PORT COQUITLAM, BC - June 20, 2023... Port Coquitlam is putting the final touches on Veterans Park this week as it prepares to welcome back the public to the freshly updated space.
The fencing will come down and a ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for June 27, 12:30 p.m. to celebrate the completion of the Veterans Park upgrades and another milestone in Port Coquitlam's Civic Centre renewal project and downtown revitalization. Open to all, the June 27 event will include refreshments and games for attendees to enjoy the welcoming, safe and accessible new open space at the corner of Shaughnessy Street and McAllister Avenue.
"We invite everyone to drop by the ribbon-cutting event to experience this beautiful new gem in the heart of Port Coquitlam's downtown," Mayor Brad West said. "We're looking forward to seeing Veterans Park come alive with visitors and residents as they stroll or wheel along the new accessible pathways, relax on the lawn and new seating, and take a moment to reflect at the cenotaph in its new central location. It's a space that invites you in and encourages you to stay - a precursor to what we're working to achieve throughout our iconic downtown."
Construction began in November to bring an open concept design to Veterans Park, with safe and welcoming spaces for visitors and residents of all ages to enjoy.
The refreshed new design includes:
- A new entry plaza at the corner of Shaughnessy Street and McAllister Avenue,
- Accessible pathways crisscrossing the park for improved pedestrian access,
- Seating 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, and
- A new sidewalk on Shaughnessy Street fronting the park.
The renewal of Veterans Park is part of a broader transformation of the Civic Centre - which also includes Leigh Square and the Donald Pathway - as well as the recent streetscape upgrades on McAllister Avenue that are intended to spur the revitalization of Port Coquitlam's charming, authentic downtown.
The City is currently completing an assessment of tenders and due diligence on the remainder of the Civic Centre elements, and will be providing an update in July.
The design for the refreshed civic spaces was informed by best practices in public space design, a variety of City planning exercises over the years - including the 2016 Cultural Plan, 2017 Recommendations for a Downtown Action Plan and 2018 Downtown Concept Plan - and public engagement through surveys, workshops, a Downtown Action Plan Advisory Group and direct consultation with stakeholders such as the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 33 and Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association.
The Civic Centre improvements are part of the City's multi-year revitalization of its iconic downtown, which is working to create a safe, welcoming and walkable hub where businesses thrive and people want to shop, live, work, socialize and celebrate.
Other work taking place to achieve this vision includes proactive planning to address parking, as well as strategic redevelopment to bring the housing, services and amenities needed in a dynamic downtown core while staying true to the area's character.
Information about the City's downtown revitalization plans can be found at portcoquitlam.ca/downtown.
- 30 -
Media Contact
Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email [email protected]