Block D Park
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Concept plan for Phase 1 park development.
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Concept plan for Phase 2 park development.
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On June 7, 2007 and January 16, 2008 at public open houses, the Culture & Recreation Department presented designs for the Block D Park. Comments received from the web site and at the public meetings have helped the design team to guide the draft and final designs.
Ongoing consultation and guidance from our citizens and the design team have ensured that feedback on the design concepts and details has been generally favourable.
The Phase 1 Park presented at the January 16 open house outlines the elements the City expects the developer to build on the park site. The Phase 2 plan identifies future elements the City intends to add to the park over a number of years.
The Phase 1 Park will be constructed by the developers according to the Planning Committee and Council-approved plan — these plans go before the Planning Committee later this spring (see Current Status of the Park below). Construction will begin once the park site has been cleared as a staging area for the Marriott Hotel construction and development.
PHASE 1 PARK MAIN FEATURES:
- Continuous seating wall. This wall varies in width from the 6 m perimeter to 12 metres from the edge of the shoreline rock revetment.
- Event plaza in the middle of the park in line with the Earl Street extension. This area is accessed by both stairs and a ramp system from Earl Street. The event area detailing is a compass rose and will include the cardinal points of the compass on it.
- A peripheral pathway 6 meters on the west limit, 6-12 metres on the south limit and 2.5 metres on the east limit. It is the City of Kingston's intent in the future to expand this portion of the pathway so that it is similar in width to the westerly section of the path.
- Trees, shrubs, benches, lighting, bike racks, bollards, waste receptacles and a balance of drought resistant varieties of turf and plant materials making up a nice balance of green space.
- Battery Wall: commemorative retaining wall and plaque regarding the Royal George battery that was on the site in 1812.
- Landscaping treatment along Marriot parking lot interface to create an esthetic buffer.
- Improvements to the foot of Gore Street and William Street (this is work do be done by the City of Kingston to increase the public visual profile of this new public park).
PHASE 2 AND THE FUTURE OF THE PARK: MAIN FEATURES
This work will commence once Council-approved funds are in place following the completion of Phase 1:
- Wind deflectors — sculptural elements and tree mix.
- Shade elements over the easterly and westerly sections of the seating wall.
- Shade structure over central plaza.
- Future marina building in association with expansion of the marina in the Block D basin.
- Small play area adjacent to potential future marina/public building.
- Cantilevered access to basin in line with the Earl Street extension. This type of water access may also occur along other portions of the site.
Other Considerations for the future include:
- Potential phased marina development in the Block D portion of the basin within the existing seawall constructed in the 1980s.
- Potential boardwalk along the seawall creating further public access and space. This will create a great visual vantage point for citizens and visitors alike.
CURRENT STATUS OF THE PARK
The Block D property is being constructed by Homestead Land Holdings and 1258881 Ontario Inc. (Gillin-for the Marriott). The City will be entering into an easement agreement that will allow the City of Kingston, its guests, invitees and the public to use and enjoy the Easement Lands for all of the uses and functions of a public park such as passive and active recreation activities; events, fairs, concerts, festivals and other public gatherings; and community uses.
The four buildings on the site — three residential and one hotel — were approved by the Planning Committee.
The Park's design, as part of the design of the overall site, is required to be approved by Planning Committee and included in an amending site plan control agreement on the property. Culture & Recreation Department staff will be preparing a report to the Planning Committee outlining the Park's process, its design elements and public feedback, as well as outlining the responsibilities of both the developer and the City for the implementation of the park. This will be later this spring (2008).
