Less than two years after it was introduced, paid parking at Vancouver’s Spanish Banks now costs $4.25 an hour. The 183-per-cent increase from the previous price of $1.50 took effect April 1, and has caught some residents by surprise in the weeks since. A since-deleted Reddit post about the change features several comments from users expressing shock and dismay over the price, as well as speculation that the increase stems from Mayor Ken Sim’s “Zero Means Zero” budget. While not widely publicized at the time, the price increase was included in the Vancouver Park Board’s 2026 fee schedule, which the board approved in November. The $4.25 hourly rate applies from April 1 through Sept. 30. During the offseason, the first two hours of parking are free, and the hourly rate is $3 after that. Paid parking was first introduced at Spanish Banks in July 2024, and the hourly rate was set at $1. Following the 12-month pilot program, the park board made the policy permanent and increased the hourly rate to $1.50. Asked why the rate was raised so dramatically this year, the City of Vancouver told CTV News the goal was to align parking costs at Spanish Banks and nearby Jericho Beach. “Adjustments to parking rates are part of the park board’s broader approach to support the ongoing maintenance and operation of Vancouver’s parks and beaches,” the city’s statement reads. “Parking is a user-pay service, and revenue generated helps ensure these public spaces remain accessible and well maintained.” Vancouver city council adopted a budget with a zero-per-cent property tax increase for 2026, a move that’s expected to result in the elimination of 400 full-time positions. The park board’s share of the operating budget is roughly $192 million, a total that represents an increase of about $1.2 million from last year. However, property taxes account for approximately $6.3 million less of the park board’s projected 2026 revenue because of increased fees, including parking fees.
