Langley

Langley

The Langley City or simply Langley is a municipality in Metro Vancouver with a population of over 25,000. It is directly east of Surrey, relatively close to Cloverdale.

Langley is served by several regular bus routes as well as community shuttle routes that use smaller capacity mini-buses. TransLink, which is British Columbia’s transportation authority that operates Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation network also serves the city of Langley.

Langley’s History

For generations, people have passed through what is now the site of Downtown Langley. As it served as a connection between what is now called the Salmon River and Nicomekl  River. If you visit Portage Park, there are some interpretive signs about this history.

The Innes Corners Plaza is the intersection of the old BC Electric Rail line, Yale Road, and Glover Road. This was an important nexus for transportation which is why Downtown Langley exists where it does today. The star of Innes is in the middle of the intersection of Fraser Highway and Glover Road.

It is a recognition of this historically important area. As Langley Prairie continued to urbanize, businesses and residents started to demand more services from their local government. One lightning-rod issue was getting street lights for Langley Prairie.

The Langley council at that time said, “not a nickel for street lights”. Langley Prairie property owners decided it was time for a more responsive local government. And after a successful referendum on March 15th, 1955, Langley Prairie became Langley City with a local government focused on local urban matters.

Langley City is still a responsive local government and is a regional town centre for Metro Vancouver. Net importer of jobs and the future start of the SkyTrain line and is still the crossroads of commerce in the western Fraser Valley.

Douglas park - Langley

Downtown Area

Downtown Langley is the heart of the community. The downtown area was built around Old Yale Road, which later became Fraser Highway. And Fraser Highway was a part of the Trans-Canada Highway network, which drew many businesses to the area.

Dive and satisfy cravings with local foods and fine dining restaurants and enjoy must-see downtown activities.

The downtown Mural Walk is also one of the city’s best attractions. It is a year-round walking adventure that attracts hundreds of visitors each year. Over 20 original works of art were created by incredibly gifted artists.

Langley’s Parks

As the community grows, Langley invests in parks, trails and public spaces. The city has more than 17 public parks. They range in size from small neighbourhood adventure playgrounds to bigger parks with walking trails, nature, and a variety of sporting areas and facilities.

The Sendall Garden is one of the favourite places in Langley City.

It is located at 201A Street and then going on 50th Avenue. It is like a mini-Van Dusen Garden. The Pleasantdale Creek Trail which runs from the Nicomekl flood plain, all the way up to the BC Hydro right-of-way showcases the natural beauty of Langley – you won’t even know you’re in a city.

If you want to head into nature, you don’t even need to leave Langley City. Whether it’s meandering through the trails, enjoying the gardens or visiting the hothouse, Langley is a great place to take a quick break.

Parks

  • Brydon Park (198 Street and 53 Avenue) Amenities: Trails, picnic tables and benches, with a playground for kids, water fountains, a dog off-leash area and a sports ground.
  • Buckley Park (196 Street and 48 Avenue) Amenities: Soccer field, a kids’ playground, and trails.
  • City Park (207 Street and 48 Avenue) Amenities: Sports courts, picnic tables and benches, trails and a waterpark.
  • Conder Park (198 Street and 50 Avenue) Amenities: Trails, benches and kids’ playgrounds.
  • Douglas Park (206 Street) Amenities: A seasonal waterpark, community gardens, a kids’ playground, picnic tables and benches, and a sports ground.
  • Dumias Park (208 Street and 57 Avenue) Amenities: Benches and kids’ playgrounds.
  • Hunter Park (199 Street and 45A Avenue) Amenities: Trails, benches and kids’ playgrounds.
  • Iris Mooney Park (209 Street and 47 Avenue) Amenities: Benches and a kids’ playground.
  • Langley Prairie Park (20060 Fraser Highway) Amenities: Benches.
  • Linwood Park (201A and Michaud Crescent) Amenities: Community Garden, kids’ playgrounds, a wash area, a soccer field and also an area for dogs off-leash.
  • Nicholas Park (209 Street and 50A Avenue) Amenities: Sports ground, playgrounds for kids, benches and a waterpark.
  • Nicomekl Park (208 Street and 54 Avenue) Amenities: Trails, benches and picnic tables.
  • Penzer Park (198C Street and 47 Avenue) Amenities: Trails, benches and picnic tables, playground for kids. It also has a parkour course and bike park making it popular for riders and bike enthusiasts.
  • Portage Park (204 Street and 51 Avenue) Amenities: Trails, tables and benches, and an adventure playground.
  • Rotary Centennial Park (20869 Fraser Highway) Amenities: Gardens, a sports ground, benches, and a playground for kids.
  • Sendall Gardens (201A Street and 50 Avenue) Amenities: A botanical garden with exotic plants, trails, picnic tables and benches.
  • Upland Dog Off-Leash Park (206 Street and 44A Avenue) Amenities: An 18-acre green fenced area for pets off-leash, trails, picnic tables and benches.
City Parl-Langley

