Surrey’s Peace Arch Provincial Park open

Peace Arch Provincial Park reopened Monday, after being closed because of the pandemic.

The nine hectare park, divided by the B.C. and Washington state border, has been closed for more than two years.

The provincial government says reopening the Canadian side of the park was a priority, but that the park’s “open nature” was making it hard to make sure visitors were honouring border restrictions.

The park is unique in North America as the only one where people from Canada and the United States can meet without crossing the border.

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The U.S. kept the Washington side of the park open throughout the pandemic, and it became a hugely popular gathering spot for families, and loved ones separated by the border closure.

But in June of 2020, the B.C. government made the decision to temporarily close the Canadian side, after concerns about large gatherings.

On Monday, the provincial government reopened the park, with BC Parks saying it had been working with all agencies involved to make sure it happened in a “safe and respectful manner.”

With files from Canadian Press and Peter Wagner