Binnie partnered with the City of Port Coquitlam to revitalize Leigh Square and Veterans Park into a unified, inclusive civic precinct that strengthens community life at the heart of the city. The project transformed a collection of fragmented, underutilized spaces into a safe, accessible, and flexible public realm that supports cultural programming, civic ceremonies, and everyday social interaction.

The revitalized precinct improves legibility, circulation, and visibility while creating a welcoming environment for people of all ages and abilities. Key features include a programmable interactive fountain, universally accessible pathways, flexible event infrastructure, preserved mature trees, and expanded gathering spaces that support festivals, performances, markets, and informal use.

Veterans Park—home to the community’s cenotaph—was carefully enhanced to respect its ceremonial importance. The cenotaph was elevated on a new multi-tiered plinth to improve visibility and accessibility while maintaining its established setting, mature trees, and passive reflective spaces.

Environmental stewardship was central to the design. Innovative root-bridge pedestal systems and structural soil cells protected sensitive tree roots while expanding programmable space. Recirculating fountain systems, reflective paving, and water-efficient irrigation contribute to long-term sustainability and climate resilience.

Through thoughtful engineering, landscape architecture, and extensive stakeholder engagement, Binnie delivered a long-lasting civic destination that enhances public well-being, strengthens social connection, and fosters community pride—demonstrating excellence in people-centered placemaking and the creation of connected communities.

Binnie’s approach was grounded in collaboration, technical innovation, and a commitment to inclusive, community-centered design. From the outset, we worked closely with the City of Port Coquitlam, the Royal Canadian Legion, event organizers, operations staff, and community stakeholders to ensure the design reflected civic priorities, ceremonial needs, and everyday use.

Our team focused on unifying the precinct by removing physical and visual barriers, improving sightlines, and introducing curbless, universally accessible pathways that support seamless movement for pedestrians, cyclists, and mobility device users. Safety and comfort were enhanced through improved lighting, open views, and intuitive circulation.

Technical challenges were addressed through innovative solutions. Custom root-bridge pedestal systems allowed new paving to span sensitive tree root zones without excavation, preserving the health of mature trees while expanding usable space. Fountain mechanical systems and event infrastructure were discreetly integrated beneath the pavilion stage to maintain a clean, uncluttered public realm.

The design balances reverence and flexibility. Veterans Park was enhanced to support formal ceremonies while also functioning as an everyday gathering space. Throughout the process, iterative engagement ensured the precinct could accommodate large civic events, cultural programming, and spontaneous community activity—now and into the future.

The revitalized Leigh Square and Veterans Park has become a vibrant, inclusive civic hub that supports community connection, cultural expression, and everyday use. Improved accessibility, safety, and flexible programming space have increased year-round activity and public engagement. The project protects heritage, preserves mature trees, and delivers sustainable, adaptable infrastructure—creating a lasting community asset that strengthens civic pride and quality of life.