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People, Parks, and Play: Connections for All

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Project update, March 18, 2025: Thank you to all who participated in providing feedback in the second round of engagement on People, parks, and play! We were thrilled to see over 650 community members attend our pop ups, and almost 200 people answer the online survey.

This engagement has now concluded, and our team is working on summarizing what we heard from the community. Check back here for a summary of what we heard through engagement, and keep an eye on your email to see if you are one of the lucky winners of our prize draw!

New Westminster Parks and Recreation Plan Update

The City of New Westminster is updating its Parks and Recreation Plan to guide the future of parks, facilities, services, and programs for the next 25 years, with a 10-year action plan to 2035. This plan will ensure that New Westminster’s parks and recreation spaces continue to support a growing and diverse community. Your input is essential to refining the recommendations.

This is the second round of engagement, building on what we heard from the community in 2024. During Round 1, residents shared their experiences, priorities, and ideas for improving parks and recreation. Key themes included cultural representation, accessibility, affordability, youth-centered programming, and the need for more inclusive, multi-use spaces. For more information, the Round 1 What We Heard report is available here.

Based on this input and analysis, the City has drafted strategic directions and key actions to guide future investments and improvements. Now, we want to hear from you again! This round of engagement will help confirm that the plan aligns with community needs before it is finalized.

Give us your feedback before the plan is finalized!

Share your thoughts by filling out a 5-10 minute online survey or attending one of our pop-up events happening across New Westminster.

💻 Fill out the online survey:

  • Open now until March 17, 2025
  • Enter to win a 10-visit recreation pass!

📢 Visit an upcoming pop-up event:

  • Library Main Branch (716 Sixth Ave) - Thursday, February 27, 3:30-6:30 pm
  • Esplanade near Q2Q Ferry dock, west of River Market (880 Quayside Dr) - Saturday, March 1, 1:00-4:00 pm
  • Queensborough Community Centre (920 Ewen Ave) - Monday, March 3, 3:00-6:00 pm
  • təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre (65 E Sixth Ave) - Saturday, March 8, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Light snacks and family-friendly games will be available at each event. Stop by anytime during the pop-up times, and stay for as little or as long as you want. All events will include the same content and questions for your input.


Background

The previous overarching plan for parks and recreation across New Westminster was adopted in 2008. Called the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, it has successfully shaped the delivery of parks and recreation services over the last 15+ years. New Westminster is now in need of an update to the 2008 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. The new Parks and Recreation Plan will help the City improve parks and recreation facilities, programs, and services across New Westminster over the next 10 years, while also describing a future vision for parks and recreation to 2050.

This is the second round of engagement, building on what we heard from the community in 2024. During Round 1, residents shared their experiences, priorities, and ideas for improving parks and recreation. Key themes included cultural representation, accessibility, affordability, youth-centered programming, and the need for more inclusive, multi-use spaces.

Project update, March 18, 2025: Thank you to all who participated in providing feedback in the second round of engagement on People, parks, and play! We were thrilled to see over 650 community members attend our pop ups, and almost 200 people answer the online survey.

This engagement has now concluded, and our team is working on summarizing what we heard from the community. Check back here for a summary of what we heard through engagement, and keep an eye on your email to see if you are one of the lucky winners of our prize draw!

New Westminster Parks and Recreation Plan Update

The City of New Westminster is updating its Parks and Recreation Plan to guide the future of parks, facilities, services, and programs for the next 25 years, with a 10-year action plan to 2035. This plan will ensure that New Westminster’s parks and recreation spaces continue to support a growing and diverse community. Your input is essential to refining the recommendations.

This is the second round of engagement, building on what we heard from the community in 2024. During Round 1, residents shared their experiences, priorities, and ideas for improving parks and recreation. Key themes included cultural representation, accessibility, affordability, youth-centered programming, and the need for more inclusive, multi-use spaces. For more information, the Round 1 What We Heard report is available here.

Based on this input and analysis, the City has drafted strategic directions and key actions to guide future investments and improvements. Now, we want to hear from you again! This round of engagement will help confirm that the plan aligns with community needs before it is finalized.

Give us your feedback before the plan is finalized!

Share your thoughts by filling out a 5-10 minute online survey or attending one of our pop-up events happening across New Westminster.

💻 Fill out the online survey:

  • Open now until March 17, 2025
  • Enter to win a 10-visit recreation pass!

📢 Visit an upcoming pop-up event:

  • Library Main Branch (716 Sixth Ave) - Thursday, February 27, 3:30-6:30 pm
  • Esplanade near Q2Q Ferry dock, west of River Market (880 Quayside Dr) - Saturday, March 1, 1:00-4:00 pm
  • Queensborough Community Centre (920 Ewen Ave) - Monday, March 3, 3:00-6:00 pm
  • təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre (65 E Sixth Ave) - Saturday, March 8, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Light snacks and family-friendly games will be available at each event. Stop by anytime during the pop-up times, and stay for as little or as long as you want. All events will include the same content and questions for your input.


