Westminster Pier Park | New Westminster Canada | PWL Partnership

For the first time in history, New Westminster is celebrating access to their riverfront which historically was heavy industrial. The new park directly accesses the downtown, revitalizing the urban core and the waterfront.

With four awards for environmental excellence already under its “green” belt, Westminster Pier Park, a 3.84-hectare park situated along the Fraser River on a derelict industrial brownfield site, opened to the public in June 2012. The removal of 3,600 tonnes of contaminated soil and the use of piers instead of fill in the river contributed to the restoration of the site’s damaged ecology. The introduction of new habitats provides biodiversity for the riparian foreshore and river ecology with the goal of increasing fish and wildlife habitat. The urban park is built from robust, easy to maintain, man-made and natural materials that can be recycled at the end of its 75-year life span, a vital goal of the City of New Westminster.  With sustainability as an integral part of the park development, the design is not only sensitive to the site’s current ecological needs but also to its future environmental impact.

“Place-making” was another key component of making the park socially sustainable.  Achieving this called for innovation and creativity in design and programming of the park, as well as connections to the urban core and to the Fraser River. Park spaces include festival lawns, gathering areas, playgrounds and sports activity areas. The character of the park reflects the historic industrial waterfront by incorporating long timber piers and piles, heavy timber structures, and timber and metal furnishings. Integrated into the boardwalk is a metal memory band that runs the length of the park, and includes words that reflect the history of New Westminster.  These coupled with hinge loungers, inspired by the hand trucks once used on the industrial site, pay homage to the history of the area.

Westminster Pier Park provides a place for people to gather and recreate, enjoy nature, learn about the historic importance of the city, and heals the river environment for future generations.

Westminster Pier Park | New Westminster Canada | PWL Partnership

Prime Park Designer: PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.

Prime Project Manager / Engineer: WorleyParsons

Geotechnical Engineer: exp

Shoreline Ecologist: GL Williams and Associates Inc.

Architect: Dialog

Jet Grout Consultant: Sea to Sky Geotech Inc.

Lighting Consultant: Total Lighting Solutions

Mechanical Engineer: Perez Engineering Ltd.

Client: City of New Westminster

Photography: PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.