After honouring the country’s veterans at its annual Remembrance Day service, Port Coquitlam will immediately begin construction on a major upgrade to Veterans Park.

Perimeter fencing is scheduled to go up Nov. 14, marking the beginning of the downtown park’s transformation. The new open concept design will create safe and welcoming spaces for visitors and residents of all ages to stroll and relax. The project will include:

• A new entry plaza at the corner of Shaughnessy Street and McAllister Avenue,
• Accessible pathways crisscrossing the park for improved pedestrian access,
• Seat walls, furniture and open lawn spaces,
• New lighting, trees and planting beds,
• Clear, unobstructed lines of sight through the park,
• A prominent new location for the cenotaph in the central plaza, in consultation with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 133,
• A new sidewalk on Shaughnessy Street fronting the park, and
• Retention of the iconic clock tower.

Construction Impacts

Construction is anticipated to be substantially completed by March and Veterans Park will be closed throughout the project. Crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Pedestrian access to City Hall, the City Hall Annex and adjacent businesses will be maintained, although alternate routes will be required at all times. Entrance to City Hall from the main doors off Leigh Square or McAllister Avenue will be maintained as long as possible.

The City thanks the public in advance for their patience with access changes and other anticipated construction impacts, such as noise, dust, potential traffic delays, and increased truck traffic on Donald Street and the lanes surrounding Leigh Square. For everyone’s safety, drivers and passersby are urged to respect barriers, signs and the direction of traffic control personnel. 

The City and the contractor will be working to keep disruptions to a minimum. Plans include:

• Advance and ongoing notification to nearby businesses, residents and the Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association (PoCo BIA),
• Installing Open for Business signs in the area and encouraging construction workers to visit local shops and restaurants,
• Posting of signs showing pedestrian detours and access routes, and
• Relocating fencing along Shaughnessy Street to restore pedestrian access once paving of the new sidewalk is completed.

Information about the project can be found in the Veterans Park section at portcoquitlam.ca/downtown.

Park a Component of Broader Downtown Revitalization

The improvements to Veterans Park were initially planned to begin this summer, but were moved to fall to give the City time to retender the project after the initial bids did not meet project requirements.

The new timeline for the Veterans Park improvements means the work will more closely dovetail with other aspects of the City’s broader downtown revitalization plan, including upgrades to the Civic Centre such as Leigh Square and a Donald Pathway extension.

The City will be providing a comprehensive update on the downtown revitalization program next week, and the overall capital program later this month.

In order to reduce the impact of the highly competitive construction market and supply chain issues, and to safeguard taxpayers, the City amended a few capital projects this year and pursuing of additional provincial or federal grant opportunities.

Port Coquitlam will continue to keep the community updated through its social media channels and portcoquitlam.ca/capitalprojects.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca