Wrong Side of the Tracks

Slow, noisy rail lines cut off my city of New Westminster, BC from the Fraser River. They are not all that prevents easy access. Also, a long, ugly three-storey parking structure was built out of fear when shopping malls were first hitting the scene. Oh, and let's not forget mentioning a major, regional truck route along narrow Front Street.

As a part of "taking back the waterfront", a sizable portion of derelict and polluted riverfront was set aside for remediation and a community park. The Westminster Pier park is a welcome addition to a downtown that it getting it's groove back. It will be completed and open shortly. The design details look well conceived and implemented. Considering the high growth downtown is experiencing, this amenity is sorely needed.


These stairs, at the west end of the New Westminster Parkade, near Begbie provide existing access over the rail tracks to the Quay.

A major problem for the opening, and for I would imagine, our summer festival and fireworks, is the fact it will be fairly hard getting to the Westminster Pier Park. Begbie Street offers access to a privately owned eyesore of a pay parking lot which is adjacent to the Park's only current entrance. It is probably more that a half kilometer from Begbie though across tar. I have read that a walkway and stairs from the east end of the parkade will be built before the year's end. I cannot see clear evidence of planned placement for such a structure on the park side though.