Vancouver Museum to turn Free parking lot into money-maker

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According to Malcolm Parry in the Vancouver Sun today the Museum of Vancouver on Kits Point will be converting its adjoining 200-car FREE parking lot into a PAID parking lot starting February 1st.

In the article, Parry interviews Museum of Vancouver CEO Nancy Noble about her growth plans for the 115 year-old Vancouver landmark.

Yearly visitors have reportedly risen from 40,000 to 75,000 since 2006. Her five-year target is 150,000 visitors and an annual budget doubled to $4 million, with governments contributing less than today’s 70 per cent of it. That will entail increasing sponsorship, donations, memberships and on-and off-site sales.

Announcement of a $5-to-$10-million founding endowment should come later this year, with a related foundation charged to eventually generate $500,000 to $1 million yearly.

There’s also the 200-stall parking lot adjoining the museum, H.R. Mac-Millan Space Centre and Vancouver Academy of Music. That’ll switch from free to paid operation Feb. 1, thereby matching the nearby Maritime Museum.

Last modified: January 21, 2010

10 Responses to " Vancouver Museum to turn Free parking lot into money-maker "

  1. ariane c says:

    Interesting to note that MOV membership perks *did* include free parking. Hmmm.

  2. Momo says:

    Wonder if the rise in number of visitors had anything to do with the FREE PARKING – which is something of a treasure if you can find it in this town. I know that’s one of the reasons I frequented the area over some of the other parks…

  3. Bill Barilko says:

    All of a piece with developments on Granville Island, which is also going to 100% paid parking, there’s no way the Museum could maintain free parking and not be overrun.

  4. outriding says:

    Another reason to cycle in our fine city!

  5. no free parking says:

    where can you park for free in vancouver

  6. Where now? says:

    Does anyone know where you can park for free in or around Vancouver for the day? This was the one and only free parking lot we knew about! Post it here because it’s impossible to find anywhere else!

  7. Bill Barilko says:

    There is all day free parking in some distant neighbourhoods but nothing anywhere close to downtown.

  8. Where now? says:

    Let’s post some answers here people!
    There has got to be some free parking somewhere in vancouver!!!!!!!!!

  9. local says:

    Granville Island has free parking for 2 hours in many spots.

    In Kits there is lots of free parking near Jericho beach in the lots there, also on side streets you can sometimes find free parking, but read the signs to make sure you are OK.

    Downtown is much more difficult, sometimes you can find 2 hour parking zones on some side streets but availability is very very slim… there most often you will have to pay.

    If you really don’t want to worry about parking, I would suggest taking the bus. It may take a bit longer but no worries once you get here.

  10. Bill Barilko says:

    Anywhere there’s free parking you still need to take transit downtown.

    As to giving away my free spots to anyone on earth with an internet connection not a hope.