To: The Vancouver Park Board,

We, citizens of Vancouver and dedicated members of Vancouver's vibrant track & field community, wish to petition the Vancouver Parks Board to follow through on the original plan of installing a natural grass infield as part of the Killarney Track & Field project and to not install synthetic turf.  Synthetic turf would prevent athletes from training and competing in the field events of javelin, discus, and hammer (two British Columbia athletes recently won gold medals in the hammer event at the 2023 World Championships).

Track & Field has had a rich and successful history in Vancouver, dating back over a century.  Despite this, the City of Vancouver does not have a single track & field facility outside of UBC that is capable of hosting competitions or providing for all the training needs of track & field. 

In contrast, for field sports there are currently 13 synthetic turf fields in Vancouver (plus 8 fields at private institutions, many of which are available for public rental). 
More synthetic turf fields are proposed over the next five years, including replacing the gravel field at Killarney Park.

The Killarney Track & Field facility with a natural grass infield would provide for the only competition and training facility within the City of Vancouver.  At one site, it would provide for all of the competition and training needs of athletes, schools, clubs, run groups, and the Special Olympic and Paralympic communities. 

The construction of a synthetic turf infield would eliminate the ability to train and compete in the javelin, discus, and hammer events. Modifying throws implements to be compatible with turf is not a viable option. It is not possible to modify hammer implements. Modified discus and javelin implements still irreparably damage artificial turf fields. 

We fully acknowledge the need for additional artificial turf fields in our city.  However, with a current inventory of 21 synthetic turf fields and more on the way, we are simply asking for fairness. 
We note that there are four other sites at Killarney Park that would accommodate a full-sized synthetic turf playing field (see appendix B below), so it is not necessary to place the synthetic turf field within the infield of the running track.  The Killarney Track & Field facility can become a flagship venue for athletics in Vancouver and a beacon of inspiration for athletes across all levels and generations.

Sign this petition today and help us preserve our sport's heritage and to foster its future.

Sincerely,

Nigel Hole

Vancouver, BC

 

Appendix I: Background

• In 2019, the City approved a Track & Field Strategy which underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive facility that can host sanctioned competitions and safely facilitate throws and jumps training.
• Due to uncertainty around the Van Tech site, Killarney was subsequently identified as the best location.
• Project design for the Killarney is nearing completion, and answers all the requirements as it is designed, including rubberized track, jump areas and throw cage with a grass infield. It has the space and support for all these critical components.
• However, as a part of the City's mandate to install more synthetic turf fields, it is now contemplating revising the plans and is contemplating the installation of synthetic turf in the infield. The City's Field Sport Strategy has already planned for the conversion of Killarney Park's gravel field to turf. The infield of the track would be a 2nd turf field at Killarney Park.
   

Appendix II: Creative Win-Win Solutions

Besides the gravel field and track infield, there are 2 other underutilized fields at Killarney Park that could be upgraded to synthetic turf instead:

• The field with two baseball diamonds could be converted to 1 large turf field and allow for:
  • 2 smaller regulation size soccer fields in a north-south orientation (configuration 1),
  • 1 medium size soccer field in an east-west orientation (configuration 2), and 
  • 1 large baseball diamond and 1 small baseball diamond (configuration 3 which is the current configuration)
• The field in the NW corner of the park is currently underutilized and could be upgraded to synthetic turf and add to the City's field inventory.
• See visual here

Sources

• VanPlay Inventory and Analysis: Ch3 Recreation: https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/vanplay-report-1-chapter-3-recreation.pdf
• Vancouver Track & Field Strategy: https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/track-and-field-strategy.pdf
• Vancouver Sport Field Strategy - Phase 3 info:

  https://syc.vancouver.ca/projects/sport-field-strategy/sport-field-strategy-phase-3-panels.pdf