Neighbourhood plazas

5th Ave and Ontario St Plaza

We’re seeking ideas and input on how to improve this pop-up plaza with a longer-term, higher quality semi-permanent design.

There are two options to learn more and share your input:

1. Online Survey
   • Will be available from June 1 - 30
2. Meet with City staff at the plaza on
   • Thursday, June 2, 10 am - 1 pm
   • Monday, June 6, 10 am - 1 pm
   • Tuesday, June 14, 12 - 3 pm

Kamloops St and Hastings St Plaza

In advance of final design decisions, we're seeking input on the proposed upgrades.

There are two options to learn more and share your input:

1. Online Survey
   • Will be available from June 1 - 30
2. Meet with City staff at the plaza on
   • Saturday, June 11, 3 - 6 pm
   • Monday, June 13, 10 am - 1 pm
   • Wednesday, June 15, 12 - 3 pm

In March 2022, we engaged with you about the plazas at 18^th Ave and Cambie St and at 13^th Ave and Granville Street.

In June we are engaging about the plazas at 5^th Ave and Ontario St and at Kamloops and Hastings St.

What happens after this public engagement?

For the 5^th Ave and Ontario St Plaza, staff will be developing a draft design concept based on input received through the June 2022 public engagement process (online survey and in person meetings). The draft design concept will be presented to the public for further feedback in fall 2022.

For the Kamloops and Hastings St Plaza, a final design concept will be developed based on community feedback and input received through the June 2022 public engagement process (online survey and in person meetings). Construction of the design concept is expected to complete in spring 2023.

Throughout the pandemic, the City partnered with community organizations to create 20 pop-up plazas in neighbourhood hubs throughout the city. Communities have embraced these outdoor gathering spaces to socialize, share a coffee or a meal, enjoy a small concert, or simply sit and rest as they run their errands. The City is committed to working with our partners and the broader communities they serve to improve and upgrade these outdoor gathering spaces, most of which are quite basic.

As we make steps to have these spaces become semi-permanent* fixtures in these neighbbourhoods, we're seeking input and direction from residents on the types of upgrades or concepts these plazas should grow into.

*Semi-Permanent upgrades are intended to be in-place for 5-10 years.

We would like to thank everyone who provided feedback on the new pop-up plazas in 2021.

Pop-up Plazas

In 2021, we tested six new pop-up plaza locations. City staff collected feedback, monitored the plazas, and engaged with community stakeholders. Based on our evaluation process, four plazas are extended through the winter.

• Kamloops St and Hastings St
• Maple St and W 4th Ave
• Leg in Boot Square
• Sasamat St and W 10th Ave

Next year, we will continue to make small improvements to these pop-up plazas.

Rain-Friendly Pop-up Plazas

In December 2020, we installed rain-friendly pop-up plazas under the Cambie Street Bridge. We received a lot of positive feedback on the plazas as they enabling residents to be outdoors in rainy weather.

We have installed a second ping-pong table at both Coopers' Park (Cambie Bridge North) and the Neighbourhood Energy Unit (Cambie Bridge South). Many local residents are enjoying the weather-protected plazas to get outside and enjoy a game of ping-pong with friends and neighbours. Keep an eye out for little libraries, which will be added to these locations over the winter months.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the new pop-up plazas for 2021. We will be reporting back with what we heard in the coming months. If you would like to provide further feedback, please email us at pop-upplazas@vancouver.ca.

We're looking for feedback on the new pop-up plazas installed in 2021. We'd like to hear how these temporary spaces have worked for you and what we should consider in the future:

• Kamloops St and E Hastings St
• W 67th Ave and Granville St
• Grant St Piazza at Commercial Dr
• Sasamat St and W 10th Ave
• Leg in Boot Square
• Maple St and W 4th Ave
  
  

We will be receiving feedback until September 30, 2021. Fill out the brief survey here.

We've launched a new program to support community-led design enhancements or amenities in the 2020 Pop-Up Plazas and Rain-Friendly Plazas. You can request up to $500 of financial support for specified placemaking projects. Eligible plazas include:

• W 13th Ave and Granville St
• W 14th Ave and Granville St
• W 17th Ave and Cambie St
• W 18th Ave and Cambie St
• E 21st Ave and Main St
• E 27th Ave and Fraser St
• Bute St and Davie St
• 200-block Carrall St
• Helmcken St and Mainland St
• Cambie Bridge South (Neighbourhood Energy Utility)
• Cambie Bridge North (Cooper's Park)
  
  

You can find more information and submit an application at the link below by August 14, 2021.

Apply now!

We have installed seven new pop-up plazas to serve neighbourhoods across the city. These plazas are located at:

• E 5th Ave and Ontario St (Mount Pleasant, external link Ontario Greenway Upgrades)
• Kamloops St and E Hastings St (Hastings Sunrise)
• W 67th Ave and Granville St (Marpole)
• Grant St Piazza at Commercial Dr (Grandview Woodlands)
• Sasamat St and W 10th Ave (Point Grey)
• Leg in Boot Square (False Creek South)
• Maple St and W 4th Ave (Kitsilano)
  
  

Additionally, the pop-up plaza at W 17th Ave and Cambie St, which was removed for the winter months, has been reinstalled. This location will also serve as a test location for the drinking in public plazas pilot, where people can responsibly and respectfully enjoy alcoholic beverages.

Our survey is now closed. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on the four rain-friendly pop-up plazas. Overall, this initiative is well supported, with 93% of survey respondents in favour of the rain-friendly plazas remaining as either year-round (82%) or temporary (11%) spaces. The primary concerns are noise and cleanliness, but many people appreciate that these plazas serve as spaces for play, rest, exercise, meeting friends and family, enjoying food and drinks, and enabling residents to be outdoors in rainy weather. Your feedback has helped to inform next steps for these spaces.

• Cambie Bridge South at False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility – the Neighbourhood Energy Unit (NEU) will be undergoing major construction later this summer and we will make adjustments to the pop-up plaza in coordination with this project.
  
  
• Cambie Bridge South (W 1st Ave) – the Vancouver Biennale is installing a major public art project titled Voxel Bridge underneath the south side of Cambie Bridge. Adjustments will be made to the seating at this location in coordination with the installation of the artwork.
  
  
• Cambie Bridge North (Coopers Park) – the Park Board will be making improvements to Cooper’s Park and will be adding an outdoor fitness area at this location. The rain-friendly pop-up plaza will stay in place until construction on the upgrades begins in 2022.
  
  
• Burrard Bridge North - Although 70% of survey respondents support the plaza becoming either a seasonal or year-round space, we will be removing the picnic tables at this location for the summer months. We will explore reinstating the plaza for fall/winter 2021-22
  

Stay tuned for further updates on these spaces!

We want your feedback on the new rain-friendly plazas! Your input will inform the future of the spaces and help to ensure they are properly maintained, inclusive, comfortable, and serving the community.

We will be receiving feedback until May 7, 2021. Fill out the survey here.