The District of Squamish and developers Kingswood Properties and Bosa Properties marked the official opening of a new Districtowned community park at SEAandSKY, also known as Waterfront Landing. Miyíw̓ts Park (pronounced my-oats) offers sweeping views of the Mamquam Blind Channel and is part of the SEAandSKY masterplan community developed by Kingswood Properties and Bosa Properties.
Squamish’s newest municipally owned park offers greenspace, walking and cycling paths, a children’s playground area and scenic lookout points as well as a pump track and a basketball court.
“Opening Miyíw̓ts Park to the Squamish community is a significant milestone in transforming a former industrial site into a complete community with housing, public spaces and natural features designed to benefit the broader community,” said Mayor Armand Hurford.
The name of the park is Miyíw̓ts, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim (Squamish language) word for riverbank. At the official opening of the park, Deanna Lewis from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) began the event by blessing the park and sharing the history of the shoreline adjacent to Miyíw̓ts Park, which provides a rich marine and intertidal habitat that supports many species of birds, fish and other wildlife.
One of the primary goals of the park design is to prioritize ecological restoration and protect the natural shoreline, Kingswood said in a press release.
“Over the past few years, Kingswood Properties and Bosa Properties have undertaken a successful and comprehensive remediation effort on the site, including the treatment of contaminated soils and the removal of abandoned boats, piles, and barges from the Mamquam Blind Channel. New soil has been introduced, along with a carefully curated blend of native vegetation, creating a vibrant and diverse landscape that follows sustainable Green Shores principles,” the press release noted.
Access to the park is located at the western end of Channel Road. Limited parking is available along Channel Road and Coho Rock Way. Once the pedestrian bridge is complete, Miyíw̓ts Park will be accessible from Downtown. The park and neighbourhood are also accessible via the Corridor Trail and the Highway 99 intersection pedestrian crossing at Clarke Drive.
