Central Memorial Park archive 2005-10

[Bob van Wegen]

This thread last updated April 2010, then closed - see bottom post for a link to the new thread, post-reopening.

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See other entries on this topic here:

http://www.calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/viewtopic.php?t=68

http://calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/viewto ... orial+park

[newsposter]

A plan to restore and revitalize Central Memorial Park is working its way through the City. Here is the item from the October 10 meeting of the Community and Protective Services Meeting of City Council.

Image of the plan:
http://www.vcrossing.com/business_in_th ... july06.pdf

SUMMARY/ISSUE
Approval of Central Memorial Park Design Development Plan.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL DIRECTION/POLICY
At the 2005 June 27 meeting, Council approved Report CPS2005-41, Central Memorial Park, and directed Administration to proceed with the development of a Design Development Plan for Central Memorial Park.

ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATIONS:

That the S.P.C. on Community & Protective Services recommends that Council:
1. Approve the Design Development Plan for Central Memorial Park (Attachment 1 - see link); and

2. Direct the Administration to move forward on construction of phase 1 with the approved budget and funding of $3.064 million from Capital Program 500: Parks and Natural Areas ($1.064 million in 2007 and $2.0 million in 2008); and

3. Direct the Administration to review options to address the $6.313 million funding shortfall based on the 2006 estimated project cost of $9.377 million and bring the shortfall forward for possible inclusion in the CPRiiP’s unfunded list.

INVESTIGATION
Central Memorial Park is a provincially designated historic site and is Calgary’s first formal park. The intent of the redevelopment focuses on increasing the use and animation in the park as well as its capabilities for festival events while not compromising the historical integrity of the site.

In fall of 2005 an invitation was sent to a broad range of potential stakeholders interested in the park redevelopment. A stakeholder committee of 10 organizations and individuals was formed.
A proposal call was conducted and a consulting team was hired in March 2006. A program review was undertaken, refined and agreed to, working initially from the Conceptual Plan done in 2004. An inventory and analysis of the site was undertaken including an evaluation of the 11 monuments onsite as well as a critical review of the horticulture, parks infrastructure, historical chronology and the current site use.

Highlights of the planned park revitalization include:
• a complete refurbishment of the historical Edwardian oval including all planting
• water animation is proposed with 3 types of fountains around the site
• passive use of the park through outdoor reading rooms, movable tables & chairs; wireless internet and partnership with the onsite library are proposed
• extensive hidden infrastructure is proposed to seamlessly transition the park between everyday use and programmed/festival events
• two small buildings are proposed for the site with underground storage and infrastructure to accommodate year-round food venue, public washrooms and parks operational needs
• the Beltline ARP identifies 13 Avenue SW as an East/West Greenway corridor through the Beltline. Central Memorial Park’s South boundary (13 Avenue) capitalizes on this interface.

Concurrent to the Design Development Plan process, Parks has undertaken a management review of all major parks in the downtown area. A report is expected to be brought forward later this year that will address management issues raised during the planning process.

IMPLICATIONS

General
Alberta Community Development, responsible for provincially designated Historic Sites, has reviewed the proposed rehabilitation work for Central Memorial Park and is in support of it. As Calgary’s oldest and most significant historic park, Central Memorial Park should be revitalized, operated and maintained at a level necessary to address its unique features.

Social
In addition to its contribution to the cultural heritage of Calgary, a revitalized park will provide social benefits to an increasingly dense residential population and as an attraction for community and regional programmed activities and festival events.

Environmental
The Beltline communities of Victoria and Connaught are Calgary’s largest, high-density residential communities and also have the least amount of open space. The City’s commitment to the revitalization, operations, and maintenance of this site is important to support the environmental health of the community.

Economic (External)
The revitalization of this historical landscape will nurture cultural development within the city and profile our park roots in the City Beautiful movement. It will benefit Calgarians, both those living nearby and those who travel for programmed and festival events. A revitalized Central Memorial Park adds to the emerging tourism of the City Centre area in combination with other nearby cultural/historic sites such as Lougheed House National Historic Site and Reader Rock Garden Provincial Historic Site.

BUSINESS PLAN/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
The 2004 Concept Development Plan for Central Memorial Park identified an estimated $6.3 million dollar budget. The 2006 Design Development Plan identified a need for an additional park infrastructure, water animation, festival infrastructure and site amenities bringing the estimate to $7.7 million. In addition to the above, recent construction cost escalation (estimated at 20-25% over the last two years) has put the estimated budget for the Design Development Plan at $9.377 million.

The Design Development plan has therefore been phased to allow for a phase 1 go-forward within existing approved funds ($3.064 million) from Capital programs, Parks and Natural Areas. It is proposed that the Capital funding for the remaining balance of $6.313 million be added to the CPRiiPs list of unfunded priorities, to be reviewed and approved by Council in 2006 November. Other alternate funding sources will be explored including the Beltline Community Investment Fund density bonus funds.

RISKS
Unless Central Memorial Park receives a high level of park development, operations and maintenance, this significant historic resource will have a limited ability to provide social, environmental and economic benefits to the emerging Centre City community.

[newsposter]

The plan for redevelopment of Central Memorial Park goes to Calgary Planning Commission on March 20. Two pdfs:

http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/BU/dba ... _part1.pdf

http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/BU/dba ... _part2.pdf

[newsposter]

Central Memorial Park (CMP) is making a lot of progress and will soon be re-opened. The new restauraunt on the south edge of the park is the offspring of the River Cafe on Prince's Island. Go to www.river-cafe.com

BOXWOOD
A new café/bistro serving delicious lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, picnics and snacks to go. Same great food philosophy in a beautiful new building within the newly restored gardens and fountains of Memorial Park on 4th Street and 13th Avenue SW. Coming soon...late August. Check back for more updates.

Here is a link to the CMP update page on the City website:

http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/ ... l+Park.htm

[newsposter]

The official re-opening of Central Memorial Park is scheduled for May 14, 2010. Details to follow. Mark your calendar - there will be some kind of event.

click the link for information on the May 14 2010 reopening event
http://www.calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/vi ... =2083#2083

[newsposter]

Not quite on topic, a recent Herald column laments the lack of a prime ministerial memorial to Calgary's R.B. Bennett on Parliament Hill. One of his few memorials is a cairn just south of the Memorial Park library...

Calgary's own R.B. Bennett deserves place on the Hill
By John Boyko, For The Calgary Herald
March 31, 2010
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology ... z0kHgvbzkb

Author Boyko has a book on R.B.B. forthcoming. Let's hope he covers his Calgary days well...

[newsposter]

I am closing this thread. Future Central Memorial Park news and talk will be in the thread linked below, which started at the time of the re-opening in May 2010:

http://www.calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/vi ... =2083#2083