Royal City residents are invited to offer input into the future needs of Queen's Park at this weekend's kickoff event.
The City of New Westminster is currently working on the Queen's Park master plan, which considers future park uses and development in the next 10 to 20 years.
"We are having our first public consultation event," said Jay Young, manager of Queen's Park Arenex. "It will be based out of Queen's Park Arena lobby. We will have display boards, we will have surveys."
The "ideas event" is taking place on Saturday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Queen's Park Arena lobby and other park locations. Residents are invited to bring park stories and photos, share their ideas about their future vision for Queen's Park and complete a survey.
"Our objective is to come up with a plan that is directed by the input we receive from the community," Young said. "At this point we don't have a plan in place. We will compile all the information we gather."
Tents will also be set up near the Millennium Trail and the Arenex to get residents' input and provide people with surveys.
"There is a diverse number of user groups who use the park," Young explained. "We are tying to hit as many of them as possible."
Residents who are unable to attend the March 10 ideas event will be able to complete a survey that will be posted on the city's website.
"This is just the beginning," Young said about public consultation. "What we are really looking for is people to fill out the survey and tell us their stories. That is the history, that is the background."
The City of New Westminster's website states that the master plan doesn't include a detailed design but provides a framework for how plans for the park will unfold in the years to come.
Public consultation about the Queen's Park master plan will continue in the spring with a community design workshop and an open house. The city's goal is to complete the plan in the fall.
Young said the city's goal is to get community input so the city ensures it's on the same page as residents and doesn't introduce ideas for the park that aren't supported by the community.
