The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is responsible for 250 public parks and beaches, the VanDusen Botanical Garden, the Bloedel Conservatory, and an extensive public recreation system that includes community centers, pools, rinks, fitness centers, golf courses, street trees, marinas, sports fields, and playgrounds. But did you know that the Dude Chilling Park did not use to be under their list?
The “Dude Chilling” Park in Vancouver is named after the sculpture “Reclining Figure,” which looks like a dude chilling. An artist erected a fake Parks Department sign that read “Dude Chilling Park,” but the city removed it. It was replaced and given official approval after a public outcry.
History of the Dude Chilling Park
In November 2012, local artist Viktor Briestensky created the sign as a prank as a lighthearted reference to Reclining Figure, a public art piece by Michael Dennis in Guelph Park in 1991.
The unauthorized Dude Chilling Park sign was erected in Guelph Park in November 2012. The Park Board staff removed the sign, which resembled standard park signs found in city parks.
The sign was quickly removed by Vancouver Park Board staff, but local resident Dustin Bromley started an online petition to have it reinstalled. The Parks Board decided to permanently reinstall the sign on February 27, 2014, after receiving over 1,800 signatures of support because it celebrates the unique characteristics of the park and the surrounding community.
The installation was stolen in September 2014 but has since been replaced. In November 2012, local artist Viktor Briestensky created the sign as a prank and a lighthearted reference to Michael Dennis’ work.
The American late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel said of Dude Chilling Park :
Between Dude Chilling Park and Mayor Ford, I might have to move to Canada.
Jimmy Kimmel, Talk Show Host
As a tribute, R&B Brewing, a local Vancouver brewery, created Dude Chilling Pale Ale in their year-round lineup.
The Vancouver Park Board donated a Barge Chilling Beach sign installed at Sunset Beach, where a stray barge had become stranded after the November 2021 floods. (Source: The City of Vancouver)
The Stolen Board Sign
The East Vancouver Dude Chilling Park sign has been replaced after being stolen for the third time in 2021. The Vancouver Park Board confirmed Wednesday that the public art piece in Guelph Park that had been there for several years had been replaced.
Officials had previously estimated that replacing the sign and repairing and repainting the posts would cost around $1,300. The sign was initially installed without official approval in 2012 about another public art piece depicting a reclining figure in Guelph Park.
In 2014, the park board voted to give the sign a permanent home. It was stolen for the first time later that year and was stolen again in 2018. In November 2013, Park Board staff reviewed potential locations in Guelph Park and granted preliminary approval to the following two:
8th Avenue and Brunswick Street intersection and Next to the Dude Chilling art exchange box in the community garden (Source: The City of Vancouver)
Image from 604now