MAP: The Fraser Valley’s best parks

We asked and you answered. Here are your favourite parks in Abbotsford, Langley, Chilliwack, and beyond.

The Fraser Valley is a magical place in the fall. When it’s not raining, there are few places on earth that are more invigorating to explore on foot.

A couple weeks ago, we asked you to tell us your favourite parks. More than 70 of you responded. Most generously shared your favourite parks. But others remarked that they had not found their special place. Which is fine!

That, after all, is the point of this exercise—and getting outside in the first place. So whether you are looking to expand your horizons, or starting your exploration of the Fraser Valley, we hope that this non-exhaustive map of favourite parks can help set you on your way.

Did we miss a park? Hop onto our Facebook page, drop us a line in the comments, and watch the newsletter for an updated version of the map in the coming weeks.

‘We asked you for both your favourite large/regional park and your small/community park. Among large parks, Aldergrove Regional Park and Campbell Valley Regional Park received the most mentions by our readers. Curiously, almost all the fans of Aldergrove Regional—which is on the western side of the Langley/Abbotsford border—said they live in Abbotsford.

If you were expecting to see Mill Lake Park rank highly, it did—but in the small/community park category. Mill Lake is no doubt beloved. But apparently you think of it as a local attraction—which might be the highest praise a park can receive. Nearly one-quarter of all respondents selected the park as their favourite community attraction.

In Chilliwack, meanwhile, locals cherish Sardis Park, ranking highest among residents in that area. Nestled among homes, Sardis Park is almost a perfect miniature version of Mill Lake Park, complete with its pond, playgrounds, perimeter trail, and dozens of geese.

The hikers among you favoured Aldergrove Regional Park, Matsqui Trail in Abbotsford, and Vedder/Rotary Trail in Chilliwack. But, like the other responses we received, the diversity of locations is mostly what stands out, speaking well for the plethora of park options in the Fraser Valley.

The purpose of this exercise is to discover new places, so we have compiled all your favourite places (save the playgrounds—more on those another day) in one map. We have highlighted, with green badges, the ones that got the most endorsements from readers. And this writer has highlighted his two favourites (which weren’t mentioned by any respondents) because he has the power to do so. You can also check out two of Grace’s favourites. So get outside and take advantage of autumn, while it’s here.

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