BREWERS PARK

A 3 acre park in East Vancouver gets a complete overhaul to continue to support a dynamic and rapidly densifying neighbourhood into the future. Colour abounds in the revitalized and re-imagined Brewer’s Park.

A primary concern to address in the park was safety and improved sightlines. The existing park was terraced into multiple levels stepping down to the west, this terracing combined with large, mature shrubs obstructed sightlines through the park. An assessment of existing trees and plantings was carried out in order to determine what was to be preserved to continue to provide shade, habitat value and landscape heritage and what was to be removed in order to open up the space, improving circulation connections and creating clear sightlines. Major re- grading was undertaken to gently slope and undulate the landscape eliminating the existing terracing retaining walls and improving accessibility throughout the park. A new rain garden captures all of the park’s stormwater, providing habitat value and naturalized landscape feature.

A new plaza with bright yellow trellis announces the park on it’s Victoria Drive frontage. A tai chi plaza, with built in seating provides a new home for a long standing park community, a new community garden with raised plots and plenty of seating for neighbors to gather provides new learning opportunities for the nearby Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House. The tennis courts were resurfaced and the new mixed sports court was given a colourful mural with adjacent stepped concrete walls doing triple duty as seating, retaining and for skateboarding. There is something for everyone

The play space is designed for all kids big or small. Nestled adjacent to three mature shade trees the new playground boasts a sand and water play area with table and runnel, swings, trampolines and multiple climbing structures sized small to high tower where kids can enjoy a view of the park and mountains beyond. In addition to picnic tables, informal seating in the form of seat walls logs and boulders allow caregivers to relax and watch the kids play.