Neighbourhood plazas

Throughout the summer and fall of 2020, City staff collected public feedback and monitored the pop-up plazas. During this time, multiple surveys were conducted. We received 767 responses to our general pop-up plazas survey, with over 90% of survey participants either supporting or somewhat supporting the initiative.

The 2020 Pop-up Plazas Engagement & Monitoring Summary is a report back of the public feedback we received, along with early observations of these spaces, and how this information will inform our next steps. View the summary here.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback.

With rain and colder weather upon us, there is a growing need for sheltered spaces to support outdoor activity through the winter. Using the overhead protection offered by bridges, the City of Vancouver is trialing new rain-friendly pop-up plazas at four locations:

• Cambie Bridge South at False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility (1890 Spyglass Place)
• Cambie Bridge South at W 1st Ave (on the multi-use path)
• Cambie Bridge North (north of Cooper’s Park)
• Burrard Bridge North (south of the Seawall)

The four new rain-friendly trial plazas will feature picnic tables and signage, and two of the four will have ping pong tables. City staff will continue to collaborate with nearby community organizations and local stakeholders to ensure the spaces remain well cared-for, inclusive and comfortable.

Through the pop-up plazas survey, we heard that rain protection during the rainy season was amongst the most common requests for improvement to the plazas. Enhancing existing spaces under bridges is an efficient, low-cost way to trial weather protected plazas.

We are extending 9 pop-up plazas that were implemented this summer. The pop-up plaza at W 17^th Ave and Cambie St will be removed and re-installed in the spring as a seasonal space. Over 2021, we will be making upgrades and adding amenities to the pop-up plazas to make them more welcoming.

Feedback from our public engagement on the pop-up plazas has indicated a very strong level of public support, with 87% of survey respondents answering that they would like the plazas to become permanent public spaces. We will be reporting back with a summary of what we heard in early 2021.

As winter approaches, we’re seeking public feedback on what to do with the pop-up plaza at Bute St and Alberni St. We’d like your feedback on how the temporary pop-up plaza has worked for you and what we should consider after construction is completed in the summer.

Share your thoughts by taking our survey here.

Thank you for participating in our surveys and sharing your feedback on these spaces. 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.

The City of Vancouver has collaborated with the Robson Street Business Association to pilot expanding public space along Robson St (Burrard St to Jervis St) to support physical distancing and the reopening of local businesses and communities. We’ve widened sidewalks at key locations by re-purposing the curb lane to provide more space for walking, queuing and seating.

We are receiving feedback until October 30, 2020. Fill out the survey here.

Earlier this month changes arrived at E 21 Ave and Main St with the installation of a new pop-up plaza. This pop-up plaza builds on the continuing success of the French Quarter Parklet (at 198 East 21 Ave), and local partnerships that have been established over time. Our existing and new community partners, including Coco et Olive and Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, have collaborated with us to make this neighbourhood public space expansion possible.

This week changes are coming to Robson Street from Jervis Street to Burrard Street as we continue to support the reallocation of public space for physical distancing and other activities.

In partnership with the Robson Street Business Association, we are re-purposing the curb lane in key locations to extend sidewalks and existing parklets to provide more space for people to walk, sit, or queue.

The RSBA is working with Vancouver Mural Festival and local artists to enhance the sidewalk extensions by adding art to the concrete barriers which separate these spaces from vehicle traffic.

This week, the City installed additional temporary plazas in Yaletown and Mt. Pleasant.

• Helmcken St (Hamilton St to Mainland St)
• Main St (10th Ave to 11th Ave northbound)
• Main St (11th Ave to 12th Ave northbound)

The Yaletown pop-up plaza is for general use while the linear pop-up plazas along Main Street will support local restaurants to expand their patio space.

On July 2, we installed a sixth pop-up plaza in Gastown. Working in partnership with the Gastown BIA, we have closed a portion of the 200-block of Carrall to motorists to provide space for public seating, patios, physical distancing, walking, cycling, and other activities.