how it started where we are now what is coming up NEW WESTMINSTER WATERFRONT PARK THE RIVER THE PAST THE PEOPLE

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1 how it started Downtown Waterfront Park How It Started March 2009 City of New Westminster Purchases 3.2 Hectare Westminster Pier Site March 2009 City of New Westminster and Design Team develop plan for Waterfront Park April 2009 Federal Provincial Build Canada Grant is secured to construct Waterfront Park November 2009 Westminster Pier Park Public Workshop where we are now The Park Master Plan Where We are Now January to February 2010 Design team starts process of Further Defining Theme, Character and Activities Downtown Waterfront Park Master Plan March 2010 Downtown Waterfront Park Master Plan Open House what is coming up project start, grant approval feb 1/2010 we are here march 17/2010 park masterplan completion BEGIN SITE CLEAN-UP START construction drawings construction APRIL 2010 MAY 2010 MAY 2010 AUGUST 2010 project completion MARCH 2011 PROJECT TIMELINE

2 elloit st. merivale st. 4th St. 6th St. SHEET PILE BULKHEAD PROPERTY LINE EXISTING CONDITIONS

3 DESIGN PRINCIPLES 1. CREATE AN EXPERIENCE UNIQUE TO THE FRASER RIVER THAT SPEAKS TO THE HERITAGE OR NEW WESTMINSTER. 2. ENSURE STRONG PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE CONNECTIONS TO COLUMBIA STREET, THE DOWNTOWN, ALONG THE RIVER TO THE ESPLANADE, THE MARKET, SAPPERTON LANDING AND BEYOND. 3. CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISUAL CONNECTIONS TO COLUMBIA STREET, ALONG THE WATERFRONT AND ACROSS THE FRASER RIVER. 4. CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE THE TIDAL ACTIVITY AND TOUCH THE WATER. 5. CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE THE ENDS OF SIXTH, FOURTH, MERIVALE AND ELLIOT STREET. POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE; COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE, VIEWS TO THE WATER, WASHROOM, WATERFRONT RESTAURANT OR CAFÉ 6. REDUCE THE VISUAL AND AUDITORY IMPACT OF THE RAIL LINES AND FRONT STREET. 7. CREATE A VARIETY OF RIVER EDGE EXPERIENCES. POSSIBLE EXPERIENCES INCLUDE; RIPARIAN EDGE, HISTORIC PIER EDGE, AND OVERLOOK EDGE. 8. MAXIMIZE THE OPEN SPACE AREA AND CREATE A VARIETY OF PLACES AND ACTIVITIES FOR VISITORS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. WHEREVER POSSIBLE THESE SPACES AND ACTIVITIES SHOULD ENGAGE THE RIVER AND RELATE TO THE HERITAGE OF NEW WESTMINSTER. 9. USE PLANT MATERIAL TO REINFORCE HABITAT VALUES, CREATE SHADE, FORM SPACES AND REINFORCE THE IMAGE OF A GARDEN CITY. 10. USE MATERIALS THAT ARE DURABLE AND RESPOND TO NEW WESTMINSTER S WATERFRONT HERITAGE. DESIGN PRINCIPLES

