Media Release - Preliminary Parks Master Plan Presented
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
West Vancouver, BC: The Parks Master Plan Working Group has developed a preliminary draft of West Vancouver’s Parks Master Plan. The previous Parks Master Plan was developed in 1977. When completed, the Parks Master Plan (PMP) will represent a significant milestone in a major community effort to define the future of West Vancouver’s parks and how they contribute to the District’s quality of life.
Mayor of West Vancouver Pamela Goldsmith-Jones says, "This is very important work on behalf of everyone in West Vancouver. The working group is laying out the value of our parks’ heritage and our responsibility into the future and Council is very grateful."
Community consultation and engagement is a key component in the creation of the PMP, with the entire project taking a values-based approach to parks planning. The Working Group, which is comprised of nine community members, hosted four community input forums plus a phone survey to more than 500 West Vancouver residents. Together the community has communicated their expectations for the future of their parks and green spaces and the working group has developed nine core values which reflect the community’s feedback.
“Thanks to the support of the community and the specialized expertise of the Working Group, we were able to gather and consider meaningful and informed input from residents, allowing us to create this draft Plan that defines the vision for the future of parks in West Vancouver,” says Lori Williams, co-chair of the Parks Master Plan Working Group.
“We hope this Plan will be used by the District as a management tool to inform policies, prioritize funding opportunities and assess environmental protection in West Vancouver’s parks and natural spaces," says Rebecca Buchanan, co-chair of the PMP Working Group.
The PMP, when endorsed by Council, will set the direction for the management, protection, enhancement of and community engagement within West Vancouver’s parks and open spaces. The Plan is currently in draft form and will be brought back to the community for further consultation and review to ensure it is a clear and meaningful plan that accurately reflects the community’s values and priorities. Completion and presentation to Council of final Parks Master Plan will occur in 2012.
Click here to view the full preliminary draft of the Parks Master Plan.
About the Parks Master Plan Working Group
Working with specialized expertise, members of the Parks Master Plan Working Group, with their intimate knowledge of the community, assist in the development of a viable Parks Master Plan that is sensitive to the uniqueness of West Vancouver and purposeful in achieving the identified objectives.
About the District of West Vancouver
The District of West Vancouver is the local government led by Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones and Council. Home to more than 44,000 residents, West Vancouver is a local government which strives to "inspire excellence and lead by example". Our Vision and Mission guide us to pursue our treasured quality of life and will be the measure of our success as a community. West Vancouver is a community built on innovation, a strong spirit of personal civic commitment and with a deep value for relationships.
Media Contact
Jessica Delaney
Director of Communications
Cell: 604-360-8131
Direct: 604-925-4736