Park Projects

Surrey Bend Regional Park | $3,700

Picnic in the Park is a welcoming event designed to connect newcomers to Metro Vancouver’s regional parks by removing barriers such as unfamiliarity with outdoor spaces, language challenges, and transportation. Now in its second year and made possible through the support of the REEL Earth Day Challenge, this event provides a safe and inclusive environment where participants can connect with nature, practice English, build community relationships, and experience the health benefits of the outdoors. By fostering a sense of belonging and confidence in exploring parks, Picnic in the Park encourages long term engagement with nature and greater participation in public programs, helping newcomers feel at home in their new environment.

Various Regional Parks | $20,000

For it’s fifth year in a row thanks to REEL Earth Day Challenge funding, “Mishkoopitum” summer camps (hosted by CTS Youth Society) provide a culturally rich and empowering environment where all participants can learn from Indigenous knowledge and practices, fostering a deep connection to heritage, traditions, and the land. Through storytelling, traditional crafts, and land-based learning, these camps offer valuable opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

Burnaby Lake Regional Park | $8,000

Aintree Heritage House is set to become a hands-on outdoor learning hub where youth can roll up their sleeves and help restore nature while learning how it all works. Right now, the surrounding land is overrun with invasive plants, but this project will transform it into a thriving natural space filled with native species, healthier habitats, and more usable areas for youth programs. Working alongside partners like CTS Youth Society, young volunteers will take part in real restoration work like removing invasive plants, planting native species, building fencing, and caring for the land over time. More than just a one-time project, this will be an ongoing, outdoor classroom where kids can see the impact of their efforts season after season, learning how ecosystems recover, how to protect sensitive areas, and why this work matters. By investing in both the land and the next generation, this project creates a space where nature can thrive and youth can gain meaningful, lasting connections to the environment.

Iona Beach Regional Park | $10,000

This project is revitalizing sensitive coastal foreshore habitat at Iona Beach Regional Park to protect and enhance its unique plant and animal communities. With future development at the nearby Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant, preserving and strengthening the park’s ecosystems is more important than ever. The project will remove invasive species like Himalayan blackberry using innovative, multi-year ground treatments, while replanting native coastal species such as coastal strawberry to rebuild healthy populations. Over time, these efforts will restore balance to the foreshore, support wildlife, and create a thriving, resilient coastal ecosystem that visitors can enjoy for years to come.

Various Regional Parks | $5,000

Ecoblitz is an annual environmental stewardship event aimed at restoring, enhancing, and protecting regional parks while engaging volunteers. While a very productive time for environmental stewardship, the event also fosters a sense of community ownership and responsibility towards the preservation of regional parks, empowering individuals to take an active role in environmental conservation.

Crippen Regional Park | $3,000

The newly expanded Dorman Point Trail on Bowen Island offers an exciting opportunity to educate visitors about safe and responsible trail use. This program guides participants through proper trail etiquette, including Leave No Trace principles, respecting park boundaries, and sharing the trail with others. By combining hands-on guidance with engaging activities, the program helps visitors build confidence and awareness while enjoying the outdoors. The project also celebrates BC Trails Day, highlighting the importance of local trails, fostering community connection, and encouraging ongoing stewardship of natural spaces.

təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park | $20,000

Sasamat Lake is one of the region’s most loved summer spots, drawing thousands of visitors each year to swim, relax, and enjoy nature. But with that popularity comes a cost. As more people explore beyond designated areas like White Pine Beach, the shoreline is being worn down, plants are being trampled, and sensitive habitats are starting to disappear. This project aims to restore and protect the lake’s natural edges while still making it easy for people to enjoy. By repairing damaged shoreline, planting native species, guiding foot traffic to the right places, and involving local volunteers and students, we’re helping the lake bounce back while creating a better experience for everyone. With support, this first phase of work will begin in 2026, ensuring Sasamat Lake stays healthy, beautiful, and accessible for years to come.

Derby Reach Regional Park | $5,000

This project is transforming an unproductive hay field along the river into a thriving forested riparian buffer. By planting native trees and shrubs, we’re building a resilient natural area that will eventually help protect the Fraser River from erosion while providing vital habitat for wildlife. Phases 1 through 4, completed from 2022–2025, laid the groundwork, and Phase 5 in fall 2026 will plant roughly 850 native plants across 950 m². Over time, this restored riparian forest will support biodiversity, strengthen the shoreline, and create a healthier, more vibrant ecosystem for both wildlife and the community to enjoy.

Tynehead Regional Park | $8,000

Along a well-travelled stretch of parkland, this project is transforming the edge of a busy highway into a living, growing wall of nature. What was once a noisy, exposed section of trail is gradually becoming a peaceful green corridor, thanks to years of thoughtful planting and care. In 2026, this next phase will bring the community together to plant hundreds of native plants across new garden beds, creating a lush buffer that softens sound, supports wildlife, and adds natural beauty to the space. With the help of volunteers, each plant put into the ground is part of a bigger story, one where people come together to nurture the land and watch it grow season by season. Over time, this space will continue to flourish into a vibrant, welcoming pathway where visitors can slow down, connect with nature, and experience the quiet power of restoration in action.

Various Regional Parks | $7,300

The Seniors in Regional Parks program helps older adults connect with nature and each other through guided outings in Metro Vancouver’s regional parks. By removing common barriers such as transportation, mobility concerns, and unfamiliarity with park spaces, the program creates welcoming opportunities for seniors to explore local parks in a safe and supportive environment. Participants enjoy gentle walks, nature interpretation, and social time that encourages connection, learning, and wellbeing. By fostering a sense of community and confidence in accessing outdoor spaces, the program supports seniors in staying active, reducing social isolation, and building a lasting connection to the natural beauty of the region.

Boundary Bay Regional Park | $10,000

This project will replace aging dune fencing to protect its rare coastal sand ecosystem, home to sensitive plant species such as dune grass, beach pea, and big-headed sedge. Over time, increased recreational use has led to vegetation trampling, invasive species, and disruption of natural sand movement, all of which threaten these at-risk habitats. Protective fencing installed in 2019 has reached the end of its lifespan, with failing sections allowing renewed access into fragile areas. By installing new fencing during peak staffing periods in the spring and summer, this project will help restore natural processes, reduce human impact, and ensure the long-term health of these unique coastal ecosystems.