The history of Old Mill Site Park in Port Moody, British Columbia

A Park Built on Timber and Time

Nestled along the serene shores of Burrard Inlet, Old Mill Site Park in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada, stands as a living reminder of the city’s industrial beginnings.
Where quiet trails and boardwalks now wind through the trees, sawmills once roared with the sounds of commerce and progress.
The park’s name recalls the early 1900s, when Port Moody’s shoreline played a crucial role in shaping British Columbia’s timber industry.
Today, the same waters that once carried lumber now reflect peace, community, and renewal.

The Early Industrial Era

In the late 19th century, Port Moody became a hub for logging and shipping.
The area now known as Old Mill Site Park was home to the Thurston-Flavelle Mill, one of the largest lumber operations on Burrard Inlet.
Logs floated in from the surrounding forests, processed by powerful saws before being shipped across Canada and overseas.
This mill provided work for hundreds of families and helped establish Port Moody as a cornerstone of British Columbia’s growing economy.

From Industry to Memory

By the mid-20th century, as the lumber trade modernized and moved elsewhere, the mills along the inlet fell silent.
The Old Mill Site was abandoned, leaving behind wooden pilings and echoes of an industrious past.
Yet even in decay, the site remained rich with local memory — a place where history lingered in the smell of cedar and salt air.
Recognizing its heritage value, the city began efforts to preserve the site and transform it into a public park.

Creating a Place for Reflection

During the 1970s and 1980s, Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada, reimagined the old mill site as a green waterfront space for residents.
Trails, picnic areas, and interpretive signs were added, inviting visitors to explore the balance between natural beauty and industrial legacy.
The park’s design intentionally kept remnants of the original mill structures, allowing people to walk among the posts and timbers that once anchored the region’s prosperity.
It became a rare example of environmental reclamation meeting historical preservation.

Nature Returns to the Inlet

Today, Old Mill Site Park Port Moody is a haven for wildlife, walkers, and families.
Eagles soar above the shoreline, herons wade through the shallows, and the tide washes gently against the remaining pilings.
The park offers a quiet escape from the city — a place where nature has reclaimed what once belonged to industry.
It stands as a tribute to resilience, both human and environmental.

In Reflection

The history of Old Mill Site Park in Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada, tells a story of transformation — from sawdust and steel to sunlight and serenity.
What was once a center of production is now a sanctuary of peace and memory.
To stroll its trails is to trace the evolution of a community that honors its past while embracing a sustainable future.
Old Mill Site Park remains a living bridge between heritage and harmony.