The City of Maple Ridge is planning a new riverfront park and walking path, and the local Chamber of Commerce said it could be a boon to downtown businesses.
The city is asking for public input on the future riverfront park and a multi-use pathway that will stretch from the Port Haney Wharf to the Kanaka Creek Regional Park.
It’s an exciting project for the business community, says Kristi Maier, executive director of the Maple Ridge Chamber of Commerce. She said the long stretch of parkland will be especially visible to people travelling on the West Coast Express trains.
“It’s another tourist attraction that will encourage people to come here, and stop in Maple Ridge, and shop,” said Maier. “It’s great – it will bring people to our city.”
While the area lakes and parks draw large crowds during the summer, a riverfront stroll could be a year-round attraction, she noted. Maier said there is lots of potential – such as extending the city’s downtown Christmas decorating to the waterfront, creating a scenic Christmas lights attraction like those that are seen in neighbouring cities.
The chamber executive director said building on the city’s historic connections to the Fraser River is a smart idea.
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“For many years the Port Haney Wharf was an industrial log sort operation with no public access to the Fraser River,” said Valoree Richmond, director of facilities, parks and properties. “With the city’s investment to purchase this land, that’s about to change.
The city announced in October of 2022 it had purchased land on the Fraser waterfront for $4.5 million. The 4.28-acre site, which had been known informally as the Haney log sort, is located between the Port Haney Wharf and Metro Vancouver’s Kanaka Creek Regional Park to the east.
“Residents have an opportunity to share their input on a plan to develop a multi-use pathway that will connect two very popular locations in our community – the Port Haney Wharf and Kanaka Creek Regional Park,” said Richmond. “As part of the engagement process we are looking for big ideas for the next phase of park development at this new waterfront park. So, if you have a great idea for what this park could include, please share it with us.”
The public can have their say by taking an online survey and sharing their ideas at engage.mapleridge.ca by noon Oct. 29. They can also attend an open house on Oct. 19, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre.
“We are committed to honouring the history and culture of the Katie First Nation and Kwantlen First Nation as we move forward on this project,” said Chad Neufeld, manager of parks planning and development, and project lead.
Detailed design will continue into early 2024, including site investigation to determine areas of archaeological significance, environmental considerations, and consultation with Katzie First Nations and Kwantlen First Nations and other key groups.
The multi-use path alignment would be part of the Experience the Fraser route, a project developed by Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley Regional District, and their member municipalities in 2010. The goal is to create a network of multi-modal trails along the Fraser River, stretching from the Salish Sea to Hope. This project builds on the Experience the Fraser vision, enhancing access to the Fraser River and providing a new active transportation route along the waterfront.
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