Big riverfront park expansion opens at foot of New Westminster's new tallest building | Daily Hive

Major riverfront park expansion opens at the foot of New Westminster's new tallest building

July 2026 condition of the newly-built westward expansion of Westminster Pier Park. (City of New Westminster)

A major western expansion of Westminster Pier Park is now open, adding roughly two acres of new public space to Downtown New Westminster’s waterfront.

The newly completed section stretches between the Sixth Street overpass and the Fraser River Discovery Centre, replacing what was previously a parking lot with new recreational, gathering, and event spaces overlooking the Fraser River.

Its opening completes the westward expansion outlined in the City of New Westminster’s 2019 Riverfront Park Master Plan. The project includes two new park areas and a connection to the Riverfront Esplanade, extending the continuous multi-use waterfront pathway for pedestrians and cyclists.

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“The westward expansion of Westminster Pier Park marks an exciting milestone in the continued evolution of New Westminster’s riverfront,” said New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone in a statement.

“This long-envisioned space brings years of planning and community input to life, changing a parking lot into a welcoming place where people of all ages and abilities can gather, stay active, and enjoy the Fraser River. It reflects our commitment to strengthening community connections and building a more livable, accessible city.”

The park expansion was constructed directly above the privately-owned, three-level underground parkade of local developer Bosa Development’s 2024-built Pier West towers at 660 Quayside Dr. It entails the east building of the 472-ft-tall (144 metres), 43-storey Pier West 2 condominium tower and the west building of the 584-ft-tall (178 metres), 53-storey Pier West 1 tower — New Westminster’s tallest building.

Both towers contain a combined total of 665 strata market ownership condominium homes, plus some commercial retail/restaurant space and a childcare facility.

The expanded park was achieved through a partnership between the City and Bosa Development, as part of the public benefits package associated with the market residential uses and density found at the Pier West towers. The municipal government contributed $7.6 million toward the cost of building the park above the private parkade for the towers, while the developer provided the land area above the parkade and a $2-million financial contribution.

The newly built Pier West residential towers on Fraser River waterfront of downtown New Westminster. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)

new westminster pier park expansion bosa 660 quayside

Artistic rendering of the westward expansion of Westminster Pier Park around the base of Bosa Development’s Pier West towers. (City of New Westminster)

There are two parcels for this westward park expansion.

A smaller park expansion parcel is wedged between the Pier West 1 and Pier West 2 towers. It is designed to be a quieter, passive-use park, featuring mostly meadow gardens and some seating. It is a garden-like space that slopes down to a gathering space along the esplanade, offering views of the Fraser River.

The larger park expansion is located immediately west of Pier West 1 — wedged between Pier West 1 and the previous westernmost end of Westminster Pier Park. At the centre of this expansion on the larger parcel is an event-friendly plaza equipped with seasonal water jets and a performance stage covered by a shade sail. Two open grassy lawns and tiered seating surround the plaza, providing space for both special events and informal everyday use.

Other features include an outdoor fitness area, ping pong tables, picnic tables, a dog relief area, and more than 100 newly planted trees. A new multi-use pathway links the expanded park with the existing Westminster Pier Park and Riverfront Esplanade.

new westminster pier park expansion bosa july 2026

July 2026 condition of the newly-built westward expansion of Westminster Pier Park. (City of New Westminster)

Two accessible public washrooms next to the Sixth Street play area remain under construction and are expected to open in Fall 2026.

The expansion also includes a public artwork by Indigenous artists Brent Sparrow and Kelly Cannell. Named “Ebb and Flow,” the installation consists of two cedar and aluminum sculptures inspired by traditional Musqueam Salish river markers. The sculptures feature carvings representing the movement of the river and the cultural and ecological importance of sockeye salmon and sturgeon.

“Every detail of Westminster Pier Park’s expansion was thoughtfully designed to create something truly special for the community. It offers a variety of new experiences, from quiet places to sit, socialize and watch the river, to vibrant gathering spaces that seamlessly knit the waterfront together,” said Erika Mashig, Deputy Director of Parks, Planning, and Policy for the City of New Westminster.

Construction on the park expansion began in Summer 2025, after the developer completed its residential towers. Until then, the future park site had been used for construction staging and storage for the towers. The new park space reached completion in July 2026.

July 2026 condition of the newly-built westward expansion of Westminster Pier Park. (City of New Westminster)

An official opening celebration will be held at the park on Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Representatives from the City, Bosa Development, Rennie Group, and other project partners are scheduled to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7 p.m., followed by a performance by country singer-songwriter Danielle Ryan.

The free event will also include family activities, food trucks, live entertainment, recreation programming, and a cold-plunge pop-up operated by Tality Wellness.

However, overall, Westminster Pier Park remains significantly smaller compared to its size just years earlier.

In September 2020, the eastern half of Westminster Pier Park was completely destroyed in a major fire that began under the deck of the century-old former industrial wharf structure, which was first repurposed and transformed into a riverfront park in 2012. The fire of the creosote-soaked structural timbers beneath the wharf deck burned for nearly two weeks.

The damaged wharf structure was subsequently demolished, including its iconic “WoW Westminster” public art sculpture made out of shipping containers. The suspect behind the fire later died of an overdose, before he could face the charges in court.

In October 2023, the City reached an insurance claim settlement of $30 million for the park’s fire damage, including an earlier $10-million advance payment for demolition and cleanup work. It also began a consultation process with local First Nations on the future of the riverfront area.

Nearly six years after the fire, no concept design, budget, or construction timeline has been established for rebuilding the major park area.

In November 2025, City staff proposed a broader review of New Westminster’s riverfront, including updates on the various riverfront projects and the long-standing proposal to connect Westminster Pier Park with Sapperton Landing Park further to the east.

downtown new westminster pier west towers fraser river

The Downtown New Westminster skyline, including the new Pier West towers on the Fraser River waterfront. (EB Adventure Photography/Shutterstock)

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