Abbotsford – The City of Abbotsford is proud to share that the newly designed and redeveloped Grant Park has won the Parks Excellence Award from the BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA).
Grant Park was reopened in 2020 as Abbotsford’s first inclusive park and was selected as the winner of the Parks Excellence Award on May 5, 2022 at the BCRPA Symposium for exemplifying how innovative recreation, parks and culture contribute to a high quality of life in a community. The once-aging sports field has been fully repurposed as an “all in one” amenity and intentionally centres around accessibility. The new park design includes a wheelchair-friendly synthetic baseball field, accessible year-round washrooms, a picnic shelter and inclusive playground for children of all age, as well as eight additional accessible parking spots adjacent to the facilities.
“Building a complete community, where all residents feel encouraged and able to participate is one of the key goals for us as a City,” said Mayor Henry Braun. “Grant Park, and all it offers by means of accessibility and inclusivity, is an example of what can be achieved when we work together to remove barriers. I am very proud of the Parks, Recreation and Culture team for their dedication to making Abbotsford a more accessible place.”
The City of Abbotsford partnered with the Abbotsford Angels Baseball Association, Blue Jay’s Care Foundation and the Abbotsford 2016 BC Summer Games Legacy Association on the redevelopment of the park and consulted with the Abbotsford Diverse Abilities Committee and an occupational therapist with the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre to ensure all elements of the park would be accessible for all. The insight and feedback received through community input helped ensure the park would meet the real needs of everyone in the community.
To learn about parks and playgrounds in the City of Abbotsford,visit www.abbotsford.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trees-trails/parks-playgrounds.
