02 The story
Sixth and Sixth
Uptown grew around the intersection of Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue, known locally as Sixth and Sixth. As cars became common in the early 20th century, shopping began to move up the hill from Columbia Street, and by the middle of the century Sixth Street had become a shopping destination in its own right, with groceries, medical offices and a new public library.
Today Uptown is where many New Westminster residents run their errands. Royal City Centre, a shopping centre at Sixth and Sixth, has everyday retail, casual dining and medical services. Along Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue you find banks, pharmacies, cafés and family restaurants, plus a steady stream of buses.
Moody Park and community life
Just west of the shopping core, Moody Park is one of the city’s main green spaces, named after Colonel Richard Moody of the Royal Engineers. In the 1890s the grounds held a golf course and a shooting range; today it has sports fields, playgrounds, a war memorial and Century House, a seniors’ centre. The main branch of the New Westminster Public Library is in Uptown on Sixth Avenue.
Around the commercial streets, the neighbourhood is mostly low-rise apartments and older houses, with a few newer towers. The city has been planning streetscape improvements along Sixth Street to make it friendlier for people walking and cycling.
Uptown suits seniors, families and renters who want everything within a few blocks. It is less of a sightseeing spot than downtown, but it is a good base, with Queen’s Park and the river both a short trip away.
