Surrey Bend Regional Park

Surrey Bend Regional Park is a landscape dominated by the ebb and flow of water. It is a place that celebrates the character of the River and the intricate wetlands resulting through the interaction of complex systems of hydrologic processes. It is a place that allows visitors to travel back in time to catch a glimpse of what the Fraser River floodplain looked like many generations ago.

As its name suggests, Surrey Bend sits along a broad arch of one of Canada’s great rivers - the Fraser. While much of the frontage along the river serves industrial uses and is diked to manage flooding, Surrey Bend is situated on an undiked section of the river’s floodplain, making the recently opened park a special place within the region.

The 10 hectare project site is located within 347 hectares of an undyked floodplain featuring a variety of wetlands. The diversity of these wetlands results from a variety of hydrological processes including daily tidal cycles, seasonal high water levels, past flood events, run off from upland slopes and precipitation.

Restorative planting and topography create a series of distinct spatial experiences that relate to the ecology of the site. The park is designed to accommodate and celebrate regular flooding. Rainfall is captured in new swales and wetlands, and integrated with the hydrology of the site. Site planting has expanded the riparian forest, created native meadow areas, and provides a large, open, low-maintenance lawn area for group gatherings and special events.

At a time when many of our sensitive landscapes are being threatened, Surrey Bend is an important precedent demonstrating the viability of regenerating damaged landscapes and providing opportunities for people to experience a large, natural landscape within a city.