FAQs

A future nature park on the south side of the Nicomekl River. The park will combine environmental, cultural, art, heritage, recreation and social spaces.

The park is located in South Surrey on the south side of the Nicomekl River, stretching 3km from Elgin Rd on the west to 40th Ave on the east. South of the park is residential area, and north of the park and river is the Agricultural Land Reserve. Though the park is 3km inland from Mud Bay, it is part of the coastal water system. The park will connect to existing trails in the area like the Semiahmoo Heritage Trail and the dyke trail from Elgin Heritage Park.

The park will be 3km long and 80 acres in size, which is about 14x larger than Crescent Beach Park. There will be two large park spaces located on either side of King George Boulevard, the Hadden Mill and Oxbow zones (phase 1).

Phase 1 of the park, the Hadden Mill and Oxbow zones, are scheduled to open in 2025. Phase 2 is scheduled to open in 2026. The opening of phase 3 is yet to be determined and will depend on the acquisition of the last few pieces of parkland.  

Four areas of the park are currently open:

• 103F Greenbelt (14699 Winter Crescent, by Anderson Creek only, not 3600 King George Blvd);
• 103D Utility ROW (3435 150 St or 14900 35 Ave);
• Barbara Creek Park (access through 103D Utility ROW or from 36 Ave at 149A St); and
• 104G Greenbelt (access from 154 St at 154 A St). 

All other areas of the park are closed to the public including:

• 3652 Elgin Road;
• 14391 Crescent Rd; and 
• 3600 King George Blvd.

We are planning the following features in the park, but some features may be added or removed from this list as the design progresses.

• Phase 1: Trails, boardwalks, accessible kayak/canoe docks and stopovers, nature play area, gathering areas, picnic areas, viewpoints, amphitheatre, public art, heritage elements, fish channels, ponds, wetlands, meadows, washrooms, parking lots, etc. 
• Phase 2: Trails, boardwalks, kayak/canoe stopover, viewpoints, public art, heritage elements, ponds, meadows, planting, habitat island, riparian improvements, dog off leash area, etc.
• Phase 3: Trails, boardwalks, kayak/canoe launch, picnic areas, viewpoints, public art, heritage elements, wetlands, meadows, washroom, parking lot, etc.

• 80 acres of protected parkland
• 76 acres of protected riparian area along Nicomekl River, Elgin Creek, Anderson Creek and Barbara Creek
• 3.8 km of protected Green Infrastructure Network Corridor
• 50 acres of floodable area
• 3.5 km of trail network, linked to the existing trail network
• Kayak/canoe launches, docks and stopovers
• Multiple heritage features and public art

Two open houses were held, in 2018 and 2019, to collect feedback for the park planning process: 

• In 2018, parks staff worked with the consultant PFS Studio, and their environmental, heritage and public art sub-consultants on site analysis, reviewing best practices, a communications strategy, concept design and performed multiple site visits, review meetings and an innovation workshop.
• In 2018 and 2019, the project team met with First Nations, stakeholder groups and internal groups to collect feedback on the future park.
• In 2018 and 2019, the project team also collected feedback from Surrey residents at the following public events and through social media, emails and phone calls. This feedback informed the park management plan and concept plan and will inform the detailed design.
  • Open house #1 & Online Survey, September 24, 2018, 6-9pm, South Surrey Recreation & Arts Centre, Turnbull Gallery.
  • The 'Build a City' workshop at the Youth Speak Up Forum, October 26, 2018.
  • The 'Your Voice, Your Park' workshop at Surrey Kids Conference, November 17, 2018.
  • World Wetland Event presentation and walking tour, February 2, 2019.
  • Open house #2 Online Survey, August 6, 2019, 5-8pm, Elgin Community Hall.

The open house for the design of Phase 1 (Hadden Mill and Oxbow zones) was held on June 20, 2023. See the discussion guide and information boards under Design Documents.

As phase four of the Coastal Flood Adaptation Strategy, the City is working to implement priority coastal flood adaptation works like the Nicomekl Riverfront Park. With funding and support from the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, the park is one of 13 projects to address coastal flooding aiming to achieve a future 200-year level of protection. 

The park will use all three standard flood adaptation approaches, (1) 'accommodate', (2) 'retreat', and (3) 'resist'.  'Accommodate' will be the primary and most significant flood adaptation approach.  The park will 'accommodate' by allowing flooding in certain areas.

The park will also have protected and enhanced riparian areas along Elgin, Anderson, and Barbara Creek, and the Nicomekl River.  The park will have nature-based green infrastructure like rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable materials which will provide benefits to the people, wildlife and water in the park.