Vancouver Park Board approves World Cup practice field construction at 2 neighbourhood parks
Commissioners, residents raise concerns but training sites to go ahead at Memorial South and Killarney parks
Vancouver Park Board commissioners voted Monday to proceed with the construction of soccer practice facilities at two city parks ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite concerns from among the board and from some residents.
B.C. Place Stadium is set to host seven games as part of the continent-wide tournament in the summer of 2026, at an estimated cost of around $581 million.
As part of preparations for the massive event, host cities have been tasked with providing training sites that comply with certain FIFA guidelines — which stipulate the facilities have to include natural grass, have privacy and a lack of sightlines.
That's why a motion went before park board commissioners on Monday night asking for construction work to start on Memorial South and Killarney parks in South Vancouver, with staff saying the motion was very time sensitive and not approving it would lead to legal ramifications with FIFA.
But the South Vancouver community was in uproar over the construction, particularly around Memorial South Park on Ross Street, with residents saying they'll lose a valuable walking track and green space for over two years.
Residents who spoke at Monday's meeting were particularly incensed at what they perceived to be a lack of consultation on the issue, with the park board also hearing Monday that confidentiality requirements meant some of the legal contracts were signed back in March 2022 — before the current commissioners were even elected.
"To hear you say that this was a done deal two years ago, I don't feel like I live in a democracy at this point," said Cindy Heinrichs, from the Friends of Memorial South group. "I feel like, why are we here?"
Park board staff said the motion involved consultation with residents, including an information session, and that the two sites were identified after an analysis of options throughout the city.
"While the FIFA site selection process involved certain confidentiality requirements, we will continue to share timely updates and information with the community as our work moves forward," reads an information bulletin from the city on the issue, which also promises that any trees felled as part of construction will be replaced.
That wasn't much comfort to more than a dozen residents who spoke out in opposition to the motion, with some citing the loss of a walking track in Memorial South Park as painful.
"To my mind, that track is the most important part of that park," Heinrichs said.
The motion was approved on Monday and portions of the two parks will be closed from January 2025 until the fall of 2026.
Commissioners push for alternatives
Given the legal ramifications the park board would have faced had the motion failed, many commissioners said they only voted it through begrudgingly — with some abstaining from the vote to start construction on Memorial South Park.
"I feel that the the obligations that we have in front of us are unfortunate," said commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky. "I feel like my hand is being forced."
Commissioner Laura Christensen said she only learned recently that the funding provided by the City of Vancouver and the province would cover only the bare minimum of construction, and not facilities that could eventually be of use to the community.
Commissioner Tom Digby pressed city staff at the meeting for alternatives, pointing to a training facility at the University of B.C. that is used by the Canada men's national team and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
"We're putting together what I'm concerned is going to be seen as a joke facility," he told the meeting. "It's a little neighbourhood park in a residential area. Every other city is using major facilities which have already been recognized as top quality fields."
He said the UBC facility "solves almost all the concerns that we've heard tonight."
Commissioners passed amendments to ensure trees won't be felled until the UBC option is explored, as well as amendments to prioritize the parks in future capital plans beyond 2026.
With the motion passed, construction is set to start on Jan. 2.
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