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Early 1800's

On July 2, 1808 the Kwantlen had another early encounter with the Europeans. Simon Fraser reached the mouth of the Fraser after canoeing for 36 days down the river. After an unfriendly reception by the tribe there he fled back up the river. On reaching the Surrey area and camping, his group had some type of disagreement with the Kwantlen nation. Fraser again decided going upriver immediately would be the wisest choice.

By 1830 most of the Kwantlen had moved to the area surrounding the first Fort Langley at Derby Reach. This relocation allowed them to control and benifit from the flow of furs, salmon and other goods that the Hudson Bay Company company wanted. There also were jobs to had working for the company. They became dependant on each other. When the fort moved to it's present location in Langley the Kwantlen followed.

This mass move left the old settlements virtually empty. The Fraser River goldrush in 1858 brought many more newcommers. In 1859 the city of New Westminster was incorporated on the site of Squaimetl. By 1866 New Westminster was a busy commercial centre of 1800 people serving the needs of the interior of British Columbia. On the Surrey side Ebenezer Brown built a bar and hotel with a dock at the site of Kikait (now called Brownsville). In 1861 contruction began on Old Yale Road. It still follows the same route today along the west side of the park.

As the major route to all points east and north of the Fraser for many years it has been heavily traveled on foot, by horse, wagon and later by car. Long before the modern park the small lake and stream that was at the top of the Old Yale Road hill would have been a popular resting spot after the long steep climb up from the river.

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