Gather your picnic gear! Pier Park is going to be even better for families this summer, with an expansion that includes a street-style space for skateboarding and a half basketball court. And with upgrades to the Fourth Street Stairs providing a safer, well-lit pedestrian route between Columbia and Front streets, it’s easier to get there too. Up the hill on 6th, the Uptown Business Association is finalizing a summer program for the Belmont Plaza. Look forward to music and live performances every weekend from June through September.
These infrastructure projects all began as ideas from New West residents. In 2024, we asked you to share even more of your experiences and wish-lists through surveys, pop up events, workshops and conversations across the city. And boy, did you deliver!
Suggestions like more bathrooms in parks and more all-weather playing fields are just two of the ideas that informed our People, Parks, and Play Masterplan that Council passed last week. Based on the collective wisdom of the families and residents who play and train here already, this plan will guide improvements to New West’s park and recreation facilities for the next 10 years.
In addition to the completed projects mentioned above, this week Mayor Patrick Johnstone asked City staff to begin early-stage work on the following priorities:
- Upgrades to multi-sport courts, including adding a roof to some
- A new recreation facility downtown
- More amenities and a better playing surface at Westburnco Park;
- A new full-sized ice sheet
“The City has really committed this term to empowering the community by engaging local folks to help us make the best choices for our future growth,” said Johnstone. “Other cities are learning from our example of community-based decision making. And residents get to see their own ideas in the infrastructure of the city. How cool is that?”
All of this enthusiastic participation in building a new parks and rec plan is proof of one thing – New Westies are serious about having fun.
How about you? Which of the new park improvements are you most looking forward to?
Learn more about what’s coming up in the People, Parks, and Play Masterplan here.
Find information about summer events in New West here.