13-block-long urban park with meandering path opens in Burnaby (PHOTOS)

Artistic rendering of Willingdon Linear Park in Burnaby. (City of Burnaby)

After more than a year of construction, the safety hoarding around a new 13-block-long park in the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood of North Burnaby is being dismantled.

The City of Burnaby will officially open Willingdon Linear Park this Saturday, July 21. The greenway-like public space runs along the east side of Willingdon Avenue between Brentwood Town Centre and Hastings, over a distance of about 1.2 kms.

Route of Willingdon Linear Park in Burnaby. (City of Burnaby)

Willingdon Linear Park in Burnaby. (City of Burnaby)

Its features include a meandering paved trail for shared walking and biking uses, two unique pocket parks at Charles Street and Parker Street, grass lawns, rest areas with concrete benches, tree plantings, public art, lighting, and enhanced bus stop areas.

Willingdon Linear Park in Burnaby. (City of Burnaby)

This north-south linear park is bordered by the roadway of Willingdon Avenue to the west and residential and commercial properties to the east. It was previously a vacant strip of land that had a gravel path for informal walking and biking uses.

The project cost $15 million to build, with $6.45 million allocated from the municipal government’s density bonus revenues from property developers, $6.75 million from capital reserves, and $3.4 million from TransLink.

Willingdon Linear Park in Burnaby. (City of Burnaby)

Willingdon Linear Park Opening

The official grand opening event on Saturday runs from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, and it entails the complete temporary closure of Willingdon Avenue between Graveley Street and Parker Street for the planned free programming.

This includes live music, children’s entertainment and activities, fire truck showcases, food trucks, the relocation of the North Burnaby Community Fair to Charles Street.

Some adjacent neighbourhood streets will also be closed for the festivities.

Artistic rendering of Willingdon Linear Park in Burnaby. (City of Burnaby)

Willingdon Linear Park Opening

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