4 h i s t o r i c a l Historical References that could be expressed using words in pavement, markers, naming of places within the park. H I S T O R Y Founding of New Westminster - Colonel Moody and the Royal Engineers (Sappers) British Columbia is formed - Capital of BC is New Westminster until s to 1890 s - Waterfront uses include lumber and fishing 1850 s to 1860 s - China Town at the foot of 6th Street - Chinese workers building the railway Gold Rush staging area Angus Grant/K de K (Knyvett de Knyvett) Ferry to Surrey from downtown waterfront wharf Old Fraser River shoreline northern edge of Front Street expansion of Front Street on piles and fill into the River Front Street lands pushed out to 75 from original shoreline 1892 Farmers Market Building - Distribution center for surrounding community Four canneries, feed and milling operation and a creamery on the pier Great Fire - Downtown New Westminster Canneries close, buildings used for warehouse and manufacturing 1920 s - Pacific Coast Terminals (Just down river of the park site) 1950 s - Overseas Transport - constructs major dock warehouse and rail spur on site c u l t u r a l cultural events that could have a presence at the New Westminster Waterfront Park. C U L T U R E E x i s t i n g f e s t i v a l s Hyack Festival (May) Arts in the Park Canada Day Fireworks Family Day Celebrations (October Weekend) Rivers Day (September 27) Partner with FRDC Fraserfest (July) BC Day Festival (August) P O T E N T I A L f e s t i v a l s Carol Tugboat Festival Harvest Festival Art in the Park (July) *Possible New Event Could Tie Into New Westminster s Cultural Crawl TALL SHIP FESTIVAL e c o l o g i c a l ECOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW WESTMINSTER WATERFRONT AND THE FRASER WHICH WILL INFORM THE DESIGN PROCESS. E C O L O G Y Fluvial processes of the Fraser River - Flooding - Sediment Depositing Marine processes of the Fraser River - Tides Groundwater processes of the Fraser River - Runoff Water Quality Habitat - Historical Habitat/Native Vegitation - Creation of Bird and Fish Habitat - 24 Fish Species - Many Different Bird Species HISTORICAL, CULTURAL & BIOLOGICAL CONTEXTS

5 BLACKWOOD TO 4TH STREET 1910 NEW WESTMINSTER 1886 SCHAAKE MACHINE WORKS - BRACKMAN-KER MILLING CO th St. (MARY STREET) 4th St. (MARY STREET) new westminster waterfront VULCAN IRON WORKS CANNERY 1889 LYTTON SQUARE 1867 CITY MARKET AT LYTTON SQUARE HISTORICAL CONTEXT

6 PRECEDENCE IMAGERY

7 merivale st. node CITY PLAY ROOM CITY LIVING ROOM - 6TH STREET PLAZA/park service vehicle access - location for future commercial use 6th st. node marine habitat 4th st. node timber boardwalk public wasrooms future commercial use Marine habitat - BOARDWALK - BIKE/WALK PATH - WATER EXPERIENCE BARGE PERSON CAPACITY PASSIVE LAWN AND EVENT SPACE - fishing pier - covered picnic area - YOUTH PLAY, HARD SURFACE SPORT COURTS FRONT PORCH Riverfront walkway/bikeway with access for service vehicles Program - March Grant Sc heme Program - Park Master Plan th Street Plaza/ Turnaround Waterfront Restaurant and Patio (6th Street End) 6th Street Plaza/ Park Service Vehicle Access Location for Future Commercial Use (6th Street End) Water Playground Water Discovery (Eastern Barge) th th Marine Habitat (Between 6 and 4 ) Marine Habitat (6th to 4th and Merviale to Elliot) Riverfront Walkway/Bikeway With Access For Service Riverfront Walkway/Bikeway With Access For Vehicles Service Vehicles Day Moorage Marina Removed for Safety Reasons th th Riverfront Walkway (6 Street to 4 Street) Riverfront Walkway (Entire Park) Passive Lawn Area Passive Lawn Areas Timber Boardwalk Timber Boardwalk Pedestrian Plaza/ Service Vehicle Staging Area (Located Washroom, Concession, Park Maintenance Storage/ Plaza (Located at 4th Street Node) at 4th Street Node) Passive Lawn/ Outdoor Events Area Passive Lawn Outdoor Events Area (2,000 People) Perimeter Pathway Perimeter Pathway (Creating Looping Path System) 3-0 Height Berm With Tree Buffer (Along North Edge of 3 Foot to 10 Foot High Berm with Tree Buffer Park) (Along North Edge of Park) Hard Surface Sports Court Area Hard Surface Sports Court Areas Flexible Lawn Area for Sporting Activity Flexible Lawn for Sporting Activity Additions From Nov Public Work shop Fishing Pier Covered Picnic Area elliot st. node Riverfront walkway/bikeway with access for service vehicles RAILSPUR WALK Water Front Park Master Plan Theme The River, the Past and the People Theme Elements From Nov Public Workshop Included in Design of Waterfront Park Master Plan Healthy Individuals Appeals to a wide range of abilities Encourage physical activity Opportunities for Passive Reflection Healthy Community Emphasize heritage River/ People/ Place Pedestrian and Bike Connections Appeal to all ages Create opportunities for community gathering Sustainable Environment Ecological Restoration of Waterfront Connections between People, Water, Tides and Ecosystem Additional Theme Elements Heritage of the Working Water Front Stories of the people of New Westminster PROGRAM ORGANIZATION

