Major upgrades are coming to the sport courts at Hickey Street Reservoir Park this summer and fall with the support of federal funding.
COQUITLAM, BC, Sept. 8, 2020 – Major upgrades are coming to the sport courts at Hickey Street Reservoir Park this summer and fall with the support of federal funding.
Improvements to the park’s tennis, basketball and ball hockey sport courts will be funded in part by the federal Gas Tax Fund, a cost-sharing infrastructure program administered in B.C. by the Union of B.C. Municipalities.
Construction of the project is scheduled to begin this week and continue until December.
New Amenities
Hickey Street Reservoir Park in Southwest Coquitlam is home to the City’s second-largest outdoor tennis facility, with six lit tennis courts along with two full basketball courts and a ball hockey court. The park’s facilities are well used by recreational users of all ages and in need of an upgrade.
Improvements coming to the park include:
- Installation of new “flex-court” plastic composite tiles to tennis courts (a type of surface approved by Canadian and U.S. tennis associations);
- New black plastic-coated chainlink mesh fencing;
- New UV mesh to improve wind screening;
- State-of the art LED lighting;
- New electrical controls kiosk;
- Repainted lines on ball hockey and basketball courts; and
- New basketball hoops.
The upgrades will improve the experience of park visitors and help meet the growing demand for parks space and amenities in Coquitlam. The $200,000 in federal Gas Tax funding will cover about a quarter of the $750,000 project, freeing up City resources for other park upgrades in the community.
Options for Park Users
Regular visitors to Hickey Street Reservoir Park have many options for sport courts in Southwest Coquitlam and City Centre, such as:
- Tennis courts at these parks: Burquitlam, Eagle Ridge, Mackin, Mariner, Poirier and Town Centre Park;
- Basketball courts at these parks: Burquitlam, Cottonwood, Crestwood, Lower Lougheed and Town Centre Park; and
- Ball hockey at Town Centre Park.
Many other parks throughout Coquitlam offer similar facilities. Visit the City’s Park Finder at www.coquitlam.ca/parkfinder to search for parks by amenity or location.
Quotes
“Coquitlam takes great pride in our outdoor spaces and parks, offering a variety of ways for residents to maintain their physical and mental health, enjoy the natural outdoors, and connect with friends, family and neighbours. We continue to work with our federal and provincial partners, along with UBCM, to improve infrastructure in Coquitlam through the Federal Gas Tax Fund program. This funding will contribute toward updated tennis, ball hockey and basketball amenities at Hickey Street Reservoir Park, and supports a healthy community and active citizens.”
- Mayor Richard Stewart, City of Coquitlam
“As Coquitlam continues to grow, it’s important that we invest in accessible, sustainable infrastructure projects that support the community’s vision for safe and well-maintained public spaces where people can participate in many activities while enjoying the outdoors. By supporting the improvement of municipal infrastructure, we are supporting active living and creating connected communities, ensuring a high quality of life for generations to come.”
- The Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
“Modernizing recreational infrastructure like the facilities at the Hickey Street Reservoir Park will provide safer and improved spaces for families and individuals to continue playing sports and working out. Increasing and upgrading areas for physical activity will keep Canadians healthy and encourage a better-balanced lifestyle. Canada’s Infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds stronger communities.”
-Ron McKinnon, Member of Parliament for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
About the Federal Gas Tax Fund
The federal Gas Tax Fund is in its 16th year of delivering funding to local government infrastructure and capacity-building projects in British Columbia. During that time, the fund has transferred over $2.5 billion to B.C.’s communities. The fund provides municipalities across the country with a permanent, stable and indexed source of infrastructure funding. For more information, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gtf.
Supporting Our Community During the Pandemic
The City of Coquitlam is here to help, with these resources:
- Visit www.coquitlam.ca/csrp to learn about the City’s Community Support and Recovery Plan, which is providing immediate and long-term support for the non-profit sector, businesses and residents;
- Visit www.coquitlam.ca/spirit for a free library of activities for all ages, including fitness, arts and culture, outdoor activities and ways to connect with your community; and
- Visit www.coquitlam.ca/covid19 for updates on City services and initiatives and COVID-19 health resources.
Coquitlam residents and businesses are also encouraged to follow the City of Coquitlam on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and download the CoquitlamConnect mobile app for up-to-date City information. Links are available at www.coquitlam.ca/connect.
Media contact
Kathleen Reinheimer
Manager, Parks
City of Coquitlam
Phone: 604-927-3533
Email