West Vancouver approves 90 minutes of free parking at Ambleside Park
After months of debate, the district will let visitors park free for the first 90 minutes, then charge $2.50/hour.
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West Vancouver will now offer 90 minutes of free parking at Ambleside Park, ending a contentious stretch where sky-high rates pushed visitors to seek street parking in nearby commercial areas and frustrated local sports groups.
Council gave final approval at Monday's meeting to the change after voting in May to implement free summer parking. The new model lets drivers use the PayByPhone app to register their licence plate for the free period once per day. After 90 minutes, parking costs $2.50 an hour; drivers can pay up front or add time through PayByPhone, a hangTag app, or physical pay stations. West Vancouver residents with annual passes skip the registration step entirely.
The district launched paid parking in September 2025 at over $5 per hour, a move that triggered swift backlash from the Ambleside business community, sports organizations, and visitors who fled to free street parking. By mid-October, council trimmed the rate to $2.50 an hour—a concession that came too late for retailers who said they'd lost thousands in revenue.
Council also voted to commission a comprehensive parking study of Ambleside and Dundarave's parks and commercial areas, stretching into nearby residential zones. The six-part study will examine historical data from 2018 to 2026, scan Lower Mainland practices, forecast future needs, gather public input, and recommend long-term policy. The Ambleside and Dundarave BIA has offered to partner on the work.
"I think it takes off a negative impact on our sports teams particularly," said Councillor Sharon Thompson, though she voiced frustration over what she called constantly shifting plans. Staff will report back in the fall with a study update.
