Maple Ridge, B.C., April 23, 2025 — Plans are moving forward to bring enhanced recreational amenities to Maple Ridge, including the next community engagement phase on the proposed aquatic and recreation facility at Hammond Community Park.
The second engagement phase, from April 23 to May 25, will provide an overview of the facility concept and site plan and encourage community feedback through an online survey, workshops, and open house events. Details are at Engage.MapleRidge.ca/Move-Meet-Play.
“As our community continues to grow, it’s essential that we expand our recreation facilities to meet the changing needs of Maple Ridge residents,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “The proposed site plan is the result of careful planning, technical assessments, and feedback we received during the first round of public engagement. It aligns with our Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan and reflects what residents told us they value. Our Council is committed to listening and learning from our community, and we encourage everyone to get involved and let us know if this proposal meets our shared goals.”
The City plans to relocate the Larry Walker Field and Hammond Stadium baseball diamonds to a new stadium-style ballpark at the Maple Ridge Golf Course, repurposing the site as a new multi-use community park. The city owns the golf course and leases it to an operator.
Improving Access to Recreation in Maple Ridge
The City is proposing redeveloping the golf course site to its originally intended use for public park space when it was purchased in 1971 to serve the community's broader needs. The transition of this City-owned site into publicly accessible, multi-use recreation park space has become a priority, given provincially led zoning changes and plans for the Lougheed Transit Corridor Area, which will lead to more homes in west Maple Ridge and increased demand for recreation and other City services.
The preliminary design concept and site plan for the new Hammond recreation facility demonstrate that Hammond Community Park has limited space to accommodate the two existing baseball fields, an aquatics facility, and parking.
The City recognizes that this relocation will impact the golf course operator, golfers, area residents, and baseball groups, and is committed to working with user groups. The City has communicated this information directly with the golf course operator, who has the option to keep the golf course open until the site is repurposed.
“We understand that this change will significantly impact golf course users who have enjoyed this facility for many years,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “Council had to carefully weigh all community interests, and while this was a difficult decision, it allows us to enhance our baseball facilities, honour the legacy of Larry Walker, and expand access to public park space for all residents.”
Creating a new community park in Hammond will be a multi-phase project, with the timing aligned with the recreation facility's development and construction plans. The first phase will focus on establishing the two replacement baseball diamonds and associated facilities before the recreation facility's construction. In future phases, the City will engage the community on the overall park vision, which may involve transforming the golf course into the City’s largest community park.
Have Your Say
The second phase of engagement for the new aquatic and recreation facility will involve checking in with residents to confirm that the proposed amenities align with their priorities and to gain insight into how they would use each amenity. Residents are encouraged to attend one of the Open Houses and complete the public survey at Engage.MapleRidge.ca/Move-Meet-Play.
- Open House (Golfers and Golf Course Neighbours): Sat. May 3 (10 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) at Maple Ridge Elementary
- Open House: Tues. May 6 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) at Maple Ridge Secondary School
- Open House: Sat. May 10 (11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ) at Westview Secondary School
- Virtual Open House: Wed. May 14 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Engage.MapleRidge.ca/Move-Meet-Play.
- Pop Up Engagement – Connect with staff at upcoming City events and facilities
Future Steps
Following phase two engagement, future steps for the project include program refinement for the facility, and completion of the site assessments, including archaeological, geotechnical and traffic assessments. The completed report is anticipated to be brought to Council in summer 2025.
Background on the Recreation Facility Feasibility Study
The facility and site concept for the proposed recreation facility in Hammond reflects community feedback and aligns with the Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) Master Plan. During the first engagement phase in 2024, more than 3,000 residents shared their input through workshops, open houses, and a public survey. The ice rink, initially proposed for this site, is being planned at the Albion Fairgrounds as part of a two-ice rink expansion to the existing arena complex.
For more information, contact Christa Balatti at RecFacilityStudy@MapleRidge.ca or 604-467-7310.
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Media contact:
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T 604 467-4319 C 778-955-4249 E PPurewal@MapleRidge.ca