COQUITLAM, B.C., April 18, 2023 – A future Coquitlam park that will serve an important role connecting the Burke Mountain Village and the Northeast Community Centre is starting to take shape.
Burke Village Park is a key component of the Burke Mountain Village Master Plan and the Northeast Community Centre. The park will be centrally located in the Village next to the future community centre, and it will provide a critical pedestrian link from outside the Village directly into the heart of the neighbourhood.
Future Park at the Heart of the Neighbourhood
Burke Village Park will perform an important role in the community by providing outdoor open space and amenities for neighbourhood residents as well as visitors to the Village and the community centre.
In the original park concept in the Burke Mountain Village Master Plan showed a long set of stairs down a treed corridor from David Ave. to Princeton Ave. Plans called for an enhanced spray deck with play opportunities, and a large lawn area bounded by a reconstructed watercourse and switchback ramps to Burke Village Promenade.
Ensuring that there are accessible paths along the steep slopes at the south end of the park as well as where the park connects to the community centre is a key part of the current park concept plan.
The park plans will also focus on ensuring there are play areas for children and youth of all ages, as well as outdoor exercise and social opportunities for all ages.
Protecting Important Watercourses
During the construction of Burke Village Promenade, three tributaries to Star Creek were culverted under the road while maintaining flows to downstream fish habitat.
An important step in the development of Burke Village Park is rebuilding the watercourses north of Burke Village Promenade in order to ensure long-term water and nutrient contributions to Star Creek. Currently, the plan is to rebuild the eastern tributary in its existing alignment, and rebuild the two western tributaries as one extended watercourse through Burke Village Park.
With the planning for the Northeast Community Centre well underway, it is now time to begin advancing the park design, which includes determining the location and configuration of this new waterway in order to begin securing the necessary permits.
Next Steps
The plans for Burke Village Park will continue to move forward in tandem with the design of the Northeast Community Centre.
For example, while the main entrance to the Northeast Community Centre will be on Princeton Ave., a significant secondary entrance is also planned at the midpoint of Burke Village Park. The water feature will also be at this midpoint, not only to be able to share mechanical systems, but also to allow for indoor/outdoor play opportunities and access to change rooms and washrooms.
As design for the park amenities moves forward, it is anticipated that there will be community engagement opportunities to learn more about the plans and, where appropriate, provide feedback on specific design elements. Information about the project and these opportunities will be shared on the City’s website, social media, neighbourhood information and in the local paper, as well as at coquitlam.ca/necc.
About the Northeast Community Centre
The future Northeast Community Centre will be a three-storey, 430-square-metre (80,000-square-foot) facility in the future Burke Mountain Village, bringing aquatics, gymnasiums, fitness, library, community space and other services to the growing area. It will be an inclusive and accessible hub that will showcase the natural mountainside setting.
Substantial planning work has been completed to date on the project – which will be the most significant civic facility built in recent years – including a feasibility study, preliminary technical studies, a needs assessment as well as a high-level plan for the building program, size and cost developed by an architecture firm.
For more information on the NECC project, visit coquitlam.ca/necc. Those interested in development on Burke Mountain can find information on coquitlam.ca/burkemtn or sign up for Burke Mountain updates at coquitlam.ca/notifyme.
About Burke Mountain Village
Burke Mountain Village will be a unique regional destination, and the social and commercial heart of the growing master-planned community of Burke Mountain in Northeast Coquitlam, currently home to about 15,000 people.
The 16-hectare (39-acre) village will feature 11,200 square metres (120,000 square feet) of commercial space – including a grocery store, shops and restaurants – along with a public plaza, community centre, 2,000-plus apartments and townhomes, panoramic views, and easy access to nearby trails, parks and schools, as well as proximity to transit, including SkyTrain and commuter rail.
Formerly known as the Partington Creek Neighbourhood Centre, Burke Mountain Village is anticipated to begin development within the next several years. Visit burkevillage.ca for information.
Media contact
Ted Uhrich
Acting Manager Facility and Parks Planning
604-927-6710
tuhrich@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-kwuh-tlum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), and other Coast Salish Peoples.