Reimagining the Queen's Park Farm

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Consultation has concluded

For updates as the Master Plan is implemented, please visit this page on the City's main website. 


Project Update, April 25, 2023: Council has adopted the Queen’s Park Farm Master Plan, approving the Habitat + Grow concept and triggering the Phase 1 implementation to begin transforming the space into an interactive habitat for creatures as well as creating places to learn, play and gather.

Next steps are set to get underway later this spring and summer, and include:

  • Detailed design of the Habitat + Grow concept
  • Removal of six huts and feeder structures
  • Retrofit of the long narrow building and both gazebos
  • Working with an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper to incorporate culturally-significant features and/or programs into the space
  • Opening the space for summer programming, such as day camps, etc.
  • Developing year-round programming opportunities such as eco-art, workshops, educational programs, artist-in-residence, etc.

Click here to review the Queen's Park Farm Master Plan, and click here for the final report to Council on April 24, 2023.



Project Update, March 2023: Thanks to your input through this engagement, the preferred design option "Habitat + Grow" is being recommended to Council for adoption.

While the engagement results indicated a higher level of support for the Habitat concept, there were features from the Grow concept that were clearly favoured by the community. As a result, the preferred option is a revised version of the Habitat concept enriched with popular features from the Grow concept such as:

  • Mushroom wall
  • Log slide
  • Plant tunnel
  • Understory planting
  • Sound features

Based on community feedback, the preferred concept, referred to as “Habitat + Grow,” aims to create a centralized location in Queen’s Park to:

  1. Promote principles of environmental stewardship and habitat restoration: lessons that are particularly important in a time of climate change and biodiversity loss;
  2. Encourage community members to recognize food in nature (holistic view of food systems and cycles within Queen’s Park);
  3. Grow edible plants that will inherently foster wildlife habitat (food systems form the basis of habitat and healthy thriving ecosystems);
  4. Provide resilient interventions and stewardship opportunities to withstand frequent use and help reduce need for intensive maintenance;
  5. Offer interactive educational opportunities that engage with Indigenous knowledge and traditions 1; and
  6. Actively engage toddlers (ages 18 months to 4 years) and young children (ages 5-12 years+) with play, exercise, and exploration, including experiential features that do not require reading to have an element of learning."



Project Update, February 6, 2023: The What We Heard Engagement Summary Report is now available for the Phase 2 engagement! Click here to read about the preferred concept and features, key themes we heard from participants, and all the details about the engagement process.


Participants in the Phase 2 engagement were asked to share their overall preference for which design concept they would like to see in the Farm space. More than 400 responses were received across all engagement activities, and these were the results.


You can also review the direct comments from participants in the verbatim report, here.

Next Steps: City staff are applying community feedback as they develop a final preferred concept for the future of this unique space in Queen's Park. A report to Council with the engagement results and final design is expected in March 2023.

Implementation of Phase 1 of the final design is anticipated for summer 2023.



Phase 2 Community Engagement: November 2022

The project team is excited to share two design concepts for the future of the farm space! Phase 2 Engagement took place November-December 2022.

Concept A: Habitat: This concept option focuses on where plants or animals live and where they get food and water. The design includes three types of habitat that support a diversity of animals and plants – a pollinator meadow, smaller forest plantings, and a wetland.

Concept B: Grow: This concept option focuses on edible plants that will grow well in the shade in a forested area. The design encourages exploration and aims to educate visitors about plants grown for eating and medicine, and how to grow and harvest responsibly.

Click here to review the conceptual plans for the Habitat and Grow design options!

The conceptual design options were developed based on what we heard from community members during the Phase 1 engagement last year. Click here or scroll down for more details on the Phase 1 engagement, what we heard, and the project background.

Community members were invited and encouraged to explore both of the concept designs and then share feedback through several engagement opportunities: An online survey, virtual workshop on Zoom, and a drop-in engagement session with family-friendly activities at the greenhouse in Queen’s Park.

Next Steps

Phase 2 engagement feedback will be used to develop a final, preferred concept for the future of this unique space in Queen’s Park. A report to City Council with the proposed design is expected in early 2023, with implementation planned to begin later next year.

For updates as the Master Plan is implemented, please visit this page on the City's main website. 


Project Update, April 25, 2023: Council has adopted the Queen’s Park Farm Master Plan, approving the Habitat + Grow concept and triggering the Phase 1 implementation to begin transforming the space into an interactive habitat for creatures as well as creating places to learn, play and gather.

Next steps are set to get underway later this spring and summer, and include:

  • Detailed design of the Habitat + Grow concept
  • Removal of six huts and feeder structures
  • Retrofit of the long narrow building and both gazebos
  • Working with an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper to incorporate culturally-significant features and/or programs into the space
  • Opening the space for summer programming, such as day camps, etc.
  • Developing year-round programming opportunities such as eco-art, workshops, educational programs, artist-in-residence, etc.

Click here to review the Queen's Park Farm Master Plan, and click here for the final report to Council on April 24, 2023.



Project Update, March 2023: Thanks to your input through this engagement, the preferred design option "Habitat + Grow" is being recommended to Council for adoption.

