Central Park spans 86 hectares and offers lush forests, scenic trails, recreation and sports facilities, and a variety of amenities while hosting numerous community events. To ensure its ongoing development, the City of Burnaby is creating the Central Park Master Plan (CPMP) — a long-term vision to guide park improvements over the coming decades.
The CPMP will be developed in two phases. Phase 1 focuses on the open space at Kingsway and Patterson Avenue.
The 2009 Central Park Management Plan identified the large lawn area known as the “Triangle” — located northeast of the SkyTrain and BC Parkway and bordered by Kingsway and Patterson Avenue — as a prime space for active recreational use to support the growing community. With the Council’s backing, plans for the Central Park Triangle include a destination playground, civic plaza, flexible open lawn areas, washrooms, and concession facilities. These features aim to transform the area into a vibrant hub and establish a long-term vision for this currently underutilized corridor.
What’s Happening Now
The site analysis is complete, and a conceptual spatial program layout has been drafted. Community engagement for Phase 1 is nearing its conclusion, and an engagement summary report will be shared soon.
Central Park Master Plan. Source: the City of Burnaby website
Looking Ahead to Phase 2
Phase 2 will involve a detailed planning process addressing larger and more complex sections of the park, including major facilities like Swangard Stadium and the Central Park Outdoor Pool. Once complete, the plans from both phases will be combined into a single comprehensive document with an actionable implementation plan.
The Indigenous-led Kʷasən Village project has received final approval from Burnaby City Council, marking a milestone as the first Indigenous-owned development in Burnaby and the largest outside Vancouver.
3405 Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby. / Arcadis IBI Group, Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, Aquilini
Kʷasən Village will be developed on the 40-acre Willingdon Lands site at 3405 Willingdon Avenue, strategically located across from BCIT and between the Metrotown and Brentwood neighborhoods.
Project Background and Ownership
The Musqueam Indian Band, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and Aquilini Development jointly purchased the Willingdon Lands in 2014 from the Government of British Columbia for $57.9 million. Now valued at $233 million, the property currently holds some institutional buildings, parking areas, and green space.
Aerial view of Kʷasən Village from the southwest. / Arcadis IBI Group, Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, Aquilini
Overview of the Kʷasən Village Master Plan
Submitted in April 2022, the Kʷasən Village master plan outlines an extensive, phased development that will include 5,239 housing units across 22 buildings with heights of up to 25 storeys. The units will consist of 4,366 leasehold strata, 554 market rentals, 101 moderate-income rentals, and 218 affordable rentals. In addition to housing, the project will feature 135,000 sq. ft of retail and commercial space, 450,000 sq. ft of film studio space, and 5,000 sq. ft of cultural facilities. The plan envisions four distinct zones within the village:
Residential District (Canada Way, northwest corner): This quieter, neighborhood-oriented area will include six primarily residential buildings, ranging from six to 20 storeys, focused on creating a local community atmosphere.
Trade District (Willingdon Avenue, northeast corner): Serving as the commercial center, this area will host a large-format grocery store, smaller retail spaces, restaurants, cafés, and some office spaces to create a vibrant, active streetscape.
Storytelling District (southern half of the site): Anchored by a film studio, this area will provide office space supporting 3,000 jobs and feature residential units along Willingdon Avenue.
Park District (central area): Planned as the cultural heart of Kʷasən Village, this district will include two parks, Legends Park and Landing Park, along with public amenities, childcare facilities, community gathering spaces, and potential seniors’ housing.
Phased Development Plan
The master plan of Kʷasən Village, designed by Arcadis IBI Group, will consist of seven main phases, each focusing on different areas of the site:
Phase One: Storytelling District (three buildings)
Phase Two: Southern Trade District (three buildings)
Phase Three: Southeastern Park District (three buildings)
Phase Four: Northern Trade District (three buildings)
Phase Five: Part of Residential District (three buildings)
Phase Six: Remaining Park District (three buildings)
Phase Seven: Remaining Residential District (three buildings)
On October 21, the City Council granted the master plan its fourth and final approval without further discussion.
Phase One Details
Renderings of Phase One of Kʷasən Village from along Willingdon Ave. / Arcadis IBI Group, Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, Aquilini August 2023
Developers submitted a rezoning application for Phase One in September 2023, which includes three residential buildings with 622 units. These buildings will be located on the eastern side of the planned film studio and will range in height:
Building 1A: A six-storey structure with 91 affordable rental units offered at 20% below CMHC median rates. This includes 14 studio units, 54 one-bedroom units, 14 two-bedroom units, and nine three-bedroom units.
Building 1B: A 20-storey tower at the Storytelling District’s northeast corner, containing 267 leasehold strata units (68 studios, 118 one-bedrooms, 57 two-bedrooms, and 24 three-bedrooms).
Building 1C: A 14-storey building along Willingdon Avenue, providing 264 market rental units (213 at market rates and 51 at CMHC median rates) but no three-bedroom options.
A total of 482 vehicle parking spaces and 1,368 bicycle parking spaces will be included in Phase One, spread across two underground parkades accessible from a new internal road, Goard Way. Although originally intended to include the film studio, the developers have now decided to separate it from Phase One’s residential component, scheduling it for a later phase.
On June 24, 2024, Burnaby City Council conditionally approved Phase One, granting it a third reading. The development team is currently working on fulfilling the final conditions for full approval.
