In a significant win for the Southeast Vancouver community, the Vancouver Parks Board approved a comprehensive plan for new amenities at Moberly and Ross Parks on Tuesday evening. This initiative, first proposed by Jas Virdi in November 2022, aims to fast-track much-needed amenities in an area that has often been overlooked. Initially, the commissioners felt that more public consultation was necessary. In response, they conducted multiple open houses and pop-up events to engage with the community.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff Photos By Sukhwant Singh Dhillon

SOUTH VANCOUVER – In a significant win for the Southeast Vancouver community, the Vancouver Parks Board approved a comprehensive plan for new amenities at Moberly and Ross Parks on Tuesday evening. 

This initiative, first proposed by Jas Virdi in November 2022, aims to fast-track much-needed amenities in an area that has often been overlooked. Initially, the commissioners felt that more public consultation was necessary. In response, they conducted multiple open houses and pop-up events to engage with the community.

Early on, after Virdi first proposed this motion, the Mayor and City Council approved $10 million from the Growing Communities Fund, specifically designated for these amenities in Southeast Vancouver. This crucial funding played a vital role in advancing the plans.

The public consultations revealed and confirmed a strong desire for the proposed amenities, which include a walking path, a field hockey preferred artificial turf, playground upgrades, and a splash park. The community rallied behind the initiative, participating in events and attending Parks Board meetings to ensure their voices were heard. Notably, commissioners and staff made a point of separating out pop-up events from organized events, feeling that the organized public engagement held less weight.

The dedication of the community was evident when over 60 speakers signed up to voice their support at Mondays Parks Board meeting, which lasted late into the night, ending around 11:30 PM. The decision was deferred to the next day, and although not everyone had the chance to speak, the majority did, addressing various concerns. Commissioners raised questions about bird migration patterns, the impact of field lights, consultations with local schools, and preferences for grass versus turf. Staff and speakers effectively addressed most of these concerns.

Provincial and federal politicians from the area including Harjit Sajjan and Michael Lee and others spoke in support of Virdi’s proposal. Their words and those of the speakers highlighted the community's inviting nature and their commitment to giving back, emphasizing that these new amenities will further enhance the community's ability to serve others.

On Tuesday evening, after a few amendments, the Parks Board passed the motion, marking a major milestone for Southeast Vancouver.