News Release
Public Gardens Main Entrance to Get New Look
(Wednesday, June 16/04)-- The main entrance to the Halifax Public Gardens is getting a new look.
With endorsement from the North British Society, the Sir Walter Scott monument located in front of the main gates is being moved to a new location in Victoria Park, which is located across the street from the Public Gardens.
The move is an aesthetic/design decision---there is no real backdrop behind the main gates now because of the massive loss of trees and plant material due to Hurricane Juan.
"Without background material, the gates now must become the major focal point of the main entrance. The large cairn associated with the Scott monument took away from the visual look of the entrance and the gates. This recommendation for the move came from consultants, HRM staff and the Public Gardens Foundation," District 12 Councillor Dawn Sloane (Halifax Downtown) said today.
The Scott monument was carefully dismantled this week and stored in Public Garden's Horticultural Hall while work is carried out this summer. The monument will be conserved as part of this effort.
"We're pleased with the new location that HRM has found for the monument. The new setting in nearby Victoria Park, set in from the sidewalk on South Park Street, will provide a fitting locale for this wonderful statue," John Sutherland, Executive Secretary of the North British Society of Halifax, said.
The North British Society originally donated the monument to the former City of Halifax. Parks Canada, which has designated the Public Gardens a national historic site, has also endorsed the move.
"The new setting for Sir Walter Scott is one part of an ongoing renewal and restoration effort in the Public Gardens. I'm sure the residents of HRM and the many visitors who stop by the Public Gardens while in our community will be delighted with the restoration work," Councillor Sloane said
The monument is expected to be re-located to its new site by the fall. Mayor Peter Kelly and Councillor Sloane will officially re-open the Public Gardens to the public on July 1, 2004.
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Councillor Dawn Sloane
(902) 490-4752
John Sutherland
Executive Secretary, The North British Society of Halifax
(902) 425-2445
