02 The story
From racetrack to hillside suburb
Before it was a neighbourhood, much of Westwood Plateau was home to Westwood Motorsport Park, a road-racing circuit that closed in 1990. The land was then developed as a master-planned community, built out through the 1990s and early 2000s with thousands of homes, curving streets and protected creek ravines. Hampton Park Elementary now stands on part of the old track.
Today the plateau is one of Coquitlam’s most established family areas. Homes range from townhouses to large detached houses, many with views over the city centre and the Fraser Valley.
Golf, parks and trails
The neighbourhood is built around green space. Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club anchors the community, and parks such as Ridge Park, Panorama Park and Bramble Park offer playgrounds and lookouts. A network of trails follows the greenbelts along Hoy Creek and other ravines, so it is easy to string together a walk without crossing many roads.
Westwood Plateau is also where the Coquitlam Crunch ends. This steep trail follows the hydro corridor from Lansdowne Drive near the city centre up to Eagle Mountain Drive, and it is a local favourite for a tough workout. Many plateau residents use it in reverse, walking down to the city centre and catching a bus back up.
Day-to-day shopping is centred on Westwood Plateau Village on Parkway Boulevard, which covers groceries and basic services, while Coquitlam Centre and the city centre are a short drive downhill.
Tip: the hills are real here. If you plan to explore on foot or by bike, start at the top and work your way down.