While the engagement results indicated a higher level of support for the Habitat concept, there were features from the Grow concept that were clearly favoured by the community. As a result, the preferred option is a revised version of the Habitat concept enriched with popular features from the Grow concept such as:

  • Mushroom wall
  • Log slide
  • Plant tunnel
  • Understory planting
  • Sound features

Based on community feedback, the preferred concept, referred to as “Habitat + Grow,” aims to create a centralized location in Queen’s Park to:

  1. Promote principles of environmental stewardship and habitat restoration: lessons that are particularly important in a time of climate change and biodiversity loss;
  2. Encourage community members to recognize food in nature (holistic view of food systems and cycles within Queen’s Park);
  3. Grow edible plants that will inherently foster wildlife habitat (food systems form the basis of habitat and healthy thriving ecosystems);
  4. Provide resilient interventions and stewardship opportunities to withstand frequent use and help reduce need for intensive maintenance;
  5. Offer interactive educational opportunities that engage with Indigenous knowledge and traditions 1; and
  6. Actively engage toddlers (ages 18 months to 4 years) and young children (ages 5-12 years+) with play, exercise, and exploration, including experiential features that do not require reading to have an element of learning."



Project Update, February 6, 2023: The What We Heard Engagement Summary Report is now available for the Phase 2 engagement! Click here to read about the preferred concept and features, key themes we heard from participants, and all the details about the engagement process.


Participants in the Phase 2 engagement were asked to share their overall preference for which design concept they would like to see in the Farm space. More than 400 responses were received across all engagement activities, and these were the results.


You can also review the direct comments from participants in the verbatim report, here.

Next Steps: City staff are applying community feedback as they develop a final preferred concept for the future of this unique space in Queen's Park. A report to Council with the engagement results and final design is expected in March 2023.

Implementation of Phase 1 of the final design is anticipated for summer 2023.



Phase 2 Community Engagement: November 2022

The project team is excited to share two design concepts for the future of the farm space! Phase 2 Engagement took place November-December 2022.

Concept A: Habitat: This concept option focuses on where plants or animals live and where they get food and water. The design includes three types of habitat that support a diversity of animals and plants – a pollinator meadow, smaller forest plantings, and a wetland.

Concept B: Grow: This concept option focuses on edible plants that will grow well in the shade in a forested area. The design encourages exploration and aims to educate visitors about plants grown for eating and medicine, and how to grow and harvest responsibly.

Click here to review the conceptual plans for the Habitat and Grow design options!

The conceptual design options were developed based on what we heard from community members during the Phase 1 engagement last year. Click here or scroll down for more details on the Phase 1 engagement, what we heard, and the project background.

Community members were invited and encouraged to explore both of the concept designs and then share feedback through several engagement opportunities: An online survey, virtual workshop on Zoom, and a drop-in engagement session with family-friendly activities at the greenhouse in Queen’s Park.

Next Steps

Phase 2 engagement feedback will be used to develop a final, preferred concept for the future of this unique space in Queen’s Park. A report to City Council with the proposed design is expected in early 2023, with implementation planned to begin later next year.

Consultation has concluded
  • Phase 1 Engagement Summary

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    What We Heard

    December 2021: The What We Heard Engagement Summary Report is available here. A shorter, graphic summary is also included below. Click here to access the verbatim engagement report, with all participants' input.

    The City is currently working with a consultant to develop conceptual design options for the Queen’s Park Farm based on what we heard from community members during the 2021 Phase 1 engagement.

    Next Steps: We plan to re-engage with the community this fall on the design concepts for the future of the space. Residents and stakeholders will have an opportunity to share feedback on design options before a final concept is determined.




  • Project Background

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    What's Happening?

    We want your ideas to help create a new, long-term future for the farm space at Queen's Park!

    While we filled the farm space during Summer 2021 and 2022 with temporary programming, the longer-term future of the farm is open for new ideas.

    The Queen’s Park Farm has been a well-used and loved component of Queen’s Park. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the farm was closed to the public for the 2020 season.

    Before the pandemic, New Westminster Parks and Recreation started re-considering the long-standing use of the space as a petting farm. With current animal welfare practices, and growing numbers of visitors to the farm, it has become clear that the farm space is not large enough to comfortably house the type of livestock farm-goers have enjoyed. The comfort and care of the animals has always been the City’s top priority. Our farm staff have always provided the best possible care to our animals, but we know going forward that the current space has become insufficient.

    The pause in farm operations due to COVID-19 has provided an opportunity to try out alternative, COVID-19-friendly programming in the space, and start a community conversation about what this space could be in the future. Summer 2021 programming included everything from a drop-in outdoor art gallery and outdoor concert series, to registered free and paid programming for various ages.

    During COVID-19, the community has told us about the importance of outdoor public spaces and parks, the need for covered, year-round outdoor spaces, public spaces for community connection, and support for those who are food insecure (COVID-19 Recovery: Public Engagement Summary Report, Nov. 2020).

    We want to know how the farm space can be positioned in the future to better support these priorities and other community interests.

    How can I participate?

    Phase 1 engagement took place in 2021 and was about including the community in brainstorming and demonstrating potential future uses for the farm space.

    The City plans to re-engage with the community during fall 2022 to share two concepts for the space. Stay tuned for more information and dates for in-person and online opportunities to share your thoughts.

    How will my input be used?

    Community input from Phase 1 engagement is currently being used to develop concept plans and options for the future of the farm space. In fall 2022, the City will launch Phase 2 of engagement to request feedback on the proposed options and concepts. This feedback will be used to help finalize a plan for the future of the space.

    In early 2023, City staff will present to City Council a long-term future proposal for the former Queen’s Park Farm, for consideration.