Vancouver community outraged that FIFA is taking over a park
Memorial South Park is used by residents of the Fraser and 41st areas and the nearby high school, John Oliver Secondary School. Daily Hive Urbanized published a story detailing the training sites this summer.
Vancouver FWC 26
Community members have now created a petition, which hundreds have signed, titled “OUR Park, NOT FIFA’s Field.”
According to the plan, residents will lose access to the oval, a couple of running track lanes, a clubhouse, a children’s playground, and potentially a cricket pitch.
“This is a well-used park. The loss of these spaces for this length of time is unacceptable, as is the lack of transparency regarding the impacts on the people who live in the area,” the petition states.
The FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver Host Committee told Daily Hive that it would keep the community informed on progress and impacts as “we determine suitable alternative sites for the community,” however, the petition states that community members feel they haven’t been kept in the loop.
Many are calling the City out in the petition.
“Memorial South Park is the cornerstone of our community. Hundreds of people exercise, play and visit each day. We represent a diverse community where all ages, ethnic communities, and fitness levels are welcomed. There has been no consultation as to how there will be amends for the physical and mental wellness that is being taken from us all,” one person who signed said.
Another community member wrote, “I love this park! Keep it the way it is!!”
Someone else was voicing their concerns for people with accessibility needs.
Some are also upset that the City plans to cut down up to 15 trees to accommodate the training site project.
We learned earlier this year that the cost of hosting the World Cup in Vancouver increased to over half a billion dollars, to $581 million.
You can learn more about the training sites here.
Do you think this is okay? Are you a resident impacted by one of the training sites? Let us know in the comments.