Current Park Projects
Neck Point Park Plan Update
Neck Point Park is a destination natural waterfront park for Nanaimo and the region. The park is recognized as an environmentally sensitive area and is well known in the community for its historic, scenic and natural features. A Master Plan for the park has been in place since 1999 and states that the park is to be: "a quiet waterfront park which offers opportunities to enjoy and appreciate the unique natural attributes of the site through restoring and maintaining the natural habitat values for present and future generations.'
The City of Nanaimo updated this Master Plan in 2010 with input from the public and park user groups. The Updated Neck Point Park Master Plan revisits the 1999 Neck Point Park Master Plan, records what has been accomplished in the park over the last ten years, and looks forward into priorities for future park construction and management. It includes the 2009 acquisition area, addresses newly emerging management issues, accommodates increasing recreational use in the park, and strives to maintain the existing park vision and to protect park features for long term enjoyment.
A draft of the Update Neck Point Master Plan is now available. It can be read below. Hard copies can also be picked up at the Bowen Administration offices at 500 Bowen Road. This updated Draft Neck Point Park Master Plan is being reviewed by the Parks Recreation and Culture Commission.
Harewood Centennial Park Improvements Harewood Centennial Park is a destination for many residents of the South End and Harewood. The Park is situated adjacent to John Barsby High School and its facilities. The 15.7 acre (6.4 hectare) park includes recreational amenities such as a playground, spray park, four tennis courts (with lights), lacrosse box, change rooms and washroom, 2 lit sports fields (including 2 ball fields and 2 soccer fields), storage, and parking areas. In recent years, several groups have approached the City asking for improvements to this park including a covered area for lacrosse and other sports, as well as a youth skate park. In addition, residents have asked for aesthetic improvements to the Park Operations Harewood Yard. In an ongoing effort to update and improve Nanaimo's parks system, the City of Nanaimo, Parks Recreation and Culture Commission held a public open house regarding Harewood Centennial Park on Tuesday April 5th. Staff has also been meeting with youth and staff from John Barsby School, School District 68 staff, sports groups and field users. The information boards presented at the open house as well as community survey are attached below. The Parks Recreation and Culture Commission is interested in hearing feedback about Harewood Centennial Park and ideas for future improvements. For more information, please contact, Kirsty MacDonald, Parks and Open Space Planner at 250-755-7506 or Kirsty.macdonald@nanaimo.ca. The City of Nanaimo's population is on the rise, and pressures on its existing recreational facilities have caused the Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture to re-evaluate its sports fields and amenities. The changing field requirements of the present user groups, along with a new strategic direction to address maintenance and supply concerns both immediately and over the long term, stimulated a need to implement a Sports Field Strategy. This Sports Field Strategy will outline a 15-year vision from 2009 to 2024 and will aid in developing, adopting and implementing a plan that allows all citizens of Nanaimo access and opportunity to enjoy an active lifestyle. Please see the Sports Fields section of this website for more information. The Maffeo Sutton Park Spirit Square was opened on July 1, 2009. This community gathering space is located near the entrance to the park adjacent to Cliff Street and covers approximately one quarter of the park site. It provides a large multi-purpose place for special event use, enhanced park access and improved routes for pedestrians, cyclists, the physically challenged, as well as serve and emergency vehicles. A structure is the focus of the plaza and will feature interpretive information about the history of the site and downtown. This initial development included underground infrastructure required for future development of the entire park, including water, sewer, draining and electrical infrastructure. The Phase 1 Spirit Square project was Phase 1 of an overall Maffeo Sutton Park improvement plan that is striving to enhance this destination urban waterfront park. With the pending addition of the 2.3 acres of property at 150 Comox Road to Maffeo Sutton Park plus a desire from Commission and council to review the future phases of the plan, it is an opportune time to step back and conduct an update to the overall park plan. At the regular meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission on September 21, the Commission recommended to Nanaimo City Council that an updated plan be conducted in 2012 and that the amenity building project be put on hold until this update has been completed. This recommendation will go forward to City Council in October for consideration. If approved by Council, an updated planning process will be developed in the fall and brought back for Commission and Council for consideration. The planning process will include public input and review as per the first plan. For more information about the project, contact Kirsty MacDonald, Parks and Open Space Planner, at 250-755-7506 or kirsty.macdonald@nanaimo.ca.
Sports Field Strategy
Maffeo Sutton Park Improvement Project
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