City of New Westminster installs first parklet

New Westminster – The City of New Westminster is set to begin construction on its first parklet as part of a city-wide parklet pilot program. Starting on Wednesday, August 5^th two parking spaces in the 400 block of East Columbia Street will be converted into a public space that includes a cedar patio, benches, and greenery.

“The parklet will be a welcoming spot for people to socialize, relax, and enjoy the city,” said New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Coté. “It will be an ideal place for impromptu meetups, sharing a bite to eat, and visiting with your neighbours. It’s a great addition to the Sapperton neighbourhood.”

A parklet is a platform built flush to the curb that extends the sidewalk and provides a creative solution for enhancing the urban streetscape. Parklets benefit local businesses, residents, and visitors by providing a dynamic public space that attracts customers and fosters neighbourly engagement.

“This pilot project is an inexpensive way to contribute to urban placemaking on East Columbia Street by converting two public parking spaces into a compact park,” said Erika Mashig, Parks and Open Space Planner for the city. “In addition to providing intimate seating, the parklet is specifically designed to help ‘green the street’ with an undulating planter wall that allows views into the lush planting by both pedestrians and vehicles passing by.”

The space will contain benches that offer diverse seating arrangements to be used either individually or collectively. The parklet will be accessible for those with impaired or limited mobility.

During construction of the parklet, two parallel parking stalls will be closed and will reopen on August 8, 2015. The sidewalk next to the parklet will remain open and businesses will remain accessible during the installation.

The parklet is scheduled for completion on Saturday, August 8, 2015.

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Contact:
Erika Mashig
Parks and Open Space Planner
City of New Westminster
emashig@newwestcity.ca or 604-527-4530