Coquitlam’s ambitious 2020 capital program will see about $140 million in parks and facilities upgrades initiated this year, from new trailside washrooms to multi-year YMCA and Place Maillardville projects.
COQUITLAM, B.C., Feb. 25, 2020 – Coquitlam’s ambitious 2020 capital program will see about $140 million in parks and facilities upgrades initiated this year, from new trailside washrooms to multi-year YMCA and Place Maillardville projects.
Also in the works are park and field upgrades, recreation amenity expansions and improvements to support City services, Council heard Monday night during a periodic capital construction update by staff.
What’s In Store
Public amenities under construction this year include:
- A new 22,000-square-foot Place Maillardville Community Centre and plaza, with construction to start this spring and completion in 2022;
- A new 55,000-square-foot Coquitlam Family YMCA, Community Policing Station and Park & Ride in Burquitlam, with construction under way and completion in fall 2022;
- A new washroom, plaza and servery at the Town Centre Park festival grounds, with construction started this month and completion this summer;
- Two new universal access washrooms along the Coquitlam Crunch, which opened in late January and two at the Chilko entrance to Mundy Park opening this summer;
- Continuing expansion at Cottonwood Park, including a ball diamond and playing field to be completed this fall;
- New change rooms at Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex Arena 3, with construction starting soon and completion later this year;
- Expansion of City Centre Aquatic Complex’s fitness area, opening in summer 2021; and
- Replacement of Town Centre Park’s Cunnings artificial turf field this summer.
Construction is also set to begin this year or by early 2021, on:
- A new 4,000-square-foot Burke Mountain Discovery Centre and Coffee Shop, to be completed in 2021;
- Cottonwood Park expansion Phase 1B, including a ball diamond and playing field, with expected completion this fall; and
- Buchanan Square improvements, including replacement of the RCMP parkade roof in 2020 and enhancements to public space in 2021.
The City also plans to start construction later this year on a new live fire training facility at the Town Centre Fire Hall, and to build a new fleet maintenance and workshop building and make other improvements at the Austin Works Yard in 2021.
As well, the early phase of planning has begun on the Northeast Coquitlam Community Centre, southwest area cultural facilities, the new Sheffield Park on Burke Mountain, expansion of Robinson Cemetery and upgrades to Blue Mountain Park.
A Look Back At 2019
Projects completed in 2019 with a total value of about $10 million included:
- Expansion of Cottonwood Park with new play equipment, a youth area, washrooms and other amenities;
- Construction of the new Riley Park on Burke Mountain;
- Improvements to the Town Centre Park festival lawn for City festivals and events;
- Replacement of Town Centre Park’s Mobilio Turf Field; and
- Office space improvements on Glen Drive for a City Hall Annex for up to 40 staff.
Improved Construction Management
To successfully deliver the capital program, City staff have honed their management processes to increase efficiency, improve workflow and collaboration, and ensure best practices are followed. New leadership and expertise has also been added to the teams.
Staff are also continually monitoring project finances in light of continually escalating construction costs. In addition, strong communications protocols are in place to inform users and neighbourhoods of upcoming work and to reduce the impact wherever possible.
Updates on parks projects can be found at www.coquitlam.ca/parkprojects. Information about other facility projects can be found at: www.coquitlam.ca/infrastructureprojects.