Media Advisory
Renewal of Point Pleasant Park begins with Public Consultation
(Friday, January 28, 2005) – Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is hosting an open house and public consultation session January 29th and 31st to initiate planning efforts for the renewal of Point Pleasant Park after the ravages of Hurricane Juan and the Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle.
WHO: Point Pleasant Park renewal committee
WHAT: Open House and Workshop
WHEN/ WHERE: Open House – Saturday, January 29, 2005
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Shakespeare by the Sea, Lower Park, Point Pleasant Park
Workshop – Monday, January 31, 2005
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Courtside Lounge, Saint Mary’s Tower, Tower Road
WHY: To educate the public on the history and ecology of the park, and damage and restoration to, and to gather input on what the public would like to see in the renewal efforts of the park.
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For more information, contact:
John O’Brien
Corporate Communications Officer,
HRM
(902) 490-6531
Kim Borgal
Corporate Communications, HRM
(902) 490-1539
BACKGROUND
The community outreach process is part of an international design competition sponsored by Southwest Properties Limited. The company is donating $100,000 for this competition. Southwest is a Halifax-based company that has developed, owned and managed property in Atlantic Canada for over 50 years.
A steering committee of 15 people consisting of stakeholder representatives and residents-at-large has been appointed to organize the competition. Chaired by Jim Spatz, CEO of Southwest Properties Limited, the committee will regularly report its progress to HRM Council.
Moderated by the Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects (APALA), the public information session will be held on January 29th, and a consultation session on Monday, January 31st. The public information session will give residents background information on the history and ecology of the park, and damage and restoration to date. The consultation session will give the public a chance to speak and be heard on what they would like to see happen in the renewal process. People also have the option of filling out a feedback form to express their views. This will be available at both sessions and at various HRM Customer Service Centres.
The information gathered from the meetings will help the committee develop a design brief for international teams of landscape architects, foresters, ecologists and other professionals who enter the competition.
One of the Steering Committee’s tasks will be the selection of a jury, which will judge submissions. The design competition will take place over the spring and summer of 2005, with a winner chosen by the fall. Renewal work is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2005.
Point Pleasant Park has been a place of recreation for the residents of the Halifax Regional Municipality for many years. Prior to Hurricane Juan, in September 2003, the park was a valued urban forest. Much loved by residents and visitors, Point Pleasant Park is considered one of the jewels in the crown of HRM’s parks. The design will see that the park’s renewal meets the needs of HRM residents today and for many years to come. HRM encourages public participation in shaping the future of Point Pleasant Park.
