New master plan for Town Centre
By Colten Kamlade, Staff Reporter
The City of Coquitlam has announced a plan to begin upgrading Town Centre Park, one of Coquitlam’s busiest green spaces.
“A new festival hub washroom; a larger festival lawn for events, picnicking, and informal use; forest plantings and upgraded lake loop with new boardwalk, improved lakefront access with a lush and colourful Garden Walk on the east side of the lake; and a new public washroom by the Evergreen Cultural Centre,” will be added to the park, according to the City of Coquitlam website.
Andre Isakov, park planning and design manager for the City of Coquitlam, said the upcoming improvements are intended to ensure that the park can be used for years to come.
“The Town Centre Park Master Plan outlined a strategy for continues park improvement to make sure that the park continues to serve the community well into the future,” he said. “The improvements will vary in size, as always when the project moves to construction we will work to minimize any disturbance to park users during the construction period.”
The budget for the project is $5 million, though that isn’t necessarily the final price tag, according to Isakov.
“That amount is a funding envelope for all the proposed improvements,” he said. “We will now commence the detail design process for several proposed improvements in the park. Once completed, the detail design plans for these proposed improvements will be presented to council together with a budget. At this point, council authorized staff to proceed to detail design plans and set a budget envelope for all the improvements.”
The Town Centre Park Master Plan was informed by research, feedback from public information sessions, surveys, and consultation with sports, accessibility, and other stakeholders, according to the City of Coquitlam website.
“The master plan’s vision is for a timeless park with something for everyone—a community focal point that respects the park’s historical and existing feel and character, while providing modern amenities and capturing new and evolving opportunities,” the website stated.
Town Centre Park opened in 1989 on the site of an old gravel quarry. The park is 42 hectares, and is a popular location for sports, recreation, and leisure activities. The park plaza and the Percy Perry Stadium host events that attract thousands of spectators each year. In 2017, the park was named Canada’s Greatest Public Space by the Canadian Institute of Planners, according to the City of Coquitlam website.
Work began on the updated master plan about two years ago due to the rising population and the new SkyTrain station next to the park.
