Lions Park. It’s the kind of place that earns a permanent spot in the GPS favourites, where kids drag parents out of the car before it’s even in park, and where an hour somehow turns into four.
Tucked just off Lougheed Highway at 2300 Lions Way, this 30,000-square-metre green space along the Coquitlam River has been a community anchor for decades. Whether you’re a new resident scoping out the neighbourhood or a longtime PoCo local who just wants a refresher on everything this park offers, here’s your complete guide.
A Quick Bit of History
Lions Park didn’t always look the way it does today. The land was originally used for logging before the local Port Coquitlam Lions Club gifted it to the city in 1949. That spirit of community giving is still part of the park’s identity. You can actually see it commemorated in a mural near the Railside Skate Park, dedicated to Lions Club members Wes Henders and John Silvius. A newer mural, designed by artist Laura Kwok in 2024, celebrates the beauty of the Coquitlam River and the surrounding rain garden.
The park has gone through meaningful upgrades over the years, most notably a million-dollar renovation between 2013 and 2015 that delivered the expansive playground, refreshed washrooms, a new promenade pathway, and updated water spray features that families enjoy today.
The Playground: Genuinely One of the Best in the Tri-Cities
Let’s be honest — this is probably why most people show up. The Lions Park playground is a serious step above your average neighbourhood setup. There’s a main jungle gym with multiple climbing options: a rope ladder, traditional stairs, and a metal climbing column. At the top, a wide platform gives kids room to linger, imagine, scheme. Getting back down? Your choice of a fireman’s pole or the star attraction, a massive silver tube slide that sends kids flying.
Scattered around the main structure you’ll find both baby and big-kid swings, a zip line that draws a crowd on its own, a spinning rope pyramid, and even musical instruments built right into the park. It’s the kind of place where kids with completely different interests can all find something. There’s also a sand-and-water feature that’s perfect for the digging crowd.
The playground is thoughtfully zoned with younger children and older kids in mind, so you’re not watching a toddler try to navigate equipment built for a ten-year-old. That said, parents should still plan to stay engaged — it gets busy, especially on weekends.
The Splash Park: Summer’s Best Kept Open Secret
From May through September, the splash park at Lions Park becomes one of the most popular spots in all of Port Coquitlam. It’s free, it’s well-maintained, and it’s perfectly scaled for younger kids who want water play without the intensity of a full wave pool. On a warm July afternoon, you’ll spot families camped out on towels at the edges while little ones run through the sprays laughing their faces off.
Honestly? Pack a change of clothes. You’ll need them.
The Skate Park: Railside Has Its Own Identity
The Railside Skate Park sits right within Lions Park’s footprint and has developed into a legitimate gathering spot for the skateboarding and BMX community in PoCo. It’s an outdoor concrete skate park with a distinct personality, partly because of the eye-catching RAILSIDE mural on the adjacent wall, completed in 2012 by a team of artists including Richard Tetrault. The nearby train trestle adds to the industrial-meets-nature atmosphere that makes this corner of the park feel a little different from everything else around it.
The Coquitlam River: The Park’s Best Kept Secret
Here’s something first-timers often miss. Lions Park’s parking lot fills up fast in summer, and you might assume it’s all because of the playground. It’s not. A significant chunk of those visitors are heading straight through the park to the riverside.
Follow the paths to the edge of the park and you’ll find a trail that leads down to the Coquitlam River’s edge — shallow, calm, and lined with rounded river rocks. On hot days, families wade in, kids float on inflatables, and it has the kind of relaxed summer energy that’s genuinely hard to find close to the city. The water stays shallow enough near the banks to feel safe, and the sound of the river alone is worth the walk.
It’s also a popular fishing spot for locals, and on quieter weekday mornings, you might spot wildlife along the banks including birds and the occasional deer moving through the trees.
The Traboulay PoCo Trail Connection
Lions Park sits right on the Traboulay PoCo Trail, a 25.3-kilometre loop that circles the entire city. This makes the park a natural trailhead for walkers, joggers, and cyclists who want to explore beyond the park boundaries. From Lions Park you can head northeast along the river toward Coquitlam River Park, or make your way south toward Gates Park and the Red Bridge.
