The Vancouver Park Board voted unanimously Monday night to help cover a large portion of a $26-million increase in construction costs for three 2010 Olympic Games venues.

The board will put up just under $19 million after the city was left scrambling for additional funds to cover ballooning construction costs.

The money will be used for the construction of the Hillcrest curling rink near Nat Bailey Stadium and two practice ice rinks at Killarney and Trout Lake community centres.

Commissioner Spencer Herbert said the park board had few options.

"Even if we didn't like what we had, it's too late in the game to be backing out and saying 'actually, no, we're not going to do this,' " he said.

Herbert added that the decision had to be made now to ensure the facilities will be ready by 2010.

MLA Harry Bains, the NDP's Olympic critic, said he's disappointed with the board's decision.

"I was hoping that the commissioner would stand up to [the Vancouver Organizing Committee] and stand on behalf of the taxpayers much more strongly than they did today and hold VANOC to account."
 
Bains says VANOC should be responsible for cost overruns not taxpayers.

The three venues were originally estimated to cost about $80 million, but the booming housing market has pushed up construction costs across the Lower Mainland. The new price tag is estimated at $106 million.

The plan must be approved by Vancouver city council, which is expected to debate the proposal Tuesday night.