02 The story
A town centre on Fraser Highway
Settlers came to this part of Surrey after the Yale Wagon Road opened in the late 1800s, farming and logging the land along what became Fraser Highway. In 1907, Edith and James Francis settled near today’s 160th Street. The community took the name Fleetwood from Edith’s family, in honour of her brother Tom Fleetwood, who died of wounds in the First World War. A life-sized bronze statue of him stands in the town centre.
Fleetwood grew slowly until the 1970s, when new subdivisions brought families, shops and multi-family homes. The core around Fraser Highway and 160th Street has plazas with groceries, restaurants and services.
Parks, sport and what is next
The Fleetwood Community Centre and library sit beside Francis Park, a quiet walking park. Nearby, the Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex has pools, arenas and a fitness centre. Fleetwood Park offers forest trails and sports fields, and Green Timbers Urban Forest and Tynehead Regional Park are within a short drive.
The biggest change is SkyTrain. The Expo Line extension along Fraser Highway is under construction, with Fleetwood station planned at the northeast corner of Fraser Highway and 160th Street. The city has plans for much more housing around the new stations, so expect taller buildings and more activity along the corridor over the coming years.
Fleetwood suits families who want good schools, sports and parks, and commuters who will benefit from faster transit once the line opens. Construction along Fraser Highway can slow traffic, so check for detours before you drive.
