Current Park Projects
Beban Park Master Plan Update
Work has begun on an update to the Beban Park Master Plan. Parks planning staff are meeting with license and user groups now and two input sessions are planned: June 4th from 5-9pm at Beban Social Centre and on June 8th from 10am-2pm @ Altrusa Playground . A Beban Park Master Plan survey is also available. Check back here for more information as the process continues.
Bowen West playfields (in Bowen Park along Bowen Road)
If you have driven along Bowen Road lately you'll have noticed that the Bowen West fields have reopened. The fields include a regulation full size soccer field as well as a skinned infield sofball/slo-pitch diamond, similar to those at Beban Park. There is also a backstop for T-ball.
The original field was excavated removing roughly two, and in some places up to four, feet of hog fuel, which is similar to bark mulch. Once all this material was removed there were loads of pit run brought in and spread to create a stable but porous sub grad. Drainage was installed. Crews installed irrigation which consists of 12 zones to cover the entire area. Crews then brought in 7,300 tonnes of sand which was spread using a laser guided bobcat to create a level playing surface and a consistent 12" of sand over the entire area. Once the sand was spread and final touches made we planted 1,500lbs of seed. With consistent watering the seed bed was kept constantly damp and germinaton occured in 5 days.
Maffeo Sutton Park Improvement Project
The City of Nanaimo is working to further improve Maffeo Sutton Park. Now the busiest park in Nanaimo, Maffeo Sutton Park has developed over the last 40 years from an industrial site into Nanaimo's destination waterfront park.
Background:The original Maffeo Sutton Park Improvement Plan was developed in 2008 with significant input from the community. The Maffeo Sutton Park Spirit Square opened in 2009 and was part of the first phase of park improvements. However since 2008, 2.3 acres of property at 150 Comox Road has been added to the park and the context of the park has changed. Therefore, City Council has initiated an update to the future phases of the plan. It is an opportune time to step back and develop a vision for the future of Nanaimo's premier waterfront and special event park. Over the summer of 2012, public and stakeholder input was gathered to assess the park's successes, weaknesses and future direction. Review of that input is now underway.
Goals:The following park improvement goals were developed during the 2004 referendum and are still guiding park improvement plans today:
- Enhance key park features such as performance spaces, play spaces and waterfront access
- Maintain existing amount of parking stalls and enhance access to the park
- Improve pedestrian and multi use circulation routes
- Improve public amenities in the park
- Enhance the park for special events and public use
- Increase public open space along the waterfront
- Add historical and industrial interpretation within the park
- Include a phasing plan to maintain access throughout development
Planning process:Public and stakeholder input is key to assess priorities for park use improvements. Open houses and public surveys were conducted over the course of the 2012 summer. An improvement plan update will be prepared based on this input and then reviewed by the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission, Council and the public. Draft plans will be reviewed and potentially adopted at some point over the course of 2013. Please view the informational material provided.
Getting involved:Nanaimo City Council and Parks, Recreation and Culture staff spent the summer of 2012 gathering public input on future concepts for the next phase of the park's development. This information is now being reviewed and will ultimately be presented a prelimenary concept to the PRC Commission in 2013 and then turned back over to the public for further input.
Harewood Centennial Park Improvements
Overview: Harewood Centennial Park is a destination for many residents of the south end and Harewood neighbourhood. The 15.7 acres (6.4 hectare) park is situated adjacent to John Barsby High School and its facilities. Harewood is an area in transition with many new residential houses, commercial developments, VIU expansion and the construction of Tilicum Lelum House. The existing park amenities are outdated and are no longer meeting the recreational needs and desires of the changing community.
The planning process for this project began in 2010 with significant public input and involvement from the staff and student body at John Barsby Secondary school.
Harewood Centennial Park Improvement Plan.pdf
On Monday, August 13 Nanaimo City Council approved the Harewood Centennial Park Improvement Plan. A diagram of the overall improvement concept is below
Plan Highlights:
- Increasing park safety and crime prevention (including lighting and sight lines)
- Improving athletic facilities- including the redevelopment and reconfiguration of the existing sports fields; addition of a multi-purpose covered court and new lacrosse/multi-sport box; and development of a fitness loop trail and outdoor exercise area
- Improving parking and circulation including a trail system around and through the park.
- Creation of a Youth Park including a skate park and possibly a mountain bike park
- Enhancing amenities for young children including a new playground that is integrated with existing water park
- Improving way finding and signage
- Installing public art to increase sense of place
- Creation of a community gathering place
Next Steps: Phase 1 of the park improvements began in 2013. The first priority was to relocate the Parks Operations storage facilities to alternative locations. This will make room for new park amenities and access routes. Work is expected to take place in the fall of 2013. Grant applications and funding partnerships will also be pursued to fund this exciting, multi-phase project.
For more information, please contact Kirsty MacDonald, Parks & Open Space Planner at 250 755 7506 or kirsty.macdonald@nanaimo.ca
Forest Drive Park Improvements
Residents in the Forest Drive (hospital neighbourhood) have been working hard since May 2011 under the City of Nanaimo Volunteers in Parks (VIP) Program to improve their neighbourhood park. The Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission awarded a neighbourhood grant to the project at the end of September 2011. The improvements began in the spring of 2012 and helped a great community green space for all ages to enjoy and for neighbours to share, play, visit and meet each other. The playground, hard surface trail, and public art were installed in 2012. Landscaping, the installation of a community garden and the installation of additional public art are expected to take place this summer (2013).
For more information, please contact Kirsty MacDonald, Parks and Open Space Planner, at 250.755.7506 or kirsty.macdonald@nanaimo.ca or check out the neighbourhood Facebook page.
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