Main & 7th Park

The Park Board Commissioners unanimously approved the revised concept on May 29, 2023. We are now moving into detailed design with anticipated construction date in early 2024. For more information of the concept design, please see below:

• Board Report
• Board Presentation
  
  

Thank you to everyone that got involved during the second round of public engagement. Nearly 200 surveys were submitted that will provide us with valuable feedback for the concept design. The results for the second round of engagement will be posted online when it has been collated and analysed.

This proposal envisions the new park at Main Street and 7th Avenue as an adaptable, exciting park that is welcoming and comfortable for both people and wildlife. The proposed design creates a strong connection to the intersection and a sculpted edge that provides a range of experiences. Managing a nearly three metre elevation change on site, the design utilizes built forms and topography with diverse plantings to shape a range of spaces, from intimate spaces to open areas flexible for events. A variety of seating elements are incorporated to allow people to gather and linger in groups or individually. Playful seating terraces and a canopy structure are juxtaposed against rich plantings with numerous trees to create a dynamic environment that embraces seasonal change.

In this first round of engagement, from October 16 → November 13 2020, we were looking to understand the community's vision for the new park. We interacted with over 2,400 people through an online survey and ideas map on the City of Vancouver’s ‘Shape Your City’ engagement platform. Participants provided ideas, opportunities and values that will help guide the park’s design and delivery.

Based on what we heard in Phase 1 engagement, the public feedback was used to develop a design concept to present back to the community for review and feedback in the fall. To read results, please see: Phase 1 Engagement Summary.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is initiating the design and implementation of a new outdoor public space, at the intersection of Main Street and 7th Avenue. The project area (see image below) is provisionally referred to as Main & 7th Park. The proposed public space is located within the heart of the vibrant Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. Adjacent to eclectic shops, restaurants and mixed-use residences, the site is embedded within the urban fabric of the surrounding context. While the site is small by area, approximately 1,000 m², the prominent location of the park emphasizes the significant role the site will play in shaping the use and character of the evolving Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

The future park at Main & 7th presents an opportunity to act as both a landmark and social hub, providing space for daily informal use as well as integration into the many street festivals and events synonymous with Mount Pleasant. Design interventions will need to consider the site’s existing conditions, including elevation changes, noise from traffic and surrounding edge conditions. Response to these influential conditions offers opportunities to improve stormwater management, increase biodiversity, reduce surface temperature and represent cultural histories to cultivate a place that responds to the needs of the Mount Pleasant community.

To learn more about the history and context of the site, please visit the Site Inventory and Context Analysis Report