Park Board's proposed design for English Bay Beach includes new islands

Artistic renderings of Habitat Islands, intertidal areas, and a new plaza and bathhouse building at English Bay Beach in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. (City of Vancouver)

After coming up with three varying design concepts to redesign downtown Vancouver’s West End waterfront earlier this year, the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Park Board have come back with a proposed draft concept for further public consideration.

This planning exercise spans 95 acres of the waterfront, encompassing English Bay Beach, Sunset Beach, the adjacent parks to the beach areas, and the Beach Avenue roadway. The intent is to implement a new design for the area over decades to account for rising sea levels, new and improved amenities and features to account for growing population and tourism, and the establishment of more event-friendly spaces.

The most drastic proposed change is the introduction of two sizeable “Habitat Islands” off the shore of the western end of English Bay, near the foot of Chilco Street. This is intended to “address wave-induced flooding and make spaces for wildlife.” Such islands would be similar to “Habitat Island” built in eastern False Creek next to the Olympic Village.

You might also like:

The sprawling sandy areas of English Bay Beach would be raised and extended to help address the future rise in sea levels.

Existing condition:

west end waterfront area vancouver park board

West End waterfront master plan area. (Vancouver Park Board)

Proposed future condition:

Proposed design changes in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. Click on the image for an expanded version. (City of Vancouver)

Artistic rendering of “Habitat Islands” and intertidal areas in English Bay Beach in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. (City of Vancouver)

Artistic rendering of the plaza and new bathhouse building in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. (City of Vancouver)

Artistic rendering of the conversion of the existing bathhouse building into new uses in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. (City of Vancouver)

There would be a new, larger plaza-like pedestrian pathway, with a meandering design that wraps around the inner edge of the beach — replacing the existing narrow strip of asphalt pathway.

This includes providing English Bay with a new bathhouse building with a welcome centre, cafe, washrooms, changerooms, and a splash pad, with the existing bathhouse converted into a garden with more change rooms, washrooms, and lifeguard space.

At the foot of Cardero Street, a salt marsh and intertidal habitat will be created, with the existing seawall pathway rerouted slightly away from the water’s edge. Other features include elevated boardwalks over intertidal areas, as well as platforms and terraced seating.

Artistic rendering of “headlands” steps at water’s edge in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. (City of Vancouver)

Artistic rendering of sports courts at Sunset Beach Park in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. (City of Vancouver)

Artistic rendering of the covered skate plaza at Sunset Beach Park in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. (City of Vancouver)

Over at Sunset Beach Park, the new design calls for an amphitheatre with seating areas, a festival lawn, and a cafe, along with a children’s play area with a new public washroom, a covered skate park, a roller plaza, flexible hard surfaces for a range of sports such as roller hockey, and an expanded dog park at water’s edge.

Within the eastern half of Sunset Beach Park, a new segment of the Seaside Greenway would be created, creating a meandering pathway for pedestrians and cyclists over green space and possibly an elevated looping pathway over water. There could also be a new boat house in front of the Vancouver Aquatic Centre for boat storage, food and beverage, and a ferry dock for Aquabus and False Creek Ferries.

The existing parking lot under the north end of Burrard Street Bridge would be redesigned to create more space for food and culture gardens, but without reducing parking capacity.

As for changes to Beach Avenue, there would be relatively minimal changes to the design of the perimeter roadway for the downtown Vancouver peninsula — apart from the permanent closure of the short segment of Morton Avenue between Beach Avenue and Denman Street to enable an expansion of Morton Park (home of the A-maze-ing Laughter statues), and the re-establishment of Beach Avenue into a two-way street west of Denman Street.

The transportation plan also contemplates rerouting TransLink’s No. 23 bus route onto Pacific Street east of Jervis Street in both directions, and the extension of the bus route deeper into the West End neighbourhood west of Denman Street along Beach Avenue.

Pedestrian and cyclist considerations in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. Click on the image for an expanded version. (City of Vancouver)

Vehicle access and public transit considerations in the draft West End Waterfront Plan. Click on the image for an expanded version. (City of Vancouver)

An online survey on the proposed draft design is now open through November 26, 2023. In Spring 2024, Park Board commissioners and City Council will review the draft West End Waterfront Plan for approval.

Currently, there is no funding in existing capital budgets that is specifically set aside for the construction required to implement the various major changes.

In September 2020, the Park Board approved a contract award to Vancouver-based landscape architectural firm PFS Studio and Oslo-based Snohetta to perform master planning and design work.

Last month, City Council approved a $13 million contract to Acton Ostry Architects to conduct design and planning work and manage the construction project for the $140 million new replacement and expanded Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Construction on the redevelopment at the eastern end of Sunset Beach Park is expected to begin in 2026.

The intertidal Habitat Island next to the Olympic Village in eastern False Creek. (Vancouver Park Board)

You might also like: