The re-development of the Steveston Town Square Park was initiated by the Steveston Historical Society and planned and funded by the City of Richmond. Construction began in mid-2015 and was completed in spring of 2016.

The finished concept respects both design and programming consultations held with the Steveston Historical Society Building Committee.

Guiding ideas for the Steveston Town Square Park:

• Create a park area that is adaptable for a variety of year-round activities;
• Create spaces that allow for accessible, casual public use as well as adapt to activities organized by the Steveston Historical Society and by staff at the Steveston Museum and Visitor Centre;
• Accommodate sitting and display areas near Moncton Street for year-round use as well as during festivals;
• With the relocated Japanese Fishermen’s Benevolent Society (JFBS) building present, honour the Japanese heritage of Steveston by adapting a Japanese garden approach to materials.

The Steveston Historical Society and the Steveston Museum and Visitor Centre look forward to sharing the Steveston Town Square Park with the Steveston community during our events.

Concerns about tree removal in the Steveston Town Square Park

In response to concerns expressed regarding the construction of the garden by the Steveston Museum and Visitor Centre, the Steveston Historical Society offers these comments.

1. Six out of seven trees in the front, main park remain – the large one removed was due to its poor condition and proximity to the building. A pair of apple trees and a cherry tree by the back fence were deemed to be in poor condition due to suppressed growth, the cherry tree also had very thin canopy foliage and was susceptible to cherry bark tortrix beetle. One maple tree located in the northwest corner of the park was observed to be in fair condition, but would be affected by proposed grade changes.
2. The rebuilding of the garden has been done in conjunction with the Steveston Historical Society Building Committee, City Staff and Japanese Master Gardeners. The Wakayama Kenjin Kai donated a spectacular black pine for the gardens.
3. The English rose garden at the picket fence remains.
4. The remaining garden contains a Suikinkutsu feature – one of only a few outside of Japan, with a stone brought directly from Wakayama (Richmond’s sister-city) sourced out by Councillor Bill McNulty when he was in Japan.
5. As the park contains two historic buildings – one being the JFBS, which is significant to the Japanese community – it was considered appropriate to maintain the English rose garden and add in the Japanese influenced garden.