June 15, 2009 - District of Mission

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ON THE FRASER
FILE: PRO.WAT.SPI
Reports and Presentations to Council
To: Chief Administrative Officer
From: Director of Planning
Date: June 15, 2009
Subject: Spirit Square Update
Memo
19
Recommendation
That staff proceed with the tender process and the hiring of contractors for the foundation for the
Spirit Square, and the construction and landscaping of the Spirit Square.
Update
Design adjustments
Some adjustment to the original design have been required to deal with unexpected
encumbrances that have arisen when constructing on a dike and dealing with in-ground
services. For the most part, this has resulted in a re-configuration of elements on the Spirit
Square rather than elimination (Appendix 1).
The gabion wall has been replaced with a sierra green wall that will result in significant
vegetation growth along Harbour Avenue. In addition, approximately 5 metres of park-like
landscaping will occur along Harbour Avenue at street level, which increases the width of the
square and provides a strong entrance to the Spirit Square at Durieu Street. The cross walk at
Durieu now lines up with the stairs up onto the Spirit Square. The wheel chair access has been
moved to the west side of the Spirit Square adjacent to the stairs and cross walk, and out of the
space currently used for on-street parking.
The Spirit Square is narrower than originally planned in order to avoid in-ground services;
however, additional width has been added in the landscaped area below the sierra green wall
along Harbour Avenue. Also, the natural seating area on the water side of the Spirit Square has
been shifted to the east end of the Spirit Square increasing the width of the usable area of the
square. The water gage, Mt. Baker, and harbour and river activities are all visible from this
natural seating area.
The Spirit Square will still have benches and picnic tables as well as banners and lights,
sturgeon art feature and the water gage feature. The public art features have been forwarded to
the Culture Commission who will be soliciting proposals from the arts community for the
banners, sturgeon seat and water gage.
Timeline
While the date for breaking ground has been delayed slightly so that construction is not
occurring on the dike until after the freshet is over, the project is still on schedule with
completion by October 31, 2009.
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