British ColumbiaThe Vancouver Park Board has approved a series of fee increases in its 2026 budgets following a tense meeting Monday night, with commissioners split over how the mayor’s push for a zero per cent property tax increase is shaping the city’s parks and recreation system.Fees will jump on most park board programs and services by an average of 5% next year CBC News · Posted: Nov 25, 2025 1:59 PM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.People visit the VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver on May 1, 2020. VanDusen, Bloedel Conservatory and the Celebration Pavilion in Queen Elizabeth Park are among attractions facing fee increases next year. (Ben Nelms/CBC)The Vancouver Park Board has approved a series of fee increases following a tense meeting Monday night, with commissioners split over how Mayor Ken Sim’s push for a zero per cent property tax increase is shaping the city’s parks and recreation system.The decision means most park board program and service fees will rise next year by an average of about five per cent. That includes on swimming lessons, skate rentals and admissions to public golf courses, attractions and parks, among other things. Parking fees will also go up by two per cent.Staff say the changes are needed to help the park board find $11 million in new revenue opportunities and cost savings to meet Sim’s “zero means zero” directive for 2026, which requires no increase to the city’s property tax rate.Before the vote, commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky introduced an amendment calling on city council to provide $800,000 in additional operating funding so that community centre admissions, passes, lessons, programs and permits could remain steady at current rates.Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky, along with commissioners Tom Digby and Scott Jensen, voted against the fee increases. (Ethan Cairns/CBC)The three ABC Vancouver commissioners voted against the amendment but backed the service fee increase. “We are in tough times,” commissioner Jas Virdi said while addressing the board. “We need to be able to find savings. Provincial and federal governments are finding savings, we need to do our part.”Opponents of the fee increase — commissioners Bastyovanszky, Scott Jensen, and Tom Digby — said voting for the hikes contradicted what residents expect from the park system.“People who pay for this expect the money is going to go back into the park systems, making our community centres, our arenas better,” Digby said. “But the city is taking that money out of the park board and putting it into other priorities of the city.”Bastyovanszky argued that core services like children’s swimming lessons and recreation programs shouldn’t be treated as line items to trim.“[These] services aren’t efficiencies to be found, they are core public service,” he said. “I will not support a motion that protects a slogan,” he added, talking about Sim’s “zero means zero” strategy. The commissioner also said increased fees could push vulnerable youth away from recreation opportunities.Commissioner Angela Haer pointed out that the city’s Leisure Access Program — which provides free and reduced-cost access for low-income residents — remains in place to protect families.The increases will affect fees for skate rentals, swimming lessons, and admission to parks and golf courses at McCleery, Fraserview and Langara, among other things. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)Haer, along with ABC commissioners Marie-Claire Howard and Jas Virdi and Independent commissioner Laura Christensen, backed the fee hike, which was ultimately passed by the board.According to staff, the recommended fee changes are expected to generate roughly $1.9 million of revenue in 2026. The board plans to meet the remainder of its $11-million savings target through parking fees, updated rental and lease agreements and reviewing administrative processes, among other things.Commissioners also approved the park board’s $191.9-million operating budget and $126.4-million capital expenditure budget for 2026. Amendments to the budget added Monday ask city council for $1.1 million to support urban forestry work, including stump removal and restoring the urban tree canopy. It also asks for $1.5 million to improve park and sports-field maintenance during Vancouver’s FIFA 2026 hosting year. A third amendment directs staff to begin reporting quarterly on staffing changes, starting next year.The meeting unfolded against long-running friction between the park board and city hall. Nearly two years ago, Vancouver Mayor Sim announced he wanted to get rid of the separately elected board that oversees the city’s parks and recreation services, including community centres, to increase decision making efficiency and save the city money.WATCH | Vancouver’s budget debate kicks off:Vancouver starts 2026 budget debateVancouver’s 2026 budget debate began Wednesday — but it could take a while. More than 600 members of the public signed up to speak on what will be Mayor Ken Sim’s final budget before next year’s election. Justin McElroy breaks down what’s in it — and why it’s attracted so much attention. To do so, Vancouver would need the province to change the city’s governing document, the Vancouver Charter, which enshrines the need for the elected park board.But last month, the province terminated any progress on a provincial bill that was meant to force the city to have residents vote on dissolving its park board, saying the city has more “clarifying” work to do with First Nations.The park board’s approved budgets now head to Vancouver city council for consideration.Councillors are set to vote on the city’s controversial 2026 budget, which has generated pushback, on Tuesday. With files from Shaurya Kshatri
Vancouver Park Board hikes fees amid pressure to meet Sims budget plan