Trails

  • Muckle Creek trail (at Sendall Garden)– over three acres of rare plants, shrubs, and trees can be found along this trail that takes you through the famous garden.
  • Brydon Lagoon Nature Trail – it is located southwest of Brydon Park and has a relaxing walking trail around the lagoon where you can see wildfowl in their natural habitat.
  • Nicomekl River Trail – a 3-mile trail that includes a river and is suitable for all levels of experience. The trail is open all year round, making it ideal for a variety of outdoor pursuits.
  • Power Line trail – a trail that begins at Buckley Park on the west side of the city and travels east to the Uplands Dog-off-Leash Park.
  • Nicomekl Flood Plain – Recreational opportunities abound in the middle of the city thanks to a river and floodplain that run through it. The Rotary Floodplain Trail connects the cities of Langley and Surrey by following the Nicomekl River. It can be used for a variety of activities, including biking, jogging, and walking, and it connects to other nearby nature trails.

Langley Events

  • Langley Walk – an annual fitness event since 1963. It attracts thousands of participants and aims for better community health.
  • Magic of Christmas – a yearly Christmas event with lots of family-friendly activities.
  • Movies in the Park – movies on a big screen to enjoy at the park.
  • Remembrance Day – a ceremony across Canada to pay tribute to the citizen’s sacrifices and to those who have died in war serving Canada.
  • Sounds of Summer – an outdoor concert series from a group of different artists and of different genres.
  • Tri-it Triathlon – an annual competition that features swimming, cycling, and running races.
  • Family Day – an event with lots of fun and interactive activities for the family.
  • Langley Ukulele Ensemble – a concert tour of Langley musicians that is a world-renowned ukulele ensemble widely regarded as one of the best ukuleles performing groups in the world.
  • Langley Cruise-in – an annual car show featuring thousands of registered vehicles. It is one of the largest car shows in Canada and participants from across North America and the United States are flocking to the event.
  • Arts Alive Festival – one of the lower mainland’s huge events that are free with more than 200 artists participating bringing all-day live music, performances, artisans displaying their work in a variety of media, and a special treat for the kids.

Other Interesting Places

  • Michaud House – a historical house built in 1888 located at 5202 204 Street.
  • Dumais House – a historical farm that was built in 1890 located on Glover Road.
  • BC Farm Museum – the museum that obtains, retrieves and maintains agricultural antiques and equipment that show how farming has changed over time in the province.
  • Canadian Museum of Flight – a museum run entirely by volunteers to conserve and celebrate Canada’s rich aviation cultural history.

Over the past several years, Langley city made progress in their parks and downtown such as improvements in lighting, and walking infrastructure which makes the city streets safer and more inviting. Having people out and about in the city’s parks and downtown areas can also help reduce small crimes and other negative activities.

The city’s investment in seasonal events especially during winter contributes to the development of a community. It is making the city lively where there is never a dull moment and there is always something to do and have fun.

The city brings more positive activity and good quality of life into their community