Our parks programs and partnerships allow citizens and community groups to take an active role in contributing to the improvement of our parks and trails. Learn more about these programs, including our Goose Control program and the impact that they have on our green spaces.
Parks Programs
The Park Gift Program has been developed to allow citizens, community groups, businesses or organizations to donate park gifts to the City of Abbotsford for the enhancement of public parks and trail system. You can donate a bench, picnic table, tree or plaque.
As a “Good Neighbour” the City of Abbotsford will consider cost sharing the installation of fences constructed on residential properties shared with municipal parks and /or pedestrian walkways.
The Little Libraries in Parks were created in partnership with the Rotary Club of Abbotsford-Sumas. The libraries are funded and stocked by members of the Rotary Club of Abbotsford-Sumas, and installed by City staff. The goal of the program is to increase literacy by providing books for people to take home or enjoy in the parks. Little Libraries can be found at the following parks:
- Dave Kandal Park at 3575 Crestview Avenue
- DeLair Park at 35570 Old Yale Road
- Mill Lake Park at 32960 Mill Lake Road
The City of Abbotsford competed in the Communities in Bloom competition at the Provincial level in 2017, and received 4 out of 5 Blooms. In 2018 City was awarded the coveted 5 out of 5 blooms. City of Abbotsford competed at the national level again in 2019, and received 5 blooms Bronze Level.
Due to COVID, 2020's events were scaled back but 2021 holds promise for great things!
Find out how you can get involved in the Communities in Bloom programs and events.
The Ledgeview Golf and Country Club is an 18 hole golf course in located at 35997 McKee Road. The Ledgeview Golf Course is currently owned by the City of Abbotsford. For the past 36 years, the Ledgeview Golf Society has managed and operated the Ledgeview Golf & Country Club facilities on behalf of the City.
The objective of the Abbotsford Community Garden is to create space for people to learn about and participate in growing some of their own food organically – planning, planting, tending and ultimately reaping the benefits of their labour. This community garden offers a unique opportunity for a wide cross-section of Abbbotsford residents to come together and garden as neighbours. People of every age, ethnic background and gardening experience are participating.
The Community Gardens are operated by Abbotsford Community Garden and are located at 1786 Angus Campbell Road.
The Fraser Valley Waterski Club is operated by Fraser Valley Waterski Club and is located at 31515 Walmsley Avenue (Albert Dyck Memorial Park).
The BMX Track is operated by Abbotsford BMX and is located at 32470 Haida Drive (Exhibition Park).
Play Boxes
Live 5-2-1-0 Playboxes are industrial metal jobsite boxes that are installed in community parks and contain equipment and ideas for active play. The boxes are wrapped with colourful vinyl graphics and secured with combination locks; the code to open a Playbox is freely accessible to families.
As part of developing a healthy community the City of Abbotsford has partnered with Fraser Health, Abbotsford Community Services, Pacific Sport, the Abbotsford News, the Abbotsford School District and the University of the Fraser Valley to install several of these boxes filled play equipment such as balls, jump ropes, hula hoops and more.
The City of Abbotsford believes in helping families raise healthy children. We know that children, who are raised in an environment where they are active, have better physical and emotional health, perform better academically, and have greater leadership skills.
Physical activity also lowers depression and crime rates while increasing productivity and innovation. As a community, we all want our kids to be healthy, to play, and to have fun but the reality is that there can be a number of challenges to making that happen:
- They perhaps grew up in a family that didn’t engage in play or they are so busy trying to keep up with everything that they don’t have the time to think about how to play with their kids.
- Lack of money – buying toys and props to play with outside isn’t within the financial reach of many families in Abbotsford.
- Program barriers – signing kids up for programs can present a number of barriers for parents such as cost, location (it’s yet another place they have to take their child to/from), scheduling (it can be tough to try and fit the program schedule - life can be unpredictable)
- Commitment – for many families, committing to a 6 or 8 week program just feels like it’s too much
- Isolation – with busy schedules, lack of interaction with neighbors, lack of family close-by, social isolation is becoming a significant problem in our community. How do you meet new people, where do you meet new people? Not only does this lead to social isolation, it also starts to erode the fabric of our sense of community and belonging.
Playboxes bring more fun and more opportunities for active play to our families, offer parents and caregivers new ideas on how to play with their kids, supply the necessary games and sports equipment, and provide unlimited access and opportunity for families to get outdoors and engage with other families through active play.
All you need to do to access all the fun stuff inside the box, is register below for a play box code and you will get the unlock code for the box for free.
We are aware of the risks of vandalism, theft or damage of the equipment and we decided that helping families get active was way too important not to try something like this.
The play boxes are at the following 5 parks:
- Eagle Mountain Park (2570 Eagle Mountain Way)
- Grant Park (31850 Madiera PL)
- Pepin Brook Park (2244 Reisling Drive)
- Spud Murphy Park (32285 Hillcrest Avenue)
- McKinley Park (3646 McKinley Drive)
We look for volunteers or volunteer groups to help to assist in maintaining these boxes. If you are interested in volunteering to assist with the maintenance and support of our Playboxes in a local park near you, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 604-557-7050 to inquire.
Goose Control Program
In the last 50 years, populations have gone from being considered migratory to residential nesting birds. It is important to stress that the nesting birds targeted in this program are not native to the region. These are hybrid offspring of several different subspecies of Canada Geese that were introduced in the 1960’s and 70’s. Canada geese from elsewhere in Canada and the US were translocated here as part of managed introduction programs.
These Geese are very adaptable to urban settings and do well in habitats intended for human use such as parks, beaches, sports fields and golf courses. The short grass at these sites is a great source for foraging and provides quick access to water for escape if necessary.
The geese population has been steadily growing with few natural controls and is having a negative impact on the natural environment, recreational opportunities for residents. The unnaturally high populations of Canada geese in the region can have a negative impact on the natural environment as Canada geese push out other waterfowl species such as ducks.
Egg addling is a supported humane technique that involves shaking eggs or coating them with a non-toxic biodegradable food-grade corn oil within 14 days of incubation to make them non-viable. Eggs are then returned to the nest. Adult geese are not harmed and continue with their regular life cycle.
A federal permit is required to allow trained crews to addle goose eggs on public and private lands. Crews will require a signed letter of authorization from the property owner. Field staff can provide these, or letters can be filled out ahead of time by completing the Environment Canada's Authorization Form for Land Management Under the Migratory Birds Regulations online.
Adult geese are very powerful animals which can become aggressive towards humans, domestic pets and even other waterfowl if there is a perceived threat. This aggression increases during nesting season and when populations begin to grow too large for a given area.
Fecal contamination from geese is a concern at public parks and beaches due to increased levels of fecal coliform, E. coli, and Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Increasing concerns for public health, the local economy and the natural environment have prompted the development of a management program to control the issue. The public is asked to keep away from goose nests and to avoid touching the eggs.
The key to the success of the program is finding new nests. The public is asked to report lone geese, pairs of geese or nest locations on private or public land at enquiry@ebbconsulting.ca or at 604-943-3209.
For more information, contact Kate Hagmeier, Senior Biologist