The City of New Westminster has landed another award for its riverfront park.
The International Downtown Association has awarded the City of New Westminster its 2013 Downtown Pinnacle Award for the development of Westminster Pier Park.
“Once again, Westminster Pier Park has been recognized as an award-winning project and valuable community asset,” Mayor Wayne Wright said in a press release. “Providing a unique space where residents and visitors alike can walk, play, connect with one another or simply enjoy the river is part of an overall vision for our downtown that is re-energizing this historic part of our city.”
The International Downtown Association presented the Pinnacle Award at its annual conference in New York City on Oct. 7. Representatives of the New Westminster Downtown Business Improvement Association attending the conference accepted the Pinnacle Award on the city’s behalf.
“When we learned that the City of New Westminster was being recognized with another award for Westminster Pier Park at the conference we were attending we didn’t hesitate to accept the offer to participate,” said Kendra Johnston, executive director of the New Westminster Downtown Business Improvement Association. “A lot of work is underway to revitalize our downtown and make it a place for businesses and residents to thrive. Westminster Pier Park is a big part of that.”
Westminster Pier Park was among 24 qualified entries for a Pinnacle Award in the category of Public Space, which recognizes capital improvements that enhance the urban design, physical function, or economic viability of the downtown and the community.
“Each year the IDA awards jury honours the very best programs and projects in each category to recognize great work and, most importantly, to set the standard for best practice in our industry,” said David Downey, president and CEO of the International Downtown Association. “Westminster Pier Park is a wonderful example for downtowns to emulate.”
Westminster Pier Park, a 600-metre long linear park that stretches from Sixth to Elliott streets along the waterfront, includes two playgrounds, a sports court, a finger pier that stretches out over the Fraser River, a "festival lawn" gathering area, a sports court, two sand volleyball courts, walking paths and more.
After buying the waterfront site for $8 million in 2009, the city received federal and provincial government contributions for two-thirds ($16.6 million) of the project funding through the Build Canada Fund and contributed more than $8 million in city funds to the park.
Before the park had even opened to the public in June 2012, it had won three awards: a 2012 Environment Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators, which recognized the innovation and administrative excellence demonstrated by the city; a Sustainable Communities Award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities; and a national Brownie Award from the Canadian Urban Institute for sustainable remediation technologies.
In 2010, the International Downtown Association awarded the City of New Westminster a Downtown Merit Award for its downtown community plan.
