Where does the fire department send their hoses when they’re past their prime for fighting fires? Just head to Westminster Pier Park and see for yourself.
An urban beach featuring beach umbrellas, hammocks and a sandy area was the newest addition to the Westminster Pier Park when it was constructed last spring. Last year’s hammocks have been replaced with new hammocks, made of recycled fire hoses from the New Westminster Fire Department.
“We have been working with a designer to develop new hammock that’s actually made of recycled fire hoses. The webbing is actually made of fire hoses themselves,” said Dean Gibson, the city’s director of parks, culture and recreation. “It’s providing a novel reuse of something that ordinarily – I don’t know what happens to old fire hoses when they are not in fire halls, but we have found a use for them down at our site. “
The hammocks have been custom fabricated from retired fire hoses supplied by New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services.
“Obviously it was easier to liaise with our own city people as opposed to having to go to other places,” Gibson said. “It’s kind of a unique little twist on things down there.”
Gibson said the residential grade hammocks installed at the urban beach last year were temporary and never intended to be permanent fixtures in the park.
Visitors to Westminster Pier Park wasted no time in slipping into the new hammocks that returned over the Victoria Day long weekend. The biggest complaint?
“They need more than six hammocks,” one woman said while waiting her turn.
Also returning to the waterfront park is Eats @ the Pier, where park goers will be able to buy food and beverages (and even kites) on good weather days from the May long weekend until the end of September.
