Vancouver mayor pitches $400M investment in community centres under capital plan

Vancouver's mayor is laying out a vision for a major overhaul of aging city infrastructure.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is proposing a major investment in neighbourhood infrastructure that would direct hundreds of millions of dollars toward renewing community centres and other public facilities across the city.

The mayor’s proposed vision for the city’s 2027–2030 capital plan includes a $400 million allocation for shared community spaces. According to a city news release, the funding would represent the largest single investment in community centre renewal in Vancouver’s history.

If approved, the capital plan would guide spending on roads, parks and public facilities, with a focus on core infrastructure such as sidewalks and public spaces.

Five community centres have been identified as priority sites for replacement or large-scale reconstruction based on facility condition and community usage. Those sites include Dunbar, Kerrisdale, Hastings, Roundhouse and Kensington community centres, according to the release.

ABC Coun. Sarah Kirby‑Yung said the proposal reflects years of underinvestment in civic facilities.

“I think what we’re hearing from speakers is how important the community amenities are and how big the infrastructure deficit is, because previous councils have not invested sufficiently in the community infrastructure,” she said.

“So this is about setting a bold direction. It’s about picking up the pace. It’s about getting going on it. We know a lot of our community centres need renewal.”

The city says the investment is intended to address long‑standing infrastructure gaps and ensure community facilities better reflect the needs of a growing population.

Additional projects outlined in the mayor’s motion include a new 25‑metre pool at Sunset Park, public space improvements in Gastown, renewal work at the Dr. Sun Yat‑Sen Classical Chinese Garden pond, washroom upgrades at Kitsilano Beach and Second Beach, a spray park at Burrard View Park and a turf field at Beaconsfield Park, according to the release.

The motion also advances future planning work for projects such as a potential Vietnamese cultural centre, exploration of a new 50‑metre competition pool, long‑term strategies to address roads and sidewalks built on unstable peat soil, and the possible renewal or co‑location of the Collingwood Branch library.

However, the proposal is facing questions from some councillors about how priorities were determined and how the projects would be financed.

Green Party Coun. Pete Fry, who is running in October’s mayoral election, said he has concerns about the approach.

“This is definitely putting the cart before the horse and not really allowing the professional staff that we have who come up with the recommendations and weighing in against our borrowing options and or on our capital infrastructure and our operating budget and how we pay it back,” Fry said.

He also raised concerns about the city’s financial outlook based on the proposed vision.

“If the mayor is, on the one hand, pledging to borrow a lot of capital, but he’s also promising, if he gets re-elected, that he will reduce operating taxes and have another zero per cent budget,” Fry said. “We get into a really, really sticky situation where, how do we pay for it?”

The city says the proposed investments would form only part of the broader 2027–2030 capital plan, which would build on previously approved initiatives such as the redevelopment of Britannia Community Centre, replacement of Kitsilano Pool and $104 million already allocated toward road and sidewalk upgrades.

City staff are expected to further develop the capital plan and bring it to council for consideration following additional analysis and public engagement.

If approved, the 2027–2030 capital plan would be the first delivered under Sim’s tenure as mayor.