Inviting, vibrant places strengthen a sense of community and safety in local neighbourhoods.

Photo of the grove of cedar trees next to a community centre, with grass below and one walking path and picnic table through the wooded area. — The grove, a cluster of cedar trees next to a community centre in Newton, Surrey. (Friends of the Grove - Surrey, BC Facebook page)

In 2013, Julie Paskall was tragically assaulted and killed in a community centre parking lot in Newton, a large neighbourhood in Surrey, Canada.

Julie had been waiting for her son to finish a hockey game in the community centre, which is located next to a large grove of cedar trees. For many years, this wooded area had no name, and was known as a hotspot for local crime.

In the years after Julie’s death, Newton residents decided to take change into their own hands. A local group, the Friends of the Grove, came together to reclaim the small forest in creative ways, both to recognize its past and shape a brighter future. They added lounge chairs, organized games and activities, and decorated the trees with art and poetry—inviting the community to use the space, rather than fear it.

Community members gather in the tree grove. There is a small hut that has been built and decorated with books — Community event at the Grove. (Friends of the Grove Facebook page)

Community member David Dalley told the Vancouver Sun that this placemaking initiative is about “taking a space that may be neglected or may be undervalued […] or maybe it’s just avoided because it’s a place where dangerous things happen and [...] reclaiming that as public space in a creative and positive way.”

Unfortunately, Julie’s story was not the only one—she was the 25th person murdered in Surrey that year. Media coverage of Newton often focuses on safety concerns. The Grove tells a different story about Newton—one of a community coming together to reclaim public space by making it more vibrant, active, and inviting.

A changing landscape

Surrey has the second-largest population in the greater Vancouver area, on track to surpass Vancouver by 2027. Newton alone is home to 150,000 residents. If it was a city on its own, it would be the fourth largest in B.C.

Many Surrey neighbourhoods are seeing large-scale development, which helps the City pay for new community amenities. For example, developers are investing in new public spaces, art, and transit infrastructure in the Fleetwood neighbourhood—including a new SkyTrain line.

But Newton isn’t seeing the same large-scale development as other Surrey neighbourhoods. Apart from planning a new community centre for Newton, the City needed more immediate solutions to improve community spaces in the neighbourhood—and address local safety concerns.

Problem solving in Newton

The challenge: City staff had a tight municipal budget to work with. So they decided to invest in small-scale, rapid improvements to public spaces, much like the work of residents at the Grove.

Before making any changes, the City wanted to make sure that public space improvements would reflect residents’ needs and aspirations for their community. Over the summer of 2023, Happy Cities worked with City staff to pop up at local parks with games, food, and family-friendly activities, inviting Newton residents to share their ideas. For example, we set up a colourful photo booth, asking people what they would like to see more of in the community. Their answers ranged from public art to better sidewalk lighting, litter removal, safe crosswalks, and more. These pop-up events also showed how spaces in Newton could be used in new ways—for example, with families gathering for a community picnic.

Photo of a community pop-up event in Newton at a local park. People of all ages blow bubbles, play games, and gather in the sun. — The project team held a family-friendly celebration in a local park to hear from residents and show the potential of public spaces. (Happy Cities)

This community feedback helped shape the Focus Newton Action Plan, which City Council passed unanimously in April 2024. To implement the action plan, Surrey quickly allocated $1.4 million in capital funding for public space improvements. Council also approved a $1 million operating budget, which provides funding for ongoing upkeep, cleaning, and maintenance of public spaces—something community members told us was crucial for increasing safety.

This budget is a fraction of other city projects. (The new community centre in Newton? That will cost over $300 million). But it underlines how modest amounts of funding can go a long way in improving community spaces and fostering a sense of safety, through small but consistent improvements. The rapid placemaking approach allowed the City to get started immediately. Already, staff have completed over 50 Focus Newton projects, working together with committed local partners. More are planned throughout 2025 and beyond.

Photo of a temporary public plaza in a parking lot, filled with picnic tables, chalk art, umbrellas, and people socializing. Live music plays in the background under a Focus Newton tent. — A pop-up plaza hosted by the City and the Newton BIA over the summer of 2024 with funding from Focus Newton. (City of Surrey)

Throughout this process, the City showed its commitment to Newton—working with residents and the Newton BIA to implement solutions that meet local needs. Focus Newton isn’t just another plan that will gather dust on a shelf. The approach has been so successful that Surrey plans to replicate the work in the Cloverdale neighbourhood.

Celebrating Newton

Placemaking isn’t a new idea for Newton. Rather, Focus Newton builds on work that local residents have been doing for years—including the Friends of the Grove, who reclaimed a neglected space with creative, community-driven solutions.

Community safety involves many different actors and actions. But placemaking is one way to quickly improve a sense of safety and foster pride in place—all while bringing people together.

“When you see the television news the only stories you hear about Newton are the shootings and murders,” said Diana Joy—a Newton resident, writer, and member of Friends of the Grove—in an interview with Surrey Now. “There are other stories, lots of them. Stories of families and neighbours and kindness and surprises.”

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