beaches of Jericho and Locarno.

Both motions on rethinking the rates are scheduled to be deliberated by the commissioners in a public meeting next week.

At the centre of the issue is a sharp increase in parking rates that has sparked concern about affordability and access to some of Vancouver’s most popular waterfront destinations in West Point Grey.

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ABC commissioner Angela Haer is proposing a sweeping review of parking policies across all three beaches. Her motion frames the issue as one of equity and accessibility, noting that these parks are widely used by “Vancouver residents, families, seniors, people with disabilities, volunteers, community organizations, water-sport users, and visitors.”

Haer’s proposal highlights the scale of recent price hikes, stating that the increase at Spanish Banks Beach from $1.50 per hour to $4.25 represents a jump of 183 per cent. The various parking lots at this beach have a combined total capacity of 744 vehicle parking stalls.

Pay parking at Spanish Banks Beach was approved by the current makeup of Park Board commissioners.

After the scheme was rejected in 2018 due to controversy, pay parking at Spanish Banks Beach’s parking lots was first introduced in Summer 2024 as a pilot project, with the rates starting at $1.00 per hour during the peak season. It was then made permanent in 2025, with the rate increased to $1.50.

The rationale two years ago for implementing pay parking at the last beach in Vancouver without it was to increase revenue for the Park Board and better manage parking capacity. It was also suggested then that any future increases would be kept at a minimum, maintaining a relatively nominal rate. At the same time, curbside pay parking was also introduced by the City of Vancouver on adjacent streets.

Rather than focusing solely on Spanish Banks Beach, Haer’s motion calls for a system-wide reassessment. It asks Park staff to “conduct an urgent review” of the fees at the parking lots of all three beaches, and to explore options to reduce or eliminate pay public parking fees altogether. Furthermore, she is suggesting a “freeze” of any further parking rate increases at these beaches.

In addition to longer-term solutions, Haer is pushing for immediate relief measures, including free or discounted parking for specific groups such as seniors, people with disabilities, and families. She also suggests non-fee strategies — like time limits, better signage, and improved coordination with TransLink’s bus services — to manage demand.

Meanwhile, Green commissioner Tom Digby is taking a narrower, more immediate approach focused specifically on Spanish Banks Beach.

His motion similarly acknowledges the rapid escalation in fees at the municipal government’s westernmost beach, noting that parking was free up to 2023 — before the initial rates were implemented in 2024, now jumping to $4.25 per hour ahead of the 2026 peak season.

Digby’s proposal calls for a direct rollback, asking Park Board staff to immediately change the rates at Spanish Banks to $3.00 per hor or lower for the Summer 2026 period.

He also argues that pricing should be more consistent with nearby lots, pointing out that parking at Locarno Beach remains significantly cheaper. His motion states that “the pricing at Spanish Banks bear a closer relation to the city charged parking rates at Locarno Beach.”

In addition, Digby suggests improving transportation options by encouraging car-share access, directing Park Board staff to ask Evo Car Share about expanding their services in the area.

Haer’s proposal treats the problem as part of a larger system affecting multiple beaches and user groups, with the potential for sweeping structural changes. Her motion asks Park Board staff to report back before the end of May 2026, outlining potential parking affordability and accessibility measures for implementation in time for this summer season. Digby’s motion, by contrast, focuses on immediate price relief at a single location for the upcoming summer.

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