Everyone is probably wondering when construction is going to start.  I'm sorry to have to share the news that because of the rules around the construction tender process (the project proved to be substantially more expensive than anticipated), the City has now informed us that they won't be able to start construction until spring 2016.  There is nothing we can do about this except express our frustration and disappointment and try to hold the City to the earliest possible construction schedule in the spring, so we have our park back by summer!  Questions welcome.

We now have a plan for Phase 2 of the park improvements and are looking forward to construction starting this fall, after the HVRA Fall Fair.  Details include:

• extension of the eastern boundary of the park to the outer sidewalk on Brunswick Ave.
• enhancements to the wading pool, including boulders and a new water-filling mechanism at the edge of the pool
• shade structure with seating at south edge of wading pool
• new accessible chess table
• additional benches
• relocation of existing bench to face the sand pit
• new log curbs at park perimeter to contain woodchips and stray soccer balls
• enhancements to existing play structures on west side of park (the sideways tree and "wacky posts")
• water source in sand pit, and new "jug filler" to replace existing water fountain
• plantings throughout the park (trees, shrubs and perennials)

Here are 3D renderings of some of the details, thanks to Bienenstock.

The park friends are active!  Just not actively blogging.  We have a new Facebook group (please join us!) and are planning for a spring meeting on Sunday, May 3, 4-5 pm at Windup Bird Cafe where we will give an update on the park revitalization project.

The Design Brief

The Design Brief prepared by the park redesign steering committee is now available on the Documents page. As Gary wrote when introducing it to the Friends, "This document represents many (many!) hours of labour (with a spattering of blood and tears) by the intrepid steering committee members, and our writer, Jessica Humphreys. We have done our best to gather the
community's suggestions, through various means of consultation, and translate these into a document that clearly communicates our community's vision to the city and prospective park designers. This document will form the core of the next phase of this process -- the hiring of a design firm to take us into the real nitty-gritty of redesigning and redeveloping our park.

We still hope to have this park redesign and construction done by the 2012 summer season ... you can of course expect plenty more opportunities for formal community input as things move forward ... and of course the longest (informal) community meeting of all is just getting going -- our spring, summer and fall in the park!"

The Brainstorming Fair

The brainstorming fair on Feb. 13 was a great way to get the community dreaming about what they want for the “new” park. About 50 neighbours of all ages showed up and wrote and drew pictures in answer to our open questions about what they loved about the park and what they wanted to change. People imagined a perfect day in the park and got to think about childhood play. We took the words and drawings and attached them to green balloons, creating a floating forest of dreams that was anchored to the Fairley Taxi. Mindy made portraits of neighbours with their ideas. People commented how good it was to get together in the dead of winter, and it seems that everyone is looking forward to enjoying an improved park. Not this summer, but as soon as we can get there!

We also had 35 responses to the online survey version of the brainstorming questions. The steering committee is now hard at work turning the community’s vision into a design brief, so that we can work with the City to select a park designer and really get things underway.

Here are some more pictures of the brainstorming fair, thanks to Mindy.

Brainstorming survey

We had an amazing turnout at the brainstorming fair today! For anyone who missed it, or anyone who was there who wants to share some additional ideas, we've created an online survey version. Feel free to pass it on to your friends and neighbours. The survey will be open until the end of the day on February 20 We are still getting responses and have extended the survey until the end of the day on February 27!

A full report on the brainstorming