Lift the Ban on Slacklining in Vancouver Parks

Dear City of Vancouver,

The City of Vancouver has banned Slacklining in over 200 of its Greater Vancouver Parks categorizing slacklining as a “risk activity”.  This decision is understood to be based upon a single accident occurring on August 25^th, 2012 involving a cyclist colliding with a slackline.  This occurred in a “no-cycling” zone in the Sunset Beach area.

This event has affected all slackliners residing in Vancouver and eventually may affect residents province wide and beyond. The accident remains under investigation.

Until the investigation is complete, Slackliners will be banned. There is no evidence thus far and the Slackliner who set up his/her line remains unknown. This implies the investigation could go on for any period of time.

Slackliners should not suffer a ban in the interim of this investigation, nor should we be banned based on one incident with precarious claims.

The Vancouver’s Board of Parks and Recreation states:

“Vancouver is the only municipality in Canada with an elected park board, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. The Board's mandate is to nurture, maintain, and develop Vancouver’s urban parks and recreation system. This system includes the delivery of sports and recreational programs, social and cultural activities, educational programming and special events, through the many community and cultural centres, pools, rinks, golf courses, and specialty parks.”

Based on the above knowledge, the Board has not given Vancouver Park users its nurturing or developing promises of an activity that promotes the following:

• Slacklining is an amazing activity that should be freely and responsibly practiced in Vancouver public parks.

• Slacklining promotes a sense of well-being and provides community building aspects. 

• There are multiple health and wellness benefits including, core and stabilization muscle building, coordination, balance in mind and body, connection with nature, and joint health.

We, the undersigned, support the practice of Slacklining in Vancouver Parks and consider the ban of this activity unfair and unjustified. We, the undersigned, petition the City of Vancouver to remove the ban on Slacklining in Vancouver public parks.

Dear City of Vancouver,

The City of Vancouver has banned Slacklining in over 200 of its Greater Vancouver Parks categorizing slacklining as a “risk activity”.  This decision is understood to be based upon a single accident occurring on August 25^th, 2012 involving a cyclist colliding with a slackline. This occurred in a “no-cycling” zone in the Sunset Beach area.

This event has affected all slackliners residing in Vancouver and eventually may affect residents province wide and beyond.

The accident remains under investigation. Until the investigation is complete, Slackliners will be banned. There is no evidence thus far and the Slackliner who set up his/her line remains unknown. This implies the investigation could go on for any period of time.

Slackliners should not suffer a ban in the interim of this investigation, nor should we be banned based on one incident with precarious claims.