River District Amenities
River District is a 130-acre, master-planned development that is expected to house 18,000 residents upon completion. As a sustainable, complete community, it will also include 27 acres of parks and public open areas, 500,000 sq ft of commercial space, and a variety of River District Amenities to provide residents with community services, leisure & recreation programs, and event spaces.
Shops, Restaurants & Commercial Space
Steps from home, River District’s commercial heart is Town Centre in the community’s central neighbourhood. It offers a growing selection of cafés, restaurants, shops, and professional services. Current businesses already include Save-On-Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, Bosley’s Pet Store, Starbucks, Everything Wine, and Orange Theory Fitness.
Community Centre
A 30,000-square-foot community centre will be constructed in a new Waterfront Precinct at the foot of River District Crossing. It is directly connected to the river shore with a public plaza and a riverfront park. A 10,000-square-foot childcare facility is planned for the top floor. A future library branch may also be co-located within the community centre. Until a branch can be financially supported, library kiosks will be available.
Schools
The River District official development plan includes sites for two K-12 schools. An elementary school will be located at the corner of East Kent Avenue South and Jack Uppal Street. A secondary school is to be situated on East Kent Avenue North near Boundary Road. Each school will also have a sports field. Construction of the schools is subject to approval by the provincial government and the Vancouver School Board.
Childcare
Four childcare facilities are planned for the River District community. These are expected to provide spaces for 276 children and 140 after-school-care spaces. A 74-space daycare is to be included in the community centre. One may be co-located in the elementary school.
Events
As the number of amenities and public spaces continues to grow with the River District’s expanding population, new activities, events, and festivals are organized to unite residents. Once the community centre has been completed, River District’s central gathering space will be the public plaza on the waterfront.
River District events hosted to date include the River District Farmer’s Market, Lunar New Year at the River District, Easter Golden Egg Hunt, Savour Summer Festival, Drive-In Nights for outdoor moviegoers, Summer Music Series, Riverside Street Vibe Festival, Spooktacular Halloween, and the Vancouver Mural Festival.