The City of Burnaby is committed to enhancing and expanding our parks, ensuring they continue to support a thriving community for today, tomorrow and future generations.
Burnaby is home to over 160 parks and open spaces, which together make up more than 25% of the city's total area. These spaces offer places to relax, have fun, stay active and enjoy nature. They are also vital for connecting with neighbours, learning from our environment and celebrating our culture.
TODAY: New Programs, Initiatives and Upgrades
Burnaby is actively investing in our parks to ensure they remain engaging and unique spaces within our community. Our immediate focus is on delivering new activations, programs and infrastructure for residents to enjoy right away. Whether you want to play, relax, exercise or learn, our parks have something for everyone.
Notable initiatives include the Parkway Alive program, offering free family fun activities all summer long on the BC Parkway, and the Parks Pulse program, which accelerates access to park and recreation amenities throughout the city. Additionally, new infrastructure projects such as a pedestrian bridge at Deer Lake and a pedestrian/cycling overpass over Highway 1 are underway to improve access to our parks.
TOMORROW: Parks for the People, by the People
Our parks and programs are shaped by the voices of our community. The input we receive from Burnaby residents plays a key role in how we design the future of our parks.
We currently have several parks community engagement projects underway including Central Park Master Plan, Burnaby Mountain Trail Management Plan, BC Parkway Enhancement Project and the Urban Forest Management Plan, as well as engagement for community gardens at Ernie Winch Park.
FUTURE: Protecting and Expanding our Park System
From the scenic trails of Burnaby Mountain to the tranquil lakes of Deer Lake and Burnaby Lake, our parks offer diverse natural and recreational experiences. Parks are also vital habitats for wildlife, sources of clean air and water, and buffers against climate change. The City of Burnaby is committed to protecting and expanding its parkland even as our city grows.
To guide our efforts, the City created a Parkland Prioritization Framework, which informs decisions about future park development and parkland acquisition. Areas of rapid growth such as Town Centres and Urban Villages are a high priority, particularly because most residents live in multi-family buildings without private yards.
Charges on new development help to fund strategic growth-related improvements, including parkland acquisitions. This ensures we can sustainably manage community infrastructure needs by acquiring and developing new parks to support our growing City. Burnaby is dedicated to building vibrant urban communities, with parks serving as essential shared public spaces that are key to fostering community connections, a sense of place and local identity.
Learn more: Burnaby.ca/WeLoveBurnabyParks