Farmyard and Bloedel Conservatory deadline extended

The Vancouver Park Board has extended the deadline for the Bloedel Conservatory and the Stanley Park Childrens' Farmyard to April 30 to give anyone interested in taking over the facilities a chance to come forward.

The commissioners made the decision following a five-hour public hearing on Monday night at which supporters of the two facilities chided the board for their recent decision to closethe popular venuesas a cost-cutting measure.

The new deadline opens the door for a privatecompanyora non-profit group to take over the operation of either of the facilities, but so far no one has come forward to with a proposal.

Earlier this year the park board was ordered to cut $2.8 million from its operations by Vancouver city hall, which is also facing more than a $60 million budget shortfall of its own, mainly due to declining revenue linked to the economic recession.