A new park on Burke Mountain opened just in time for local residents to explore over the August long weekend.
Sheffield Park is officially complete a month later than original expected, and less than two years after designs were first put before Coquitlam city council and were sent out for public input.
The multi-level park — located at the corner of Sheffield Avenue and Chandler Street — was well-received during a special opening event last Tuesday (July 28), especially the new spray area as temperatures reached the high 30s and low 40s.
Other features at the two-acre site include:
- Several children's play areas
- A youth area (with a skate park)
- Rubberized fitness path
- Public washroom
- Drinking fountain
- Free wireless internet
All of the above were a result of public consultations and surveys, the City of Coquitlam says.
Design and construction funding came from developer contributions and Development Cost Charges (DCCs) associated with development in the neighbourhood.
There's also a social and seating area for adults as Sheffield Park is one of 56 across Coquitlam where legal-aged residents can publicly drink alcohol.
The park will provide multiple forms of recreation for local residents as it'll still be roughly five years before Burke Mountain gets its own community facility.
In fact, it'll be a year later than originally planned.
At the end of May, Coquitlam staff bumped the construction start time for the $115-million Northeast Community Centre to 2024 — with completion now set for early 2027— to refine the plans after a public outreach in December and January.
City staff are also undertaking a number of technical and environmental studies, as well as a library branch feasibility study, and are discussing the facility with the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation.
Tiina Mack, Coquitlam’s manager of parks and facility planning, said a public survey, four open houses, as well as comments from the Northeast Coquitlam Ratepayers Association and advisory groups, revealed more wants in the new 80,000 sq-ft. building:
- An ice rink
- Six pool lanes — not four
- A covered skateboard park
- Environmental considerations for design and operations
- More parking
Currently, the rec centre plans call for an aquatics facility, multipurpose rooms, a fitness centre, two gyms, accessible change rooms, a library branch and an indoor walking track with a $12-million park/plaza next door.
- with files from Janis Cleugh, Tri-City News
