City council passes $5.6M plan for Riverfront plaza
City council has approved spending $5.6 million to forge ahead with a plan to redevelop the Riverfront Festival Plaza that includes permanent washrooms, more green space, and a canopy over the concert area. Construction on the multi-phase plan will begin in the fall of 2018. The project will divide the festival plaza into three sections, complete with a sloped viewing area in front of the stage and trees in the middle of the space. The design will also allow for continued access along the riverfront during large ticketed events for people not attending the shows.
The plan calls for construction of a permanent $3-million canopy for the concert area in the third phase of construction, but the design has not been finalized.
The entrance at the east end of the plaza will also have a canopy to facilitate crowd control and “help remove the perception that users enter through the back door.” On Monday, council approved a “pre-commitment” of $5,583,650 in capital funding through 2020. Total cost of the project will likely be in the $13-million range. The original Festival Stage was built on the riverfront in 2008. That was replaced with a $3.6-million permanent stage in 2011. After the first full season, some “operational issues” were identified that needed to be addressed, according to a report from city staff.
The city held a public open house in February 2018 to get feedback on the project.
Of the 242 people who completed a survey, about 82 per cent supported improvements to the plaza that would improve its year-round usability.
City staff reported that 84 per cent of people have “no desire” to use the space in its current state because of a lack of things to do at the plaza, along with a lack of shade and green space, and too much pavement.
The majority of survey respondents also thought the inclusion of trees, washrooms, and lighting was important.