Fifth Street Median Naturalization Feedback Survey

Project Update, June 2, 2026:

We heard from nearly 350 people about the Fifth Street Median Naturalization project during the engagement period. Thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts.

The project team will provide an update to City Council on evaluation and survey results with proposed next steps. In the meantime, see what the community members shared in response to one of the survey questions! 👇

After a year of growth, here is what the bee turf installed on the median looks like. How would you rate the current visual appearance of this section of the Fifth Street median (between Third and Fourth Avenues)?

Background

As part of the Biodiversity and Natural Areas Strategy, adopted by City Council in 2022, the City has been working to naturalize a variety of public spaces around New Westminster. Examples include a portion of the front lawn at City Hall and the northeast corner of Queen’s Park (at the intersection of McBride Boulevard and East Sixth Avenue). These naturalization efforts aim to transform underutilized spaces – including streets and boulevards – into ecological corridors that provide food and habitat sources for birds and beneficial insects (pollinators).

In 2024, the median along two blocks of Fifth Street (from Third Avenue to Fourth Avenue), was transitioned from traditional lawn to a naturalized space featuring habitat logs, native shrubs and a wood mulch trail.

In response to the initial naturalization efforts, the City received a range of community feedback. While some residents supported the changes, others expressed concerns regarding a lack of neighbourhood consultation. Other concerns included the naturalized aesthetic (which some viewed as unkempt), the potential for nuisance behavior, and pests.

In an effort to balance the City’s biodiversity goals with neighbourhood character, staff proposed to relocate the logs, remove the native plantings and wood mulch trail and replacing with a pollinator seed mix referred to as "bee turf". In response the staff’s proposal and the feedback from residents in the neighbourhood, City Council passed a motion on March 24, 2025 directing staff to:

Implement the pollinator seed mix and allow for a full year of establishment.
Evaluate the project in May 2026 through neighbourhood consultation before determining next steps.
Pause further naturalization on boulevards in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood until this evaluation and community consultation is complete.

In alignment with this direction, staff modified the site in April 2025. The logs, shrubs and mulch were replaced with “bee turf” – a seed mix of low-growing wildflowers and grasses designed to support pollinators while maintaining a lower, more manicured aesthetic.

Fifth Street Median: Location of pollinator seed mix installation in 2025 (click here to expand)

Documents and Links

Who's Listening?

Mike Por

Manager, Park Operations and Environment

active@newwestcity.ca

The Fifth Street Median is recognized on the Heritage Places Register for its historic and aesthetic value. This designation allows for landscape changes that support the City’s biodiversity and climate action goals. In addition, the Parks and Recreation department has worked closely with the City’s Planning staff to ensure this project aligns with the Queen’s Park Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) guidelines.

Did you know?

The HCA Landscape Guidelines discourage “turf-only” lawns. By introducing pollinator-friendly plants, this project aligns with heritage goals to reduce high-water usage and increase biodiversity landscapes. Similar transitions are underway in other heritage areas, such as North Vancouver’s Grand Boulevard and Vancouver’s King Edward Boulevard.

How to engage?

Share your feedback through the short survey, open until end of day June 2, 2026

We want to hear from you! Please complete this short survey by June 2, 2026. The survey results and next steps will be posted to this page.

Your feedback will be used to evaluate the success of the project and will help to determine whether the Fifth Street Median will remain as-is or if changes will be made. Expanding the naturalization to other locations may also be considered.