The section of trail near the park is mostly flat and well-maintained, with a mix of paved and packed gravel surfaces. It’s genuinely family-friendly for cycling. One tip: cyclists can move quickly through this stretch, so keep younger kids close and stay aware.
AllTrails rates the PoCo Trail via Lions Park as a 3.2-mile loop with plenty of river views, mossy trees, and a reasonable chance of wildlife sightings. It’s the kind of walk that feels wilder than the suburban surroundings would suggest.
Full List of Amenities
- Large multi-zone playground (suitable for all ages)
- Splash park (open May to September)
- Railside Skate Park
- Riverside nature trail along the Coquitlam River
- Traboulay PoCo Trail access
- Rentable covered picnic shelter (ideal for birthdays and group gatherings)
- Multiple picnic tables, many shaded
- Public washrooms with a change table
- Dog waste bags and bins
- Food trucks on weekends, June through September
- Ample parking on-site
- Public art and murals throughout
Food Trucks and Nearby Eats
On weekends from June through September, food trucks set up at Lions Park, which means you don’t need to pack every last snack for a full day out. The rotating vendors keep things interesting. That said, the park is also just a short walk from the shops and restaurants along Shaughnessy Street, and nearby Shaughnessy Station Mall gives you solid options for grabbing coffee or food before or after your visit.
Bringing Your Dog?
Dogs are welcome at Lions Park, and the wide open grassy areas and paved paths make it comfortable for most dogs. The park has dog waste stations throughout, which helps keep things pleasant for everyone. Worth knowing: the riverside section of the park gets busy on summer weekends, which can be a bit much for reactive dogs. If that applies to your pup, the main park area with its wider paths and open grass is a much calmer alternative.
Tips for Your Visit
Parking is free but it fills up fast on sunny weekends. Aim to arrive before 10 a.m. if you want a spot close to the playground. The park is also easily accessible by transit, with bus stops within walking distance along Lougheed Highway.
Bring sunscreen in the summer months. The splash park area has less tree cover, and you can go from “I’ll be fine” to “definitely burned” faster than expected on a July afternoon. The picnic shelter is rentable through the City of Port Coquitlam if you’re planning a group event — worth booking in advance for birthdays.
And if you want the riverside to yourself? Weekday mornings are where it’s at. Peaceful, beautiful, and the water sounds noticeably louder without a crowd around it.
Why Lions Park Says Something About Living in PoCo
One thing that stands out about Lions Park isn’t any single feature. It’s the range. You’ve got a world-class playground next to a skate park next to a splash zone next to a riverside trail next to community murals and food trucks. It’s a park that says something about what Port Coquitlam values — accessible outdoor space that works for families, for teens, for older residents walking the trail, for dog owners, for anyone who just wants to be outside without driving far.
For people thinking about buying or relocating to Port Coquitlam, parks like Lions are often an underrated part of the lifestyle calculation. Central PoCo and the surrounding neighbourhoods benefit directly from this kind of green infrastructure. It’s the sort of thing that doesn’t show up on a spec sheet but absolutely shows up in quality of daily life.
Thinking about what it’s actually like to live in this part of the Tri-Cities? Explore our Port Coquitlam neighbourhood guides or get in touch with our team at ABODE Real Estate Group — we’d love to help you find the right fit.
Thinking of Buying or Selling in Port Coquitlam?
At ABODE Real Estate Group, we help you look beyond just the listing. It’s about finding a home that fits your lifestyle, your plans, and where you see yourself long-term. Whether you’re buying your first place or making a move, having the right guidance makes a difference.
About ABODE Real Estate Group
ABODE Real Estate Group consists of Jon Marshall PREC & Forrest Missar, based in the Greater Vancouver Area, focusing on the Tri-Cities, Pitt Meadows & Maple Ridge. As consistent top performers in the Medallion Club Top 10%, we help buyers and sellers make informed decisions and achieve a better lifestyle through real estate. Whether downsizing, upsizing, buying your first home, or investing, your goals are our priority.
Check out our 120+ Google Reviews here.
