The City of New Westminster has decided on an official name for the park that's now under construction on the waterfront.
Long known as Westminster Pier, city council has voted to make Westminster Pier Park its official name - provided that there are no ownership disputes over the name.
"Everybody knows it that way," said Mayor Wayne Wright. "I think it's the one (name) that has been there for so long."
The city bought the Westminster Pier site at 224 Front St. in 2009 with the goal of creating a riverfront park.
A staff report stated that construction of the park is progressing rapidly and the project team needs confirmation of the name so it can be incorporated into the park entrance landscape design.
The staff report stated the name Westminster Pier Park is in keeping with the city's policy of naming a park after a locational feature and has been the name that people have called the site for more than 20 years. In addition, design elements, public art and interpretive signage in a the park refer to the historic wooden piers that are being retained on the site and new piles will be added at the park's entrance to reinforce the former pier theme.
Coun. Betty McIntosh was the lone councillor who opposed the name, preferring that it be called New Westminster Pier Park. She said Westminster Pier Park makes her think of Westminster, an area of London, England.
"It was a marketing name that was done by former owners of the site," she said of the Westminster Pier Park name. "That gave me more impetus to say, come on guys, let's call it New Westminster Pier Park. We live in New Westminster."
Westminster Pier Park will be located on the waterfront between Sixth and Elliott streets. It will include a 600-metre boardwalk that connects to the existing Quayside esplanade, pathways, a large gathering space, a concession stand, grassy areas, lookout points and bridges that provide views of the water, an elevated viewing area and children's playgrounds.
