Access to community parks, community facilities and recreational facilities is important for fostering healthy lifestyles, encouraging social interaction, and enhancing the livability of the city.
The City of New Westminster's park system includes a wide array of park spaces, natural areas, and opportunities for active and passive recreation. The City strives to provide a diverse range of programming to meet the needs of all community members.
Our Purpose
Vision - To be a caring, responsive department that is easy and friendly to deal with and provides creative, innovative services and programs through a well-maintained network of community facilities, parks and open spaces.
Mission - To create and facilitate parks and recreation opportunities that enhance quality of life in New Westminster.
Goal - To offer programs and services that are truly worthwhile and will make life better for others. Our efforts will make a significant improvement for the community and enable our department and employees to grow and progress.
we will be vision driven - creating opportunities in the present to make the New Westminster vision become reality
we are committed to sustainability - all decisions and initiatives will be guided by and tested against balanced economic, social/cultural and environmental perspectives
we will be innovative and progressive - constantly searching for and adopting better ways of doing business, a leader in the provision of local government services
we will be fiscally responsible and accountable, effective stewards and prudent managers of the public assets that have been entrusted to our care
we will demonstrate exemplary customer service
we will be ethical, trustworthy and fair
our decision making processes will be open and transparent
we value teamwork - within and across departments
we are committed to community development approaches that mobilize resident capabilities and build a sense of ownership
we will be an exceptional and trusted partner - collaborating with residents, community organizations, the business community, and related jurisdictions
we will be equitable and decisive in our commitment to identifying and acting on community best interests
we will support and develop staff capabilities as together we strive for high quality, professional best practices
we will be the local government employer of choice - nurturing a high performance work environment that attracts and retains a top team.
Code of Conduct
All customers, visitors and volunteers are expected to treat each other with respect, dignity and fairness. As such, the following is prohibited:
Behaviour, actions or language that promotes discrimination, racism, hatred or is demeaning
Aggressive acts, threats, violence or profanity
Illegal behaviour or destruction of property
Use or possession of alcohol, cannabis, drugs or other intoxicating substances
Use or possession of weapons
Any actions or interactions with children or youth deemed harmful, abusive, coercive, manipulative or illicit in nature
Help us make this a safe place for everyone!
Please report any unusual behaviour to a staff member.
Welcoming and Safe Children's Programming
The City of New Westminster is committed to enhancing healthy child development, as well as protecting children in public spaces such as pools, libraries, and recreation centres. Ongoing education and training in High Five(r) and Commit to Kids(r) programs is provided to staff to maintain a safe environment for children to participate, and thrive, in recreational activities.
High Five established principles (a caring leader, and opportunities to make friends, play, master skills, and participate) ensure positive experiences in recreation settings. Staff are trained to create safe, welcoming, empowering programs that encourage children's development physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively.
Staff are trained to recognize high-risk behaviour and situations, and how to confidently bring forward concerns that don't constitute abuse but are behaviours considered to be inappropriate or misconduct. Training includes a comprehensive approach to preventing child sexual abuse in child-serving programs and facilities.
