Should parking be free at Metro Vancouver beaches?

Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver and Spanish Banks in Vancouver have raised their parking fees for the summer of 2026. And now people have to pay much more for parking than then they did a few years ago.But why are all these parking hikes happening? Could there be a backlash to bumping up beach fees? And what does it say about how we treat our access to some of the most beautiful places in Metro Vancouver? Metro Matters columnist Justin McElroy also examines the simmering issues between Vancouver City Council and the Park Board.