More than 100 people gathered in Abbotsford’s Cooper Meadows on Wednesday to explore Cooper Hill Park, the city’s newest green space that meshes public access with a nod to the land’s dairy-farming past. The celebration — held July 29 and organised with developer Polygon Homes — marked the latest addition to Abbotsford’s growing network of neighbourhood parks.
Trail, views and children’s storywalks draw a neighbourhood crowd
Visitors followed an elevated gravel trail leading to several viewpoints that look over the city, pausing at seating areas and family-friendly installations along the way. The event included two sets of storywalks placed along the ascent, with additional storywalks near the trail base, and featured activities such as a mini-putt course, face painting, games and a range of community group booths.
- Trail: elevated gravel path to multiple viewpoints
- Family features: two storywalks on the trail plus more at the base
- Community offerings: mini-putt course, face painting, games and food
- Seating: four benches positioned along the trail and at the lookout
Speeches before the walk were given by Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens and Polygon Homes Fraser Valley senior vice-president Ryan Lucy. They emphasised both the park’s recreational value and the historical significance of the property, which was once part of the Cooper family dairy farm.
“The history of this property goes back many, many years to the Cooper family,” said Mayor Ross Siemens.
Polygon’s Ryan Lucy recalled Kathleen Cooper’s connection to the land, framing the new park as an attempt to capture the spirit she treasured. “She really loved this space, the property, and the natural beauty from the hillside,” Lucy said, adding the developer hoped the project “helps embody the vision she had for this space.”
Heritage remembered through design elements
The park’s design incorporates places to sit and take in the same vistas that Kathleen Cooper appreciated, city officials said. Four benches have been positioned along the trail to encourage visitors to pause and view the valley and cityscape from the hillside.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Trail type | Elevated gravel trail with multiple viewpoints |
| Seating | Four benches along trail and lookout |
| Family activities | Storywalks, mini-putt course, face painting, games |
| Partners | City of Abbotsford and Polygon Homes (Cooper Meadows developer) |
Organisers described the park as both a neighbourhood amenity for Cooper Meadows residents and a public lookout that honours the agriculture and local family history of the site. The Cooper family operated a sizable dairy farm on the land now occupied by Cooper Hill Park and the surrounding Cooper Meadows community.
At the event, attendees ranged from young families enjoying the storywalks to older residents who remembered the property’s past use. The programming — free and open during the opening — was intended to invite a broad cross-section of the city to experience the space and to spotlight the collaboration between municipal planners and the private developer.
Community access and future use
While the opening was a celebratory moment, it also signals the city’s continuing emphasis on integrating green corridors and public viewpoints into developing neighbourhoods. The park provides passive recreation opportunities — walking, light trail use and sightseeing — rather than large-scale sports fields or playgrounds.
City staff and Polygon representatives framed the park as a compromise between development and conservation: retaining open sightlines and placing benches at historically meaningful vantage points was cited as a deliberate choice to respect Kathleen Cooper’s wishes for the land.
For Abbotsford residents, Cooper Hill Park adds another accessible outdoor option within city limits, offering both everyday recreation and a place to connect with local history from a hillside vantage point.
Future programming or formal maintenance schedules for the park were not detailed at the opening. Residents interested in events or volunteer opportunities at Cooper Hill Park can watch for notices from the City of Abbotsford and community groups involved with Cooper Meadows.
