Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Explore Your Parks: Redwood Park

Fairy house in Redwood Park. Photo: Robyn Petrik When pictures of Redwood Park’s famous fairy houses showed up on my Instagram feed, I knew I had to visit it for the Explore Your Parks series.

 Fairy houses in Redwood Park. Photo: Robyn PetrikFairy house in Redwood Park. Photo: Robyn Petrik

When pictures of Redwood Park’s famous fairy houses showed up on my Instagram feed, I knew I had to visit it for the Explore Your Parks series. I quickly learned that this park, located near Highway 15 and 16th Avenue in Surrey, also has quite a bit of history behind it.

Redwood Park was originally property that belonged to one of Surrey’s early pioneers, David Brown. He gifted the property in 1893 to his sons, David and Peter, for their 21st birthday. The Brown twins then took it upon themselves to plant dozens of different types of trees and create an arboretum.

 One of the green spaces in Redwood Park. Photo: Robyn PetrikOne of the green spaces in Redwood Park. Photo: Robyn Petrik

Now there are over 50 different species of trees from all around the world, like the Norway Spruce, Scots Pine, Chinese Chestnut, and of course, the giant Redwood. In the heart of the park, many of the different trees are labeled with its species name and a description. It's the perfect park for kids and inquisitive adults to brush up on their knowledge.

Redwood Park largely consists of walking trails through the forest. There’s a map at the parking lot marked with three main trails, all set to take only twenty minutes or less to walk. If you decide to walk all of these main trails, and even some of the secondary trails, you can easily find yourself out for an hour or two of exercise.

When you head into the middle of the park, you’ll come across a treehouse built as a tribute to the original treehouse the Brown twins lived in for most of their lives. You can climb the stairs of the treehouse, enjoy the view of the forest around you, and imagine what it must have been like to live there.

 Just a few of the many fairy houses. Photo: Robyn PetrikJust a few of the many fairy houses. Photo: Robyn Petrik

The main attraction for kids (and kids at heart!) is the fairy kingdom. The Chinese Chestnut Grove just off the Family Fun Loop path has been transformed into an enchanted area filled with hundreds of homemade fairy houses. These magical little houses are lined up on fallen trees, hanging in branches, and hiding in every possible nook of the forest. It’s a wonder to see and you can easily spend half an hour just exploring the fairy kingdom.

The other big attraction for kids and their parents is the playground. It’s accessible for kids of all ages and abilities, with ramps, stairs, swings, and a slide. There’s also a sand area to play in, complete with a couple of ride-on digging toys.

 Part of the playground. Photo: Robyn PetrikPart of the playground. Photo: Robyn Petrik

There are a few different areas of green space, but be aware that most of them are hilly and better suited for relaxing and picnicking rather than a game of soccer. For those wanting to enjoy a meal at Redwood Park, there are four different sheltered picnicking areas.

After my first trip to Redwood Park, I’d have to say it makes for a lovely visit. I’d even suggest visiting two or three times a year just to see what all the trees look like in different seasons.