Coquitlam’s Streetscape Enhancement Program saw colourful murals, unique bike racks, twinkling lights and functional seating added to Coquitlam streets in 2024, with more planned in the coming months.
COQUITLAM, B.C., January 14, 2025 – Coquitlam’s Streetscape Enhancement Program saw colourful murals, unique bike racks, twinkling lights and functional seating added to Coquitlam streets in 2024, with more planned in the coming months.
Launched in 2023, the streetscape enhancement program aims to beautify streets and public spaces across the community with public art and amenities. Interesting street furniture, captivating murals and decorative lighting all help to bring people together outside, encouraging community connection and pride-of-place, promoting outdoor living, supporting tourism and economic development, and improving street safety.
New Additions for 2024 and 2025
Murals: Visitors and residents alike will notice new art gracing walls throughout the community. Adding colour, connection and pride of place, these murals will soon become well-loved staples in Coquitlam’s backdrop.
- Ancestral Legacy at Town Centre Park Community Centre (1207 Pinetree Way) was designed by a multi-generational team from kʷikʷəƛ̓əm and led by the Raven-Tacuara Collective (who also painted The Ripple mural in 2023).
- Paperback Dream at the Coquitlam Public Library, City Centre Branch (1169 Pinetree Way) celebrates the power of imagination fueled by reading. Designed and painted by artist Carolyn Wong, the large-scale mural will serve as inspiration for more enhancements planned for the library in 2025.
- There is Always Good in the World outside Getaway Youth Centre (630 Poirier Street) was designed by youth and created during a community painting session. The mural is a product of a partnership with United Way British Columbia’s Hi Neighbour local initiative.
- A fourth mural is planned for the south-facing wall of the SoCo Development at 308 Alderson Avenue. Viewable from Highway 1 and a nearby multi-use path, the mural painting will start closer to the spring once weather warms up.
Artful Street Furniture: Bringing vibrancy and function to the streetscape, new bike racks and benches have been installed or planned across the city.
- Spelling the words “EXPLORE” at the City Centre branch of the Coquitlam Public Library and “RIDE” at the Burquitlam SkyTrain Station, brightly painted steel letters serve multiple functions by bringing vibrancy to the streetscape and allowing visitors to safely secure bikes, scooters and other micromobility devices while shopping in the area.
- Flora Lounge: Being installed on the High Street in early 2025, sculptural benches with tabletops will encourage people to pause and connect while visiting local businesses.
- The Heights: Inspired by 1960s mod design, three custom benches with the words “The Heights” will be installed along Austin Avenue. The benches are a product of a successful collaboration with the Austin Heights Business Improvement Association.
Lighting Features: Ornamental tree lighting in the City Centre area has been expanded, connecting the Lights at Lafarge into the City Centre commercial area. The additional lighting helps to improve visibility and safety during the darker winter months, encouraging more visitors to the area.
Multi-Activation Sites: Murals, street furniture and plantings together will add vibrancy and pride-of-place to the following sites:
- Coquitlam Public Library, City Centre Branch: Activation includes an additional, accessible entrance, external wall decals and ground painting inspired by the Paperback Dream mural, and colourful modular furniture and new plantings in the plaza area between the library and Henderson Mall.
- Hobbis Way and Clarke Road: Ground painting and a public art installation, Welcome Home, will support place-making on the street corner, in addition to the existing planters and benches. Inspired by the timeless act of welcoming someone with a vase of flowers, Welcome Home features two oversized vases topped with kinetic floral sculptures that move with the wind.
All of the planned installations will be complete by spring 2025. Look forward to public art walking tours being planned along with pop-up performances at some of the newly enhanced spaces. To learn more about the program and follow along as the remaining projects are completed, visit coquitlam.ca/streetscape.
Media Contact:
Hilary Letwin
Manager Cultural Services
prcs_info@coquitlam.ca
604-927-6288
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.