Riverfront park built above parkade adds recreation, shade and plaza space
New Westminster’s waterfront gained a sizeable new public space on Wednesday as the westward extension of Westminster Pier Park officially opened between the Sixth Street overpass and the Fraser River Discovery Centre. The project converts a former parking lot into an accessible riverside destination, bringing exercise, shade and seating to a stretch of the Quay that has long been earmarked for renewal.
The city and private partner Bosa Development delivered the expansion, with the municipality investing $7.6 million from its capital budget to construct the park on top of a three‑storey parkade. A family‑friendly celebration ran from 3 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 5, featuring community programming, food trucks, live entertainment and a ribbon‑cutting followed by a performance from country singer–songwriter Danielle Ryan.
“This long‑envisioned space brings years of planning and community input to life, changing a parking lot into a welcoming place where people of all ages and abilities can gather, stay active and enjoy the Fraser River,” Mayor Patrick Johnstone said in a city news release.
The new park centres on a festival plaza designed as a performance and gathering area. Seasonal water jets animate the space in warmer months and a performance stage under a shade sail provides a venue for community events. Two open lawns and tiered seating encircle the plaza, creating sightlines to the river and a mix of passive and active spaces.
- Fitness and play: outdoor exercise equipment and ping‑pong tables
- Seating and picnics: picnic tables and tiered seating
- Shade and performance: stage with a shade sail
- Green infrastructure: more than 100 newly planted trees
- Connectivity: multi‑use pathway linking to the riverfront esplanade
- Dog relief: dedicated area for pets
City materials describe the layout as a multi‑use facility that improves access for people walking, wheeling and cycling along the Quay. A direct pathway links the expanded park to the esplanade, making the waterfront easier to navigate without a vehicle.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Municipal investment | $7.6 million |
| Tree plantings | More than 100 |
| Location | Between Sixth Street overpass and Fraser River Discovery Centre |
| Built on | Three‑storey parkade |
For residents who have watched the Quay evolve, the new section marks another step in the long‑running push to activate the riverfront. The combination of programmed plaza space and informal green lawns aims to accommodate both scheduled events and everyday use — from morning fitness sessions to evening strolls.
Event programming at the opening included community recreation activities and a cold plunge pop‑up from Tality Wellness, underlining the park’s emphasis on active living. The city framed the expansion as a response to years of public input and planning and as part of a broader effort to strengthen connections within the community and between the downtown and the Fraser River.
By placing the expansion above a private parkade, the project increases public amenity without taking additional riverfront land, a detail that may influence how future riverside projects are designed. The multi‑use pathway and connections to the esplanade could also improve non‑vehicular access along the Quay, an ongoing concern for cyclists, mobility‑device users and families with strollers.
As summer events move back onto the waterfront, the new plaza and stage create an additional venue for performances and community gatherings. For New Westminster residents, the park offers fresh outdoor choices close to downtown — shade and grass where a parking lot once stood, and more than 100 new trees that will grow into long‑term canopy for the waterfront.
