Local businesses in Ambleside are reporting a sharp decline in sales since pay parking was introduced in Ambleside Park a few weeks ago, saying the change has pushed park visitors to park in the commercial area and left customers struggling to find spots.
According to the Ambleside Dundarave Business Improvement Association (ADBIA), many shops and restaurants along Bellevue, Marine, and Clyde Avenues have seen revenues drop by as much as 30 percent compared to the same period in previous years. Preliminary reports from a small group of businesses show more than $52,000 in lost revenue in the final two weeks of September alone.
“Park users are parking for free in the business district instead of paying in the park,” said ADBIA Executive Director Maureen O’Brien. “That’s left our customers circling the block, frustrated, and in many cases choosing to shop elsewhere.”
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“Once a customer finds a new place to shop or dine, it’s very difficult to bring them back. Habits change quickly, and convenience often drives those choices. If someone can’t find parking near their favourite store or restaurant in Ambleside, they’ll look elsewhere, perhaps in Park Royal, North Vancouver, or even across the bridge, and once they make that shift, they tend to stay there. Every day that access to our local businesses is made harder, we risk losing loyal customers who have supported this community for years. It’s not just a short-term inconvenience; it’s a long-term loss for Ambleside’s small businesses and the character of our village itself.”, says
O’Brien.
ADBIA survey of visitors to the commercial area between 13th and 15th Streets found:
87% arrived by car, and 74% said it was difficult or extremely difficult to find parking.
Nearly 75% said parking challenges have made them consider shopping or dining elsewhere.
67% have noticed more people parking in the business area and walking into the park with sports
equipment.
Unlike other major parks in the Lower Mainland, Ambleside Park sits directly beside a vibrant commercial core. That close proximity, normally an asset, has now become a strain, as hundreds of park users compete with customers and employees for limited parking.
“Ambleside Park is unique,” O’Brien said. “It’s a community hub for recreation and for business. The two are inseparable, and that’s why decisions like pay parking need to be handled differently here than in the other parks in our region.”
Currently, Council has directed staff to come back before the end of 2025 with a recommendation for a spillover parking study. The ADBIA has sent recommendations to the District Council, including pausing pay parking in Ambleside Park for the winter months to allow time for solutions to be developed that will address the spillover.
“We are already seeing the effects,” O’Brien said. “There’s no need for a study, what we need now is a plan. A temporary pause would be extremely supportive of our local economy, especially given that the holiday season is fast approaching.”
Parking cost 5,15$ an hour. Many people can not or won’t pay 15$ for an afternoon in the park. Walking from Park Royal is popular or parking in West Van. District and then walk over. Its silly. It was already no parking when the farmer market is there on sundays. These days people avoided the area already.
New parking fees are a death knell for the community : unfair discriminatory and punitive. The plan reflects the utter deadness of creativity and forward thinking in our council.
There is also an implied cynicism in the fees which are way above those charged at Vancouver beaches : why ?? The implication is you are not from West Vancouver and you really MUST come here then by God you will pay for the privilege ! Despicable and unecessary.
Nobody likes to pay for parking, but I understand that locals do not pay or pay just small annual fee (around $20). When parking is free, good luck finding a spot on a sunny weekend. Paid parking increases turnover and make more spots available. Business owners and shoppers should appreciate. I think price is too high…
I agree! I grew up in West Vancouver. Prior to living in North Vancouver for 2 years, I lived in West Vancouver. I am aghast. Parks are gifted or allotted to the public to enjoy freely, without expense.
Pay parking in parks is a huge expense for singles and families who live in poverty – REAL poverty, the kind where there isn’t enough food at the end of the month. The kind where it’s a matter of do I pay the hydro bill or buy food. I was in that situation when I was severely ill for 10 years, brought on by the bullying of a clique of students at Crap College.
There is no disability parking along Marine Drive.
There is nowhere to park a bicycle along Marine Drive.
There are few benches for the elderly and disabled to rest.
How the pay parking in parks discriminates against people and who?
