Reimagining the Queen's Park Farm

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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.

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.

Ask a question

Ask a question about Reimagining the Queen's Park Farm

Please check out the FAQs on the right-hand menu of this page before submitting your question. 

Have a question about the Reimagining the Queen's Park Farm project? Please add it here. We will aim to reply within 5 business days. If we think your question may be of interest to others, we'll post your question and our response here. Thank you for taking the time to write to us!

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Neither option demonstrates how parks and recreation will offer programs in the space. Will you still offer child-centred programs we can sign up for like we could with the farm? Will there be regular child-centred educational sessions on growing or habitat to provide anything close to what was offered at the farm? Will parks and Rec staff be present in this space?

    BCDA asked 4 months ago

    Hello, thanks for the question. The Grow and Habitat design options both include ideas for infrastructure that provide opportunities for a diverse range of City and/or community programming.  Once the preferred option is developed, a plan and operating budget will be created for a range of year-round programs and corresponding staffing requirements for Council’s consideration.

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    There are some great features for both concepts, some of which seem like they could be reasonably applied to either. Could there not be an option to choose features from either concept, rather than limiting the choices?

    Ann asked 4 months ago

    Hi there, thank you for this question. The survey questions were designed to understand your favourite elements from each of the concepts, and to also let us know if there is one concept you prefer over the other. The answers to these questions will help us understand which option is preferred or if a hybrid option (i.e. a mix of the favoured elements from the two options), is the best design for the future of the farm space. 

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    The educational features within these concepts are designed for one time/ one visit use. What consideration was made for these features to foster ongoing/ continuous learning/play so that kids can use the space day after day and still remain excited to visit?

    BCDA asked 4 months ago

    Hello and thanks for the question. The Grow and Habitat design options both include ideas for infrastructure that provide opportunities for a diverse range of programming. Once the preferred option is determined, there will be a range of year-round programs (as well as self-guided exploration and discovery) developed to help connect kids to nature in the space.

    We appreciate your participation and hope to talk with you more about the future plans for the space at one of the upcoming engagement events – drop-in Nov. 19 1-4 pm at the Queen’s Park Greenhouse, and virtual workshop on Nov. 22.

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    1. What consideration has been done regarding creating a habitat that will increase the number of bees/wasps near a water park/ picnic area/concession stand where kids are running around with bare feet/ bathing suits and families are having picnics. Would it not be safer for children if you created a habitat for bees in one of the many open spaces away from a play area for children and food/water source? 2. Why were these concepts contracted out to MOTIVE Architects when the city has qualified planners?

    Raven123 asked 4 months ago

    Hello and thank you for your questions. Re: bees/wasps: At a fundamental level, Queen’s Park provides a healthy environment that also supports healthy people and a healthy community. At the heart of a healthy environment are pollinators: insects, mammals and birds that move pollen among flowers, thus ensuring that the plants can form seeds and fruits. The Habitat and Grow design concepts include educational experiences that aim to lessen fear of stinging insects, and open minds to the amazing diversity of pollinators and other beneficial insects and plant-insect interactions — all of which enable patrons to be better stewards of the environment and advocates for pollinators.  

    Re: contractors: The City’s Parks and Open Space Planners are working collaboratively with MOTIV Architects on the initiative to reimagine the farm. The City has hired MOTIV to bring their ideas and architectural expertise to the repurposing of the structures/ buildings within the existing footprint of the farm.  

    We appreciate your participation and hope to talk with you at one of the upcoming engagement events – drop-in Nov. 19, 1-4 pm at the Queen’s Park Greenhouse, and virtual workshop on Nov. 22.

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    What operating budget is there for maintaining either option? What considerations are being given to resilient structures/elements that can handle heavy use/misuse? What wildlife would be expected so close to such a busy play area?

    ChrisS asked 4 months ago

    Hello and thank you for your questions. Re: operating budget: Once a preferred option is determined, including input from the community, the preferred option, phasing plan and corresponding capital and operating budgets will be presented to Council for their consideration. 

    Re: resilient structures: If endorsed by Council, the detailed design for the site will include high quality, durable materials suitable for public use.  

    Re: wildlife: Staff are tracking the flora and fauna that currently thrive amongst the busy activity within Queen’s Park. Supporting this biodiversity in a park that sees as much human activity / traffic as Queen’s Park can be a challenge. As a result of this project, we hope to create a unique opportunity for people to have rich experiences with nature in a special wild place in New Westminster, while protecting and enhancing them at the same time.

    We appreciate your participation and hope to talk with you at one of the upcoming engagement events – drop-in Nov. 19, 1-4 pm at the Queen’s Park Greenhouse, and virtual workshop on Nov. 22.

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    Why add another area for concert when they rarely ever use the one that’s already there! Just a big cement slab that never gets any use. They should just expand the spray park cause the one they have there now is super lame

    Brandy ToutantSierrabear05 asked over 1 year ago

    Hello, thank you for taking the time to share your comments with us. Your feedback on the Future of the Queen’s Park Farm will be considered with all other input collected through the engagement. 

    To clarify, there has been no decision made by the City to convert the Farm space to a concert area. You may have noticed some concerts taking place at the farm as part of the temporary summer programming, however the Bandshell is still an active performance facility. 

    We are currently open to ideas and seeking community input on what the possible long term uses of the farm space could be. We encourage you to continue the conversation and share your thoughts with the wider community using the discussion forum tool. 

    - Be Heard Team

Page last updated: 21 Feb 2023, 05:31 PM