Skip to content

'Pop-Up Park' brings music, fitness to Guildford mall parking lot (photos, video)

59862dsc-2356

GUILDFORD — A slice of greenspace popped up in the parking lot at Guildford Town Centre this week.

Real grass and plants are part of the 1,400-square-foot "pop-up park" in Surrey, first stop on a national tour organized to mark the 25th anniversary of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF).

The temporary greenspace, opened Wednesday (June 3), will remain in the northeast corner of the mall parking lot, near 104th Avenue and 152nd Street, until Sunday, June 7.

At noon Thursday (June 4), Jennifer Scott Quartet played a set of jazz and blues for intrigued passersby, some of whom consumed the free lemonade and bananas given out by park staffers.

Live music, fitness classes, dance shows and other events are planned at the park during its five-day stay in Surrey (for the schedule, click through the above images).

"These pop-up parks are designed to surprise and delight visitors, and to bring benefits of healthy, vibrant green spaces," said Mary Desjardins, director of TD FEF.

"We know that green spaces are vital to our well-being and our communities."

The pop-up park includes a "donation station" for greening efforts in Surrey.

Beneath all those plants and grass is a 25-foot trailer operated by Nick Eakins, who spent close to eight hours setting up the park earlier this week.

"I'm a one-man show with this," Eakins, an employee of Bienenstock, said with a laugh Thursday as he watered plants that form a giant "25" at the site, in salute to the foundation's anniversary.

Founded by TD Bank Group, TD FEF provides support for environmental projects across Canada. The foundation has funded several projects in Surrey, including the Salmon Habitat Restoration Program (SHaRP), Project Wetfoot and Pond Ecological Restoration for Kids.



Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news stories for the Surrey Now-Leader, where I've worked for more than half of my 30-plus years in the newspaper business.
Read more