Vancouver locals oppose Memorial South Park FIFA plans [Video]

It was a tense evening at a Vancouver Park Board meeting on Monday, as commissioners voted to advance plans to build FIFA training facilities at Killarney Park and Memorial South Park, at a combined cost of $25-million.

Specifically, they signed off on allowing staff to negotiate contracts to build the two facilities.

Vancouver is contractually obligated to provide two training facilities for the FIFA World Cup 2026 – but those who use the park question why the relatively small Memorial South Park has been selected – and question why there has been so little information about the idea until recently.

“It was virtually impossible to find out [about this plan],” Memorial South Park user Cindy Heinrichs told reporters after addressing the park board. “Even today, I met people at the park who don’t know that this is happening.”

Between construction and use during the tournament, the parks will largely be …