Park Use Program

The District of Squamish wants to hear from community members, business owners and non-profit organizations as we look to create a new park use program that will make it easier for businesses and non-profit organizations to book and use park space in Squamish. 

Currently, there is a temporary park use program in Squamish. This program was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to help local businesses extend their operations outdoors to meet physical distancing requirements. Businesses and non-profit organizations offered fitness related programming, education services, art and cultural experiences, mental health services, family programming, retail pop-ups and more through the temporary program.

The temporary park use program will expire June 1, 2022.

As demand to use public spaces and the new covered structures grows, the District is looking to create a permanent park use program. The new park use program will build on the success of the temporary program by creating a streamlined application process and fee structure for businesses and non-profit organizations wishing to apply to use park space.

The park use program will be separate from special event bookings in parks. Special events, such as concerts, festivals, markets and filming, will continue to be processed through a separate application process.

As the District plans the new park use program we want to hear from the community and businesses to see what worked well with the temporary program, what could be improved, and how to best use park space in Squamish.

We want to hear from you if:

• You are a park user;
• You live near a park;
• You are a business or non-profit who booked park space through the Temporary Park Use Program;
• You are a business or non-profit organization who wants to use park space; or
• You are a business owner located near a park.

Results Presented to Council June 7, 2022:

The District conducted two surveys to hear from community members and businesses about the park use program in Squamish. The surveys closed on May 3, 2022. The following is a summary of what we heard:

• There should not be a fee for non-profits and charities to book park space
• There is low demand to have businesses and non-profits operate in parks other than Junction Park and U Siyam Pavilion
• Feedback about the appropriate rates to charge businesses to book park space was inconclusive. Staff will do further research on appropriate rates.
• New fees for business use and private events in parks will be presented to Council in 2023

The full update presented to Council on June 7, 2022 can be found here and a recording of the June 7, 2022 Council meeting is available to watch here.

Details on how to apply to use park park space in Squamish can be found here