Fonds VPK - Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation fonds

No. 400 Bandstand No. 403 Bandstand No. 401 Bandstand No. 403A Bandstand Perspective of Coal Harbour and proposed causeway [looking west toward Stanley Park] Plans of proposed improvements for Stanley Park [zoo] Plans of proposed pavilion for Stanley Park Upper and main floor plans Site plan and lower ground floor plan Proposed swimming bath Natatorium, English Bay : Details of ladies' dressing boxes and lockers Natatorium English Bay : Details of men's dressing boxes and lockers Floor grates in dressing rooms natatorium Public hall, winter garden, swimming pool and restaurant Plan of public hall, restaurant, winter garden and swimming pool on Beach Avenue Public hall, restaurant and palm court, and swimming pool on Beach Avenue Ceperley [playground] subway Plan for Warren Harding memorial Ravine bridge [Stanley Park] Plan (in red) showing a suggested bye-pass [sic] road at south end of bridge to avoid cars making... Bridge or footbridge Our people at play Visit of Queen Elizabeth - dogwood - playground Stanley Park highlights Our outdoor heritage Opening of 2099 Beach [Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation building] Opening of Bloedel Conservatory Stanley Park railway Handicapped summer playground program Playground films -- special events "Morning show" - Kerrisdale Community Centre part #1 "Morning show" - Kerrisdale Community Centre part #2 "Morning show" - Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park part #1 "Morning show" Park Board part #2 On the spot zoo story Playground feature [Chicago and Minneapolis parks and playgrounds] City of playgrounds Italian game "Bocce" takes place on Victoria Park Family riding bicycles in Stanley Park Cyclists in Stanley Park and spectators Group embarking canoes at Jericho Beach shore Couple hauling in sailboat at Jericho Beach [Locarno Beach] Small sailboat with two passengers, sailing near [?] Children putting up sails Two sailboats in Burrard Inlet with West Vancouver in background Large sailboat in Burrard Inlet with Stanley Park in background Sailboat in Burrard Inlet with Stanley Park and North Shore mountains in background Group with lifejackets and canoes at shore Canoeing in Burrard Inlet
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Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation fonds

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VPK

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77 m of textual records and other material

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Administrative history

The Board of Parks and Recreation has its origins in the granting of the 950 acre military reserve at First Narrows to the City for use as a park. The new park, named in honour of the current Governor General, Lord Stanley was formally opened in 1888. To control the operations of the park, Council appointed a Park Warden and a Park Committee to oversee the development and management of the park. In 1890, the Committee was replaced by a permanent elected body, the three person Board of Park Commissioners. The by-law which created the Board (no. 96) gave the Commissioners absolute control and management over the park system. It was expected to expend monies voted to it by Council and had the power to enter into contracts and pass by-laws. In 1896, the Board passed its first by-law "for regulations and government of the parks of the city," and appointed a Park Ranger. In 1904, the Park Ranger's title was changed to Superintendent of Parks. Although they were not defined in writing until 1929, the duties of the Superintendent were: to act as the administrative head and business manager and report directly to the Commissioners; to keep the minute books and books of account and generally supervise all employees; to prepare budget estimates and annual reports. In 1980 the title was changed to General Manager. Over its history, the Board has maintained the following functions: administration; beaches, pools and bathhouses; building services and maintenance; design and management of park development; engineering services; income operations; management of Zoo, Gardens and Conservatory; overall management; park forestry; parkland acquisition; parks maintenance and construction; poundkeeping; recreation and; relations with the public. Through several administrative reorganizations and evolving City priorities, the emphasis placed on the execution of these functions has changed. At incorporation, the acquisition of park land was paramount. Recreation programs became a strong priority between 1911 and 1935, reorienting the character of the Board in assuming a service function rather than concentrating on the acquisition of parkland. The relations with the public function became a strong focus for the Board, beginning in the late 1960s and continued to be a central focus in the 1990s. The Board is currently organized into the following divisions: Administrative and Revenue Services; Finance; Environment and Operations; Planning and Development; Recreation Services.

