Yaletown’s ‘Park of the Future’ Sets a New Standard in Urban Green Space

It is no secret that Vancouver is a park lover’s paradise. Iconic Stanley Park is the world’s largest urban forest and the jewel of Vancouver’s crown, but many other green spaces abound that offer beauty, tranquility, and accessible nature in every corner of the city. In fact, incomparable access to nature is one of the city’s goals, where green space is within a 5 min walk from anywhere in the city’s land base.

Originally the Western terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway and a warehouse district, the Yaletown neighbourhood today is one of the city’s chicest neighbourhoods. Leafy parks provide this densely populated area with a variety of green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. David Lam Park is a scenic space offering peaceful greenery amid the glass towers of the neighbourhood. George Wainborn Park is another urban green space surrounded on one side by water and the remaining sides by imposing city skyscrapers. Both parks are along the seawall and 5 minutes from each other.

The latest addition of green space in Yaletown is touted as the ‘park of the future’. This yet-unnamed new multi-dimensional city park at Smithe and Richards streets is for community recreation, culture, and tranquility. It is setting a new standard for innovative, high-capacity community space that delivers access to nature while providing community connection in a dense urban setting.

Vancouver is also committed to designing and building safe, nature-rich paths that encourage locals and visitors alike to explore the city without a car through its Greenways program. The plan is a vision for a network of multi-use paths for cycling and walking that connects residents and visitors to large parks and communities to support regional livability.