Port Coquitlam City Council approved the conceptual design last night to transform the Civic Centre – including Veterans Park, Leigh Square and an extension of Donald Pathway – into an accessible, safe and inviting place.

The public is invited to share their feedback on the draft concept from Mar. 10 to 24 through an online survey available at portcoquitlam.ca/downtown.

Following the public feedback, the city will launch a detailed planning process this year that will set the stage for construction to begin in 2022.

Based on public and stakeholder feedback and public space best practices, the draft concept intends to:

• Attract families and people of all ages to the downtown and give them a reason to stay, whether it be through improved event space, performances, public art or park space,
• Improve safety, visual sightlines and connectivity, and
• Create an atmosphere that is fun, lively and green, with lighting for night-time enjoyment.

Key updates will include:

• Opening up Veterans Park to the street, pathways and Leigh Square, and relocating the cenotaph and plaza to a more accessible and prominent location in the park to enable more significant Remembrance Day events,
• Expanding Leigh Square into an open-concept festival space for events and day-to-day social use, including relocating the bandshell to back onto City Hall, and adding an interactive water feature, improved lighting and variety of ground-level and tiered seating,
• Opening up the Outlet’s west wall with sliding glass doors or storefronts to create a lively space between the building and City Hall, and redeveloping the square south of the Outlet for additional parking, event space and food truck staging,
• Expanding Donald Pathway north from Wilson Avenue to weave through the Civic Centre and downtown, and
• Reconstructing Donald Street and Leigh Square Place into one-way corridors, allowing for improved movement of pedestrians and cyclists and more green space.

The draft downtown design concept – available at portcoquitlam.ca/downtown – reflects a variety of planning exercises over the years, including the 2016 Cultural Plan, 2017 Recommendations for a Downtown Action Plan and 2018 Downtown Concept Plan.

Public consultation in the past has included public surveys, workshops, a Downtown Action Plan Advisory Group and the City’s annual budget survey. Targeted engagement of stakeholders – including area property owners, residents, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 133, arts groups and the PoCo BIA – has also taken place and will continue throughout the process.

Updates will be posted at portcoquitlam.ca/downtown as the project progresses.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Pardeep Purewal
Manager of Communications & Admin Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5335 Cel 604.218.0533
Email purewalp@portcoquitlam.ca