Memorial South Park is one of two parks in Vancouver that is slated to serve as a training site for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The renovation period will begin in January 2025, and public access for the will be limited until Fall 2026.
Friends of Memorial South Park, a community group of residents that neighbour the park, are petitioning against this decision. Their goal is to have the City of Vancouver and FIFA reconsider their current plans for Memorial South Park, leaving the space accessible to the public.
CJSF was recently able to speak with two representatives of Friends of Memorial South Park, Beth Ringdahl and Cindy Heinrichs. During the conversation, they speak on the lack of transparency and communication that they have received from the city and FIFA regarding their concerns, and the work they have done to inform their community on this issue.
