A New Community Park in Yale
Thank you all who came out to the Yale Community meeting, October 1, 2025 to learn more about the project and share your input on the new park. Stay tuned for more engagement opportunities coming soon!
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Yale is a deeply rooted cultural landscape, rich in history and significant in the formation of British Columbia. For generations, the Fraser River has been at the heart of community life. Indigenous communities gathered along its banks for salmon fishing, drying, and trade, as well as for cultural and seasonal activities. During the gold rush, Yale continued as a lively hub and provisioning town for miners travelling along the Fraser. Chinese workers and merchants also played a vital role in Yale’s growth, contributing to its economy, building infrastructure, and leaving a lasting cultural legacy. Today, the town remains a special place for families and neighbours.
The proposed Yale Community Park builds on this history and aims to establish a safe, welcoming, and accessible public space. The park is intended to be a lasting community asset that provides opportunities for passive recreation and gathering, and reflects both the values of the community and Yale’s long standing cultural connection to the Fraser River. The plan for the park is rooted in a community focused vision: to balance environmental protection, historical interpretation, and public access in a way that enhances the overall community environment.
OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN
The creation of a waterfront community park in Yale has been part of the community’s long-term vision, as outlined in the Electoral Area B Official Community Plan (OCP). The OCP identifies a park on Front Street as a community priority, with the goal of creating a space that both protects the natural environment and reflects the history of Yale. A waterfront park can provide enhanced opportunities for a community gathering space and scenic enjoyment. The OCP emphasizes that any park along the waterfront should retain the lands in a natural state and serve as a focus for protecting and interpreting the historic sites, the history of Yale and of the Province.
Your Yale Story
Yale’s history is rich, and so are the stories that come from it! From the first Indigenous village sites to the gold rush boomtown days and the close-knit community we know today, there’s a treasure trove of memories in this special place.
We invite you to share your own golden nugget of Yale’s history. Whether it’s a story passed down through your family, a favourite spot by the river, or a memory of community life. Share your story below and help us celebrate the history, culture, and spirit that make Yale unique.
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