Prelude
Competition documents and in-Halifax observation suggests that the park requires remediation in numerous ways:
1. Hurricane Juan has reduced much of the park to a virtual clear cut.
2. signage is often pervasive and uncoordinated offering the user little sense of "welcome".
3. the Young Avenue fountain seems poorly presented. The water is surrounded by a "high voltage" sign.
4. The Tower Road entrance has been allowed to degenerate into a bus turning loop and gravel parking lot.
5. The manicured areas of the park along the shoreline are very poorly developed and maintained. Recreational areas for frisbee and picnics seems entirely inadequate, as if these activities are not encouraged.
6. With the exception of the Black Rock beach, the water's edge is hardly engaged. (it is understood that the new Halifax City sewerage system will improve water quality so as to allow swimming.
7. During winter, although the park is big enough to offer a good cross country skiing experience, over-zealous winter maintenance (plowing and gritting all paths) makes skiing impossible.
8. Within the park, few educational or orientation markers or signs are found.
9. With the remarkable exception of the Skakespeare-by-the-Sea theatre troop, little public art is seen in the park.
10. The waterfront café and canteen is of poor quality.
11. The TATR suggest that the Point pleasant forest has been clear cut 4 times and that continual tree removal in more recent times has removed significant amounts of biomass from the forest.
12. The TATR suggests that forest floor habitat has suffered greatly in recent years, with incidents of
13. herpetological sightings being greatly reduced.
Vision Statement
Hurricane Juan angered Haligonians. It laid ruin their favourite park, Point Pleasant. This Proposal sets out in general terms under which Point Pleasant Park will not only regain its beauty and prominence in the Nova Scotia eye, but will exceed standard set by the Park in the years before Juan.
Facilities will be improved to make using the park more interesting to broader interest groups. Of particular importance will be the new Acadian Forest Institute. Not only will the park take on the character of the exquisite Acadian Forest, but it will become the centre for study and promotion of the forest itself. Public art, in the form of a sculpture court, a wind and wave activated Sea Horn and performing arts venues will be constructed in the forest and at its entry points. These, as well as a new restaurant and the Ocean Arc bridge, will form the legacy of our generation's commitment to the spirit of the Park.
Ten Year Proposal
This proposal is meant to describe a set of works to be undertaken in the next ten years which will:
1. implement a process to restore much of Point Pleasant Park to a state improved from the pre-hurricane status,
2. encourage the renewal of the Acadian Forest in the Park and elsewhere,
3. enhance the walkers', runners', skiers' and picnicers' experience in the park,
4. promote an attitude of forest awareness and respect,
5. contribute to the educational park experience,
6. promote artful (performing and visual) works in the Park,
7. develop and encourage a contemporary expression for objects, structures and buildings built in our time,
8. reduce the amount of paved area, and
9. enhance the level of public amenity in the park. (Peter Henry Architects)
4 scanned / 3 viewable
- Presentation Panel
- Presentation Panel
- Presentation Panel Excerpt