8 PARK FEATURES KEY th Street Landing Location for Future Commercial Use Shoreline Habitat Riverfront Walkway/Bikeway "Riverfront Promenade" Passive Lawn Areas Potential Commercial Water Taxi Float Washroom, Concession, Park Maintenance Storage/ Plaza "Festival Lawn" (2,000 People) Perimeter Pathway System 3 Foot to 10 Foot High Berm with Tree Buffer (Along North Edge of Park) Hard Surface Sports Court Areas Flexible Lawn for Sporting Activity Fishing Pier "Touch the River" Pile Forest Lytton Square "Remnant" City Market Structure 4th Street Pier Merrivale Street Pier Elliott Street Pier Urban Beach / Beach Volleyball "Railspur Walk" "Discovery Grove" "Natural Playground" "Floating Park" on Barge

9 CONCEPT MASTERPLAN

10 CIRCULATION LEGEND CIRCULATION PEDESTRIAN ROUTE BIKE ROUTE SERVICE/POLICE/AMBULANCE FIRE FUTURE BIKE CONNECTION FUTURE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION TEMPORARY BIKE LOOP CHILDREN/YOUTH PLAY YOUTH PRECINCT WITH BASKETBALL COURT AND URBAN PLAY ZONE natural children's play environment with low boulder walls HERITAGE DISCOVERY ALCOVES URBAN BEACH/ SANDBOX heritage pile runabout heritage pile runabout UNIQUE AND SPECIAL FEATURES UPLAND FOREST "pile forest" "TOUCH THE RIVER" OPEN LAWN FOR ACTIVE PLAY OPEN LAWN FOR ACTIVE PLAY PERFORMANCE ZONE 4TH STREET STEPS LYTTON SQUARE 6TH STREET LANDING heritage pile runabout BEACH VOLLEYBALL "RAILSPUR WALK" RIPARIAN HABITAT URBAN BEACH UPLAND FOREST "RIVERFRONT WALK" RIPARIAN HABITAT "4TH STREET PIER" URBAN UPLAND HABITAT "FESTIVAL LAWN" "RIVERFRONT WALK" "MERRIVALE PIER" "DISCOVERY GROVE" FLOATING PARK ON BARGE, "TOUCH THE RIVER" ELLIOT ST. PIER FUCTIONAL OVERLAYS

11 Green = low habitat productivity & diversity Red = high productivity & diversity Yellow = moderate productivity & diversity fraser river estuary management plan (fremp) habitat Existing site habitat new habitat area new habitat area precedent riparian images ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

12 WHAT IS THE PARK BUILT ON Environmental: Soil, sediment and groundwater sampling is now largely completed Some upland soils are contaminated and will be removed Park structures: Existing timber pier structures will be removed New pier structures of steel and concrete will be constructed in place of the existing and to suit the new arrangements Geotechnical issues: The upland soils and river sediments will be densified to stabilize the embankment for earthquakes Flood Management: The park land and new marine structures will be raised to above current flood levels Flood control structure for the adjacent Front Street will not be part of the park development, though the site improvements will provide flood protection WHAT THE PARK is BUILT ON... PARK ON LAND PARK PIER DECK WATER FLOATING STRUCTURE ENGINEERING PLAN