Victoria_Park_Re port Final.pdf - City of Charlottetown

More documents

Recommendations

Info

VICTORIA PARK COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN Final Report • June 2013 Public Presentation of the Draft Plan The draft comprehensive plan for Victoria Park was presented to the public on Wednesday, May 15th, 2013. Following that presentation, both the draft report and presentation file were made available for download from the City’s website, and hard copies were available on loan from the Parks and Recreation Department. An online survey was launched to encourage feedback, and the public and major stakeholders were also invited to provide directed comments to the study team. The report was also reviewed by City Staff and Council, for their input. At the public meeting, ten individuals spoke and commented on the plan. Comments were generally supportive, with several people looking for a more detailed explanation on specific aspect of the plan. Several questions were posed regarding the proposed upgrade of the boardwalk, off-leash dog usage of the park, the potential for a National Historic Site designation, and future use of the Prince Edward Home Lands. Comments received were varied, and tended to focus on one specific aspect of the plan. Of the 37 respondents to the online survey, feedback was mixed. Many comments very strongly supported the plan in its entirety. Of the comments that were in opposition to the plan, most if not all reflected disagreement with a single specific aspect of the plan. For example, concerns were raised over the need for a plan at all, the potential relocation of the PEI Potters, and the upgrade of the boardwalk. Written comments were received from both the PEI Potters and the Kiwanis Club of Charlottetown, who expressed concern over very specific aspects of the plan. The PEI Potters were concerned about relocating from the Caretaker’s Cottage, and felt that their needs may have been misunderstood. The study team and City staff met with, and provided a written response to the Potters, to reassure them that they are not going to be relocated in the short term, and that the City is committed to working with them to evaluate their future needs. Based on the comments received at the public meeting and during the public review period, the final report was refined. Major updates include a focus on winter programs & uses of the park, more clarification on the types of dog uses permitted, and refinement of the recommendations for the future use of the Caretaker’s cottage. Phase Three: Visualizing the Future Successful public space is timeless, but community and civic needs are constantly changing and evolving. In order to understand what future expectations or requirements may be placed on Victoria Park, it is essential to understand what factors will influence the evolution of those expectations. Phase three of the comprehensive planning process sought to understand the future needs of Victoria Park by looking broadly at emerging parks and recreational trends across Canada, assessing the shifting demographics of the Charlottetown community, and looking at case studies and best practices to see what lessons may be applied in this context. Through phase three, it became evident that Charlottetown’s aging population will play a significant role in the future of Victoria Park. Three case studies were reviewed for applicability to the park, and key ideas applied to the Charlottetown context. During phase three, an extensive best practices review focusing specifically on the implications of off-leash parks was completed, to aid in the decision-making process on this particularly sensitive topic. The results of phase three were integrated with the outcomes of the public consultation and applied to the site in the form of two conceptual framework plans. These plans were visual applications of the proposed program of uses for the site, and were reviewed with the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Advisory Committee of the City of Charlottetown. The Kiwanis Club provided a written letter outlining several concerns over the proposed parking reconfiguration at the Kiwanis Dairy Bar. City Staff and the study team drafted a response letter, outlining the rationale for the proposed changes. The reconfiguration of the parking area will improve the safety for pedestrians and vehicles by creating enhanced physical separation, and this point was stressed to the Kiwanis Club. 8
Final Report • June 2013 VICTORIA PARK COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN Phase Four: Setting the Direction Based on the feedback received from the City, the conceptual options were integrated into a single conceptual plan for the park. As most of the input received to date has stressed a ‘less is more’ approach to major modification of existing facilities, the proposed park plan is intended to focus on long-term renewal and adaptation, as opposed to large-scale redevelopment. In setting the direction for the park, emphasis will be placed on management strategies to guide informed decision-making, ensuring the park continues to evolve in a manner that is consistent with the public’s long-term vision. Phase Five: Moving Forward One of the ongoing challenges of open space design is the long-term management and maintenance of the site. This is especially true for a high profile space like Victoria Park, which has a storied history and has evolved significantly since its original creation. The most logical and defensible approach to guide the ongoing management of the park is to outline a direction based on the values and vision articulated by the public as part of the engagement process. These values will structure the development of an operational and management plan in the final stage of the study, guiding strategic and informed decision-making by City staff and elected officials, building support and momentum from within the Community, and ultimately ensuring the long-term vitality and success of Charlottetown’s premiere park space. 9
Page 1 and 2: Final Report • June 2013 VICTORIA
Page 15: Final Report • June 2013 VICTORIA
Page 47 and 48: Final Report • June 2013 4.1 Guid
Page 67 and 68:
Final Report • June 2013 VICTORIA
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Final Report • June 2013 Recommen
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
5. How Final long Report have you
Page 121 and 122:
13. How Final important Report •
Page 123 and 124:
22. What Final new Report elements
Page 125 and 126:
Page 5, Q2. What issues do you feel
Page 127 and 128:
Page 5, Q3. What new elements would
Page 129 and 130:
Page 5, Q4. Please add any addition
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES!.
Page 139 and 140:
1.0 INTRODUCTION ! In!February!2013
Page 141 and 142:
Edward!was!located!on!Great!George!
Page 143 and 144:
Figure!4.2;!7:!Delegates!at!the!Cha
Page 145 and 146:
depiction"of"a"planned"rather"than"
Page 147 and 148:
Figure'4.2+'16:'1935'aerial'photogr
Page 149 and 150:
Figure'4.3+'2:'Modern'map'of'Victor
Page 151:
In"the"event"that"archaeological"re
show all

Victoria_Park_Re port Final.pdf - City of Charlottetown

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?