A riverfront connection between Westminster Pier Park and River Market could be restored in late 2024 or early 2025.
A recent staff report about the City of New Westminster’s 2024 capital and operating budgets mentioned the expansion of Westminster Pier Park.
The report noted that as of June 30, $0.7 million of the $3.4 million revised capital budget for Pier Park expansion is forecasted to be spent in 2024, with those funds going towards early works coordination, design development and tender documents. It said the remaining budget will be committed in the first quarter of 2025 when construction begins.
“Staff continue to work with a consultant team to develop tender drawings for the westward expansion of the park,” said the report. “The project is planned for tender in 2024 in anticipation of handover of the air space parcel by Bosa in late March 2025. Construction of the park will commence as soon as the handover process is complete.”
That update prompted questions from Coun. Daniel Fontaine, who said he had been contacted by a citizen seeking clarity about the Westminster Pier Park expansion referenced in the report. He questioned if the report is referring to the part of the park that was destroyed by fire or a new section of the park that will be created as part of Bosa Development’s Pier West development.
Erika Mashig, the city’s manager of arboriculture, horticulture, parks and open space planning, said the Westminster Pier Park expansion cited in the report refers to the westward expansion of the park towards the Pier West site, not the fire site.
Fontaine also asked for an update about the reopening of the waterfront boardwalk between the park and River Market.
“I was down on the site not long ago – it looks like it's still very much a construction zone,” he said. “There was signage on the waterfront this summer that said that the waterfront would be open in mid August from like tip to tip on the boardwalk, and that sign was removed.”
Mashig said the esplanade expansion is being delivered by the developer and its timing is connected to the pace of construction.
“That construction is underway; it's ongoing,” she said. “The most recent timeline I've heard is winter 2024, early 2025. So, we'll keep monitoring that construction.”
Before construction began on the Pier West development, pedestrians could go through the parking lot next to River Market/Fraser River Discovery Centre and enter the western side of Westminster Pier Park. Since construction began on the Pier West project, people had had to access the park via the Sixth Street overpass or the Fourth Street stairs and elevator.
“A lot of people asked why it hadn't opened up,” Fontaine said. “So, it's important to note that that is the developer, it's not the city, that is building that … hence it's really on their timeline, not on ours.”
Mashig said the City of New Westminster will build an extension to Pier Park, once the Bosa Development hands the air space parcel over to the city. (Again, that’s for the expansion that will occur on the western side of the park, not the eastern side that was destroyed by fire.)
At its Sept. 23 meeting, council received the 2024 capital and operating quarterly performance report. It included updates on the 2024 operating and capital budgets, and major project /program spending.
“For 2024, council has approved the operating expenditure budget of $272.8 million and the multi-year capital budget of $180.4 million during the annual budgeting process,” said the report. “The multi-year capital budget projected the 2024 annual capital spending to be $151.9 million, and the remaining balance will e spent within the next four years. Council has approved an increase of $18.7 million to the multi-year capital budget … bringing the current approved multi-year capital budget to $199.1 million.”
According to the staff report, staff is forecasting $113.8 million of the $199.1 million five-year capital budget will be spent in 2024.
The report outlined some of the major projects included in the capital budget, including advance metering infrastructure for the electrical department, təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre, sewer separation, water main repairs, pavement management, Massey Theatre renovations, the Sixth Street Great Street, the Active Transportation Network plan, Crosstown Greenway construction, Sapperton District Energy, and Westminster Pier Park expansion.
