The mercury may be reaching the 30s this week and, with the kids out of school, there’s plenty to do outside — and find ways to keep cool — in the Tri-Cities.
The Tri-City News has compiled a list of where families can go locally to enjoy the sunshine, but still find shade:
Blue Mountain Park
- Cool down by running through the spray park or walking in the wading pool at Blue Mountain Park in Coquitlam (975 King Albert St.), which has a forested section for families to picnic and relax. There’s also a tennis and pickleball court on the eastern end, and washrooms and a concession in the centre. Enjoy a Coquitlam Little League or Coquitlam Reds bantam game at the ball diamond, or check out the older trees along the paths of the nearly century-old park: Douglas Fir, Red Cedar, North Red Oak and Redwood trees. The playground features a rubberized safety surface for children. Picnic shelters are on a first-come, first-served basis.
FUNBOX
- Take the kids to FUNBOX, the new 25,000 sq. ft. inflatable park on the northern end of the Coquitlam Centre mall campus (2929 Barnet Hwy.). Located within walking distance of the Lincoln SkyTrain station, the rainbow-coloured park is open until Sept. 2 and marks the business’ first-ever appearance in Canada following runs in the U.S. and Europe. General admission is $29.75, with partial proceeds donated to the Coquitlam Foundation. Afterwards, head over to Coquitlam Centre or area stores for some shopping.
Bert Flinn Park
- You can hike, or take your bike or dog, to weave through the forested Bert Flinn Park, which has a trail access at the top of David Avenue, on Heritage Mountain, in Port Moody. The Tri-Cities Off Road Cycling Association (TORCA) has mountain bike trails carved around the park and there is a section for off-leash dogs. Bring your binoculars or camera to capture the wildlife.
Coquitlam River
- Pack a lawn chair and find a cool spot next to the Coquitlam River — on the Coquitlam or Port Coquitlam sides — to dip your feet. Tubing down the river is not recommended due to the fallen trees along the watercourse. Alternatively, you can hike up the Coquitlam trails hugging the river and stop at Galette Park, north of David Avenue, a favourite spot for en plein air artists Robert Ascroft and Sue A. Cowan, who recently painted a series on the Coquitlam River.
PoCo Community Centre
- This newly built recreation hub (2150 Wilson Ave.) offers respite from the heat with its air conditioning, ice rinks, outdoor spray park and indoor pool. Book a drop-in fitness class in the 205,000 sq. ft. centre or borrow a book at the Terry Fox Library. Admission is $13.31 for a session family visit.
Buntzen Lake
- Raise a pup tent and unpack a picnic to spend the day at Buntzen Lake, a BC Hydro reservoir that’s 4.8-km long, north of Port Moody. There are forested trails that circle the lake and beyond. Parking reservations are in effect from May 16 to Sept. 2. The park is open in the summer between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. from Aug. 19 to Sept. 8). Lifeguards are usually on patrol on the southern beach. Picnic shelters are on a first-come, first-served basis; an off-leash dog area is beside Buntzen Creek, to the right.
təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park
- Lace up your runners to hike one of the many forested trails at this Metro Vancouver regional park (2375 Bedwell Bay Rd., Belcarra), where parts of the new drama series Shogun were filmed to mirror 17th century Japan. There are two easy loop trails to enjoy: the Woodhaven Swamp (1.2 km) and the Sasamat Lake (3.2 km). Dogs must be leashed. Pay parking is in effect April 1 to Sept. 30. Fishing is permitted in the ocean (with a valid licence). In the summer, the park is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Deboville Slough
- Pack your camera and take your wheels to the Deboville Slough trail, which has a Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam route. Start at the trailhead at Victoria/Cedar drives in Coquitlam and cycle along the southern side of the dike trail to reach the Traboulay PoCo Trail — about four kilometres — along the packed dirt/gravel trail. There are several benches and rest stops along the way. And don’t forget to snap images of wildlife for a chance to win a prize in the BC SPCA photo contest (open to ages 14 and up); the deadline for entries is July 22, 2024.
Rocky Point Park Pool
- Port Moody has two outdoor tanks open in the summer: Westhill Pool (203 Westhill Pl.) and at Rocky Point Park (2800-block of Murray Street). The latter pool is next to Rocky Point Park Ice Cream and, to the east, a spray park and a playground that offers some shade for families. The ocean breeze off Port Moody Inlet also cools the park. The pool is open for public swimming from 1 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is $2 for all ages and sessions. Aquafit is on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Registration is required.
Summer Pass
- Here's a deal: Parents can spend $25 on the City of Coquitlam’s Summer Child and Youth Pass, which grants unlimited access to civic pools, ice rinks, fitness rooms and drop-in classes — until Sept. 2. The pass, which is available for kids ages 0 to 18, can be purchased at Coquitlam recreation hubs. Port Moody also has a similar pass, which is valid until Sept. 1. Port Coquitlam doesn’t have a summer pass for kids, but offers free swims at civic outdoor pools for all ages.
