More lighting and more trees – that’s New Westminster city council’s hope for a downtown site owned by Metro Vancouver that aims to become a gathering place for residents.
Part of Metro Vancouver’s plan to build the Annacis water supply tunnel between New Westminster and Surrey includes construction of an underground chamber at 1031 Quebec St. A staff report notes tha,t once construction of the new tunnel and chamber are complete, the space near Royal Avenue and 11th Street will become a public open space owned by Metro Vancouver.
According to a staff report, city staff have met with Metro Vancouver and their project landscape architect to review options for the 1,860-square-metre site. The design will attempt to integrate water and hydrology into the site, to balance paved areas with green space, to support birds, insects and pollinators on site, to provide native plant species, and to integrate educational opportunities that explain the infrastructure below.
The design concept for the site includes green space where residents can sit, socialize and play. It also includes street trees along the perimeter to provide shade and “a sense of enclosure.”
In an effort to ensure the space is inviting to area residents, council directed staff to work with Metro Vancouver on options for more lighting and trees on the site.
“The lighting seems missing,” said Coun. Mary Trentadue. “If we are talking about having the space be for public use and of a park nature, it’s in an area of town where it is pretty dark. I think lighting would be pretty crucial.”
Although the concept plan includes some trees in an area where there are few trees, Coun. Nadine Nakagawa said it seems like a missed opportunity to add to the city’s tree canopy. She said more trees would help provide a buffer from neighbouring industrial areas and traffic.
Jackie Teed, the city’s director of planning, said there may be an opportunity to provide more trees on the site, but they can’t impact the water tunnel’s below-ground infrastructure. She said staff will work with Metro Vancouver to see that as many trees as possible are put on the site.
Construction of the Annacis water supply tunnel is expected to take place between 2020 and 2025.