Over its history, the Board has been known under a variety of names:

  • Committee on Works and Property (1887-1888);
  • Parks Committee (1888-1889);
  • Board of Parks Commissioners (1890-1955);
  • Board of Parks and Public Recreation (1956-1973);
  • Board of Parks and Recreation (1974 ).

The following individuals have served as Superintendent of Parks (subsequently General Manager):

  • John Hurst, 1888-1889 in the position of Park Warden;
  • Henry Avison, 1889-1896 in the position of Park Ranger;
  • George Eldon, 1896-1903 in the position of Park Ranger, 1904-1910 in the position of Superintendent of Parks;
  • A. Balmer, 1910-1913; W. S. Rawlings, 1913-1936;
  • Allen S. Wootton, 1936-1943;
  • Philip Bateman Stroyan, 1943-1960;
  • Stuart B. Lefeaux, 1960-1979;
  • Vic Kondrosky, 1979-1980 as Superintendent of Parks and 1980-1997 as General Manager;
  • Susan Mundick, 1997-.

For a more detailed history, please consult the finding aid to the Board of Parks and Recreation fonds in the Archives' reading room.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Fonds consists of the following record series, all related to parks and recreation administration functions and listed by creating offices to the divisional level.
--Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Parks and Recreation
----Accounting ledgers, 1958-1969, series 67
----Analysis ledgers, 1912-1952, series 91
----Annual reports, 1911-2001, series 609
----Architectural and landscape plans, 1912-1988, series 98
----Board minutes, 1888-1987, series 76
----Board minutes indexes, 1892-1913, 1928-1975, series 77
----Buildings and insurance record, 1933, series 96
----Central Registry files, 1973-1987, series 93
----City parks: plans and development, 193-?, series 497
----Committee minutes, 1912-1961, series 64
----Comptroller's subject files, 1924-1980, series 84
----Correspondence, 1904-1967, series 81
----Correspondence registers, 1915-1918, 1964-1972, series 80
----Detail ledgers, 1952-1959, series 90
----Disbursement ledgers, 1913-1930, series 92
----General ledgers, 1910-1970, series 89
----Journals, 1912-1948, series 100
----Legal agreements and expense reports, 1896-1958, series 88
----Miscellaneous ledgers, 1912-1963, series 173
----Miscellaneous personnel records, 1913-1932, series 99
----Moving images, 1930-1980, series 652
----Newsclippings and photographs, 1911-1957, series 97
----Notes to Board minutes, 1916-1965, series 78
----Payroll files, 1930-1951, series 94
----Photographs, ca.1910-1972, series 625
----Publications in City Publications Collection, 1915-1997, series 608
----Receipt book, 1929-1974, series 68
----Records of Park Board police badges, 1929-1934, series 95
----Safety Committee minutes, 1970-1972, series 66
----Site subject files, 1913, 1950-1971, series 65
----Supervisor of City Beaches and Pools' subject files, 1945-1970, series 83
--Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Parks and Recreation. Administrative and Revenue Services Division
----Director's Board meeting agendas, 1964-1974, series 79
----Director's operational subject files, 1979-1986, series 18
--Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Parks and Recreation. Operations and Maintenance Division
----Director's subject files, 1967-1976, series 87
--Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Parks and Recreation. Planning Division
----Facilities development photograph albums, 1985-1989, series 624
--Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Parks and Recreation. Recreation Division
----Director's subject files, 1970-1976, series 86
----Slides, 1950-198-?, series 281
--Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Parks and Recreation. Superintendent
----Outward correspondence, 1937-1940, series 85
----Subject files, 1970-1976, series 82

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  • Includes:
  • 2,420 photographs
  • 115 microfiches
  • 39 microfilm reels
  • 120 architectural drawings
  • 17 film reels

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