The Vancouver Park Board approved the design contract for four new parks in southeast Vancouver.

The creation of the parks is part of the VPB's commitment to create 25 acres of new parks and green space in the East Fraser Lands (also known as the River District). The East Fraser Lands, situated on the Fraser River, include land between Kerr Street and Boundary Road south of Marine Way and a site north of Marine Way at Boundary Road.

The total areas of the four parks will cover 7.8 acres, and they will link with Fraser River trails. There are 25 acres of parks in total planned for the East Fraser Lands.

The parks may include plazas, play areas, ecological spaces, greenways, and lawns.

“The greenway portion along the Fraser River will support our Biodiversity Strategy by enhancing access to nature for residents and increasing habitat for local birds and wildlife," park board chair Sarah Kirby-Yung stated in a news release.

The design work is being funded by the 2015-2018 Capital Plan. The cost for the project will be $840,140.87.

Design work will take place in 2016 and 2017 while construction is scheduled to begin in 2018.

The four parks will be: Neighbourhood Park South (0.30 acres), Kinross Park North (0.27 acres), Kinross Park South (1.26 acres), and Foreshore Park (5.93 acres).

The City received eight proposals by February 9 in response to a request for proposals, and Space-2-Place Design's proposal was selected for the design contract. Space-2-Place Design's previous projects include Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside and Garden City Park in Richmond.

Neighbourhood Park North was completed in 2012 and the Playfield Park will be built at a later date.