Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society
"Dedicated in perpetuity for its intrinsic and heritage values."
Sign the petition and write to council.
Petition link.
Preserve the Semiahmoo Trail Forest!
Remaining forested section of Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery
(City of Surrey Mapping Online System)
The City of Surrey is developing a master plan for the expansion of the Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery (14850-28 Avenue) to increase the cemetery capacity and create diverse interment options. The City is seeking community input to shape their plan. The area of concern is approximately 30 acres of mature second-growth mature forest South of 28th Avenue and East of 148th Street (marked in red in the image above). The Semiahmoo Trail and adjacent trails pass through this forest. This is a bio-diverse mature forest that recovered from logging 140 years ago that is enjoyed daily by our community, wildlife, and birds.
The Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society, White Rock and Surrey Naturalists, SORCE Bike Club, and Surrey Environmental Partners want to promote strong community participation as part of the public engagement process with the city. The previous expansion of the Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery resulted in the removal of forest. We would like the City of Surrey to honour the recommendations they make in their Biodiversity Conservation Strategy document that we should preserve the remaining high-quality habitats.
Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society and White Rock and Surrey Naturalists are asking the public to speak up and advocate for the adoption of environmentally responsible options that minimize the impact on the existing second-growth forest. It is also important to recognize the heritage of the Semiahmoo Trail and preserve this last remaining significantly forested section of this historic trail.
Timeline: Sunnyside Master Plan and Public Consultation
The City of Surrey is developing a master plan for the expansion of the Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery at 14850-28 Avenue and invite the community input to shape the plan. Through the Sunnyside Cemetery Master Plan, the City claims it is aiming to:
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increase cemetery capacity,
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offer diverse interment options,
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ensure compliance with archaeological and environmental regulations, and
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protect the Semiahmoo Trail, which runs through the property, and other important site features.
The timeline is shown below. Next opportunities for public participation are in red.
Project start up: October, November, 2024
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Initial site analysis and background research
Public engagement: November, December 2024
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November 12 (or 14) to December 5, 2024: City of Surrey survey (link).
Draft master plan concepts: December 2024 - February 2025
Public engagement: January - March 2025
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Draft master plan concepts presented to the public for comment
Final master plan: Spring 2025
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Final master plan developed and presented to the public
Recommendation
The position of Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society is aligned with the city’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy in that we need to preserve as much of the last remaining natural “Mature Forest” areas in Surrey, and as contiguous areas rather than fragmented pieces.
The Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society recommends adoption of environmentally responsible options that minimize the impact on the existing second-growth forest and recognize the heritage of the Semiahmoo Trail as this is the last remaining forested section of this historic trail. The track record of the Sunnyside Lawn expansion in the last couple of years unfortunately has been to clear-cut the forest. These actions were directly against the City of Surrey’s own Biodiversity Strategy.
Finally, aside from the heritage and conservation aspects, 148th Street is a key traffic corridor into South Surrey Athletic Park, South Surrey Arena, Softball City, and the South Surrey Recreation and Arts Centre enjoyed by residents and visitors. Driving south from 32nd Avenue, the 148th Street corridor is flanked by Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest Park to the west and the last remaining forested section of Semiahmoo Trail to the east as shown in the image.
Aesthetically this is a majestic entrance to Sunnyside Acres and the White Rock/Surrey Peninsula that really showcases Surrey as a "City of Parks”.
View of 148th Street facing South from Semiahmoo Trail overpass
Conclusion
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We need to explore options that minimize the impact on the existing second-growth forest. Preserving the remaining forest of Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery aligns with the City of Surrey’s own Biodiversity Conservation Strategy.
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Preserving this forest would avoid further reducing the remaining 0.6% mature forest in Surrey and protect this area for future generations to enjoy as a place to recover and rejuvenate from the ever-increasing urban pressures.
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A cemetery lawn is an extremely low biodiversity option that serves a single purpose. As a community we need to strike a healthy balance and explore alternate burial options and allocating less biodiverse land for traditional burial interments.
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We need to recognize and protect the heritage of the Semiahmoo Trail and preserve this last remaining significantly forested section of this historic trail.
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We need to ask ourselves what environmental legacy do we want to leave for future generations?
What Can You Do?
1. Share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns during the public consultation process. Advocate for the adoption of environmentally responsible options that minimize the impact on the existing second-growth forest and recognize the heritage of the Semiahmoo Trail.
a. Sign up for updates at the Engage Surrey website where you can be kept up-to-date.
b. Respond to survey at the website for the Sunnyside Cemetery Master Plan
2. Sign the petition or send a letter to Council-in-Committee.
3. Help us inform the community by sharing this information with other people so that they can participate in this public consultation process.
4. If you are interested in being more involved or want to stay informed contact us at: sunnysideacresheritagesociety@gmail.com
See HERE for further details (downloads Info Guide)