Now that summer is finally here – a little too “here” earlier in the week as far as heat, of course - the City of Burnaby is encouraging residents to “beat the crowds” at major destination parks this summer by exploring one of the city’s many “hidden gems.”
“Spending an afternoon at Deer Lake Park or Burnaby Lake can be a great way to spend a summer day, but when the sun comes out, these parks get busy in a hurry,” says a news release. “Fortunately, with over 150 parks in Burnaby, there are plenty of options — whether you’re looking for a spot with ample space to play, somewhere with a spray pad for the kids, or a park with a shade for a picnic.”
The city offered up a few suggestions:
- Springer Park – lots of shade
- Taylor Park – ample space to play
- Broadview Park – tennis courts and a short trail loop
- Ernie Winch Park – big field, playground and a spray pad
I want to add one more to this list: Beecher Park at 1255 Springer Ave. I’m biased, of course, because I grew up a few blocks from here and used to ride my bike there with friends all the time to play catch and run off some of that big-boy energy.
It’s a great little park with tons of shade, a playground, sports field and a creek on the north side for kids to explore. And the best part is there are no big crowds to fight for parking or spots to lay out a picnic spread.
To me, it’s the best hidden gem park in Burnaby.
There are many more hidden gems to be found throughout Burnaby. Explore the full list of all Burnaby’s parks at Burnaby.ca/parks.
“If you do visit one of Burnaby’s major destination parks, consider visiting during non-peak days and times to ensure all visitors can maintain physical distance from each other,” says the city.
