Vancouver Park Board staff recommend demolition of Jericho Pier – British Columbia
Vancouver’s Jericho Beach Park Pier’s days could be numbered as Vancouver Park Board staff recommend it be torn down rather than repaired.
The pier has been closed since the January 2022 storm surge.
Staff estimate that construction of a replacement pier will cost approximately $25 million.
VPB staff recommends that the Board consider the following factors when deciding on next steps for Jericho Pier:
Decolonization and reconciliation: Staff said Jericho Beach Park and its surrounding areas are particularly sensitive areas for local First Nations communities. Opportunities for collaborative restoration of naturalized areas should be considered.
Climate change: Staff said increasingly frequent and severe coastal storms will continue to impact the site. “The pier is located within the coastal floodplain and rising sea levels will exacerbate the magnitude, frequency and extent of coastal flooding at Jericho Beach Park,” staff said in the report.
Aging infrastructure: The 80-year-old pier has reached the end of its lifespan, staff say. “The funding required to maintain and renew the park board’s aging infrastructure far exceeds the funding available,” staff said.
Future development: The nearby Jericho Lands development project contributes to the future need for the park board to embark on a comprehensive joint planning study of Jericho Beach Park with local First Nations. The council will determine the best future plan for the park, including the location of the pier.
“Staff directs the Board to deconstruct the Jericho Beach Park pier while retaining and appropriately reinforcing the breakwater in order to maintain the protection of the Jericho Sailing Center harbor,” the staff said in the conclusion of the report.
“The decision will not preclude future opportunities for redevelopment of the pier site if, or when, sufficient funding becomes available and if future plans for the site necessitate its replacement.”
Vancouver Park Board staff will present their report to the park board on Monday.
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