Surrey council has endorsed a Focus Newton Action Plan presented by city staff that’s billed as an “innovative initiative to revitalize public spaces and public life in Newton,” serving a community with a population larger than that of most cities in Metro Vancouver and growing by an annual rate of 12 per cent.
“Initiated by council, this is more than a set of initiatives; it’s a commitment to shaping a vibrant, green, safe, and connected Newton over the next three years,” Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke stated in a related document put before council on Monday, April 22. “Focusing on key areas such as enhancing landscaping, increasing safety, fostering social connectedness, providing amenities, and improving active transportation, we aim to create a community where residents and businesses can thrive.”
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During a public consultation campaign the city heard “strong support” for more landscaping and green space, improved and expanded recreation facilities and park amenities, more family-friendly events and activities, and cleaner, safer regularly maintained spaces as well as less traffic congestion, enhanced pedestrian safety, better transportation infrastructure for transit and cycling, and more outdoor spaces, cafes and restaurants.
Meantime, more than two thirds of those who participated in the public engagement, according to a corporate report, want a cleaner Newton with “top concerns being illegal dumping and general litter and “shared concern” about homelessness, drug addiction and “the need for maintenance and care on both public and private property.”
Coun. Harry Bains described the plan as “made for Newton, by Newton.”