News Release

Point Pleasant Park Wins National Award

(Friday, February 27, 2009) – The Point Pleasant Park Comprehensive Plan was recognized with one of four National Honour Awards by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) on February 20th.

A project team comprised of Halifax Regional Municipality staff, Ekistics Planning and Design, NIP Paysage, and volunteers from both the local community and government agencies were recognized this week in the planning and analysis category as part of the 2009 CSLA Awards of Excellence. This is the highest award from the CSLA and was one of four chosen from 56 entries.

"The Point Pleasant Park Comprehensive Plan project is a great example of community, consultants, and HRM working together to create a sensitive and sustainable long term plan for one of the country's great civic parks," said Peter Bigelow, Manager of HRM Real Property Planning. "The award is a recognition of the complexities within the park and the plan's integrated approach which required significant collaboration between many professions. To have the plan reviewed and recognized by peers is especially significant".

After Hurricane Juan devastated much of Point Pleasant Park on September 29, 2003 and clean up efforts began, the public overwhelmingly supported the reopening of the park. The destruction provided an opportunity to plan for the sustainable future of the park.

With the help of a donation made by Southwest Properties in 2005, many public consultations helped provide the guiding principles for the overall park plan. Endorsed in principle by Halifax Regional Council in October 2008, the plan will guide the restoration, regeneration, and renewal of the park as a result of the destruction caused by Hurricane Juan. The Point Pleasant Park Comprehensive Plan was one of several projects in the park that was made possible through a contribution from the Government of Canada.

The annual CSLA awards program recognizes excellence in Landscape Architecture in the categories of Design, Planning & Analysis, Communications, Landscape Management, New Directions, and Residential Design. Previously HRM staff won a CSLA Regional Merit Award for communications for the pointpleasantpark.ca website.

For more information visit www.pointpleasantpark.ca

-30-

Contact:

Peter Bigelow, Manager of HRM Real Property Planning, 476-4016