Metro Vancouver has expanded Minnekhada Regional Park in Coquitlam by 154.5 acres after buying four private properties immediately north of the existing park, the regional authority announced this week. The acquisition, financed from Metro's parks land acquisition fund, cost $14.5 million and increases the park's area by roughly 25 per cent.
What the purchase protects
The four acquired parcels lie on forested slopes divided by Quarry Road, with fish-bearing watercourses on one side and wetlands on the other. Metro Vancouver said the land contains ecologically sensitive habitat and helps safeguard species including western painted turtles, Oregon forest snails and Pacific water shrews. The properties are currently closed to the public; Metro Vancouver says they will eventually be incorporated into Minnekhada Regional Park and the adjacent Widgeon Marsh Regional Park.
“We were fortunate that we were in a position to buy these properties when they became available and preserve habitat for generations to come,”
said Anmore Mayor John McEwen, who is chair of Metro’s parks committee, in the agency’s news release.
Local context and use
Minnekhada Regional Park sits on the eastern slopes of Burke Mountain, north of Port Coquitlam. Metro Vancouver recorded nearly 200,000 visits to the park last year, underscoring its value to residents and visitors across the Tri-Cities. The newly acquired land will expand conservation space and, over time, may change how people access and use the park as it is integrated into park planning.
- Added area: 154.5 acres
- Acquisition cost: $14.5 million
- Park visitation (last year): nearly 200,000 visits
Implications for development and stewardship
The purchase was funded from Metro Vancouver’s parks land acquisition fund, created to protect natural areas from development. By securing privately held lots adjacent to an existing regional park, the authority removed the immediate risk of subdivision or housing development on slopes and wetlands that feed fish-bearing streams. The move preserves corridors for wildlife and maintains ecological functions that support species at risk and local biodiversity.
Metro Vancouver’s statement also pointed to a broader regional parks agenda: staff are consulting the public about potential improvements and expanded access in other parks. Separately, the authority is surveying residents about plans with səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) to open more of təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park to new trails, nature and Indigenous learning programs and amenities in the Admiralty Heights subregion. That survey closes on July 31, and staff will be at Belcarra’s picnic grounds on July 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. to answer questions.
Next steps
Metro Vancouver will incorporate the acquired parcels into park planning before opening them to the public. Until management plans and any necessary habitat protections are finalised, the land remains closed. For Coquitlam residents and environmental stewards, the transaction represents a significant one-time expansion of protected greenspace within the municipality and a preventive measure against near-term development pressures.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Park | Minnekhada Regional Park (Coquitlam) |
| Area added | 154.5 acres |
| Purchase price | $14.5 million |
| Recent annual visits | Nearly 200,000 |
Residents with questions about park access or future plans can monitor Metro Vancouver communications for updates on when the new parcels will be formally opened and how they will be managed within the broader Minnekhada and Widgeon Marsh park systems.