Background

The previous overarching plan for parks and recreation across New Westminster was adopted in 2008. Called the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, it has successfully shaped the delivery of parks and recreation services over the last 15+ years. New Westminster is now in need of an update to the 2008 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. The new Parks and Recreation Plan will help the City improve parks and recreation facilities, programs, and services across New Westminster over the next 10 years, while also describing a future vision for parks and recreation to 2050.

This is the second round of engagement, building on what we heard from the community in 2024. During Round 1, residents shared their experiences, priorities, and ideas for improving parks and recreation. Key themes included cultural representation, accessibility, affordability, youth-centered programming, and the need for more inclusive, multi-use spaces.

Ask a question

Have a question about People, Parks, and Play (New Westminster Parks and Recreation Plan)? Please add it here and press submit. We will aim to reply within 5 business days. Sometimes answers require information from multiple sources and it could take us longer to reply. If we think your question may be of interest to others, we'll post your question and our response here. Thank you for taking the time to write to us!

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  • Share There was a similar comprehensive study a long time ago, maybe in 2007-2008. City got a lot feedbacks and recommendations? Can we know what has been changed since then, particularly changes because of that study? If not much, how we can ensure the accountability of city doing this one? will there be clear deliverables(with timeline) in the final report? on Facebook Share There was a similar comprehensive study a long time ago, maybe in 2007-2008. City got a lot feedbacks and recommendations? Can we know what has been changed since then, particularly changes because of that study? If not much, how we can ensure the accountability of city doing this one? will there be clear deliverables(with timeline) in the final report? on Twitter Share There was a similar comprehensive study a long time ago, maybe in 2007-2008. City got a lot feedbacks and recommendations? Can we know what has been changed since then, particularly changes because of that study? If not much, how we can ensure the accountability of city doing this one? will there be clear deliverables(with timeline) in the final report? on Linkedin Email There was a similar comprehensive study a long time ago, maybe in 2007-2008. City got a lot feedbacks and recommendations? Can we know what has been changed since then, particularly changes because of that study? If not much, how we can ensure the accountability of city doing this one? will there be clear deliverables(with timeline) in the final report? link

    There was a similar comprehensive study a long time ago, maybe in 2007-2008. City got a lot feedbacks and recommendations? Can we know what has been changed since then, particularly changes because of that study? If not much, how we can ensure the accountability of city doing this one? will there be clear deliverables(with timeline) in the final report?

    pzckwoop asked 11 months ago

    Hello, thanks for the question. Yes, the City received significant input from the community and interest groups towards the recommendations in the 2008 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan.  When adopting the Plan, City Council passed the following motion (January 2009): “That the 2008 Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan be adopted in principle; and that the Comprehensive Plan’s recommendations be incorporated into the Parks & Recreation Department annual work plans for Council’s future consideration.”  Accordingly, the advancement of the Plan’s recommendations over the years have been subject to City Council’s annual budget considerations.

    The City reports out on its accomplishments on an annual basis through its annual report, which includes completed recommendations from the 2008 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan.  A selection of notable recommendations that have been completed since the adoption of the 2008 plan include:

    • Establishment of a permanent Volunteer Coordinator position
    • Expansion of Century House featuring co-location for the New West Youth Centre with shared youth/seniors spaces
    • Update to Access and Inclusion and Financial Assistance Programs
    • Construction of a civic facility (Anvil Centre) in the downtown
    • Expansion of Queenborough Community Centre (inclusive of dedicated childcare spaces)
    • Planning for the retrofit or replacement of the Canada Games Pool and Centennial Community Centre (newly constructed təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre to open April-May 2024)
    • Arena needs assessment study completed
    • Lands acquired and construction of Westminster Pier Park and Saint Mary’s Park
    • Parkland acquisition and development in Queensborough, Brow of the Hill, and Downtown neigbourhoods.  Secured leases for land for park use in Connaught Heights.
    • Construction of artificial turf field in Queen’s Park. Renewal/improvements to grass sports fields at multiple sites.
    • Renewal/replacement of playgrounds and spray parks in parks across the City.


    Additional priorities not originally contemplated in the 2008 Plan have also been completed such as re-construction of the running track at Mercer Stadium; relocation and new construction of the skate park; replacement of the Queen’s Park Arenex (gymnasium); completion of long-range plans for Queen’s and Hume Parks; completion and implementation of strategies for dogs in parks (People, Parks and Pups Strategy), and the management of the City’s Urban Forest.

    It is important to keep in mind that the recommendations arising from long-range parks and recreation plans include the:

    • relative urgency and priority of the recommendations;
    • an estimate of the capital and operating cost impact of the recommendation; and 
    • identification of the potential source of funding.  


    It is intended that the updated Parks and Recreation Plan will include a 10-year implementation plan with these same considerations.  Part of staff’s work will also be to prioritize the alignment of the recommendations against the City’s capacity to fund the work.

Page last updated: 18 Mar 2025, 09:07 AM