– the elderly and those with temporary or permanent disabilities: walking to the meter and back and unloading a walker or wheelchair takes time
– it is difficult and challenging for disabled and elderly people to take the bus
– it is pretty much impossible for most disabled and elderly people to use a bicycle and, besides, there is nowhere to park one!
Temporary pause my ass. Get your damn planners OUT of our villages and neighbourhoods. Our parks are for our use and NOT for revenue.
Agreed.
Why should theWV taxpayers pay for free rafting for those not paying taxes here. And, a lot of people park in Ambleside and bus downtown to work. No folks, the free ride is over. No more free loading off WV taxpayers.
Oops..free parking, not rafting
How do YOU pay for their free parking Ted?! That literally makes no logical sense. You’re living in a irate fantasy in your head disguised as an obvious money grab by the city that’s hurting businesses in reality. Grow up
Duh…my WV property taxes maintain that park. Unless you live and pay taxes here, then I’m paying for you to park for free. If you couldn’t figure that out.
Agreed.
Libtards at Work. Kill economy, kill business, kill cars, kill progress. Save the World. Look around, we are a deadbeat country. No investment, no jobs, taxes higher than the sky,fees, developer fees,city hall license fees and parks paid with your taxes charging You to park there. We are Doomed! Canadians better Wake Up! Soon!
Exactly!
Meanwhile the planners and bureaucrats likely get free parking at work.
Council of misfits,
Our local government needs to be replaced.
Get out and VOTE NEXT ELECTION
This pay parking is ridiculous, total tax grab.
As is selling community land to a developer, erasing beach access.
West Vancouver is and has always been special, a little community.
Let’s try and save it.
Council is destroying it.
I agree totally!
Overpaid WV City Hall workers, overpaid WVPD.
We taxpayers pay for subsidized housing for the municipal workers, teachers, and WVPD, etc.. Do other municipalities do that? NO. Spoiled municipal workers. Did the rest of us have a life so easy, provided to us by our Mayor and Council? NO.
It’s a complete con of West Vancouver’s taxpayers and, furthermore, anyone who pays for parking regardless of where they come from.
We need to stand up to this. If we don’t, we will be continue to be swindled by our local government, more often and for more money.
This is inequality on a huge scale, worthy of ditching all municipal employees! Shut the freaking local government DOWN.
All public parks should be free. It’s the last place people can just go somewhere nice and enjoy without worrying about how much it costs. Parks have always been free but funded through taxes. So now we pay taxes still with another layer on top. I have quit going to any public park as a principle and it’s extremely frustrating to see one after another adopt this money grab system. Times are tough and there should be something we can enjoy for free. It’s like the minute you leave your home it’s pay pay pay.
Duh…my WV property taxes maintain that park. Unless you live and pay taxes here, then I’m paying for you to park for free. If you couldn’t figure that out.
Shops and other Local Busines arround that park pay a much higher tax and contribute to the park than the property tax. I agree. A beach with a maintained parking lot need paid parking . Its the same around the world. Buses still reach the park for very little money. But if people park arround because its too expensive. Local shops earn less, less tax revenue. Higher property taxes next year for all WV property owner.
How exactly are you paying for it? You haven’t paid a dime for it. Sheesh! Where are you from? Clearly, you not from West Vancouver or Canada.
I think you need a little education on where property and business taxes go. Who pays the city workers to maintain thd park. I do…the local taxpayer. To say I haven’t paid a dime…then who pays for the park maintenance and infrastructure…if not the local taxpayer.
For 1 hour it cost $15.00!!! Hell no, if you want park users to stop parking at business park, you need to lower that fees way way down or just remove it. Soon West Vancouver business park will become a ghost town with close businesses and no new businesses will dare to open a store there. This was probably one of the Biggest Mistake the city made and waste of money of our taxpayers.
West Van has let marine drive just get old, bumpy, hard to park and where are the upgrades for the old stores that aren’t being improved and loosing sorry lost good customers because the city is just letting it fall apart. Now you have wasted money on pushing more customers away with pay parking. Bellevue avenue is the only nice area to shop and eat. But you’re pushing us out.