An "under-utilized" park in Coquitlam’s City Centre is now home to a bike pump track, ping pong tables, badminton and beach volleyball courts and picnic tables — at least for the summer.
Last month, the municipality’s park staff installed the amenities in Glen Park (1149 Westwood St.) to bring more life to the green space that's surrounded by thousands of residents in high rises.
The aim is to keep the active elements until the fall, said Coquitlam parks coordinator Brian Morley, noting the bike pump track that moved from Mundy Park increased two-and-a-half times for the Glen spread, at a cost of around $90,000.
"We've had a lot of positive feedback," said Sara Yastremski, the city’s parks partner program supervisor, told the Tri-City News during a tour last week.
"This site has been under-utilized for so long. People in the area are excited."
"It's amazing what happens to a park when you put in a picnic table and other things. Kids are out with their parents and grandparents playing in the fresh air," added Morley.
City council OK’d the Glen Park Summer Fun program in March as part of a $250,000 activation of specific parks this summer, adding movable and temporary amenities to make public spaces more welcoming.
Besides Glen, the following sites also got a boost with furnishings and amenities:
- Town Centre Park
- Blue Mountain Park
- Mackin Park
- Burke Mountain Pioneer Park
- Marguerite Park
Meanwhile, the parks team is inviting the public to a community party at Glen Park on Aug. 18 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
City staff will be on site to promote Tree Spree, a new tree planting initiative and public eduction campaign that aims to see 10,000 trees planted this year to increase the city's tree canopy; small trees will be handed out for free to Coquitlam residents and businesses.
As well, the city's Park Spark team will be at the event to showcase its activities; currently, it has more than 600 volunteers and 1,000 helpers in its Light Brigade for Lights at Lafarge, Yastremski said.
And there will be opportunities to speak with parks staff and check out the machines used to maintain city parks.
Coquitlam parks had more than a million visits last year, averaging 85,000 guests per month, according to a city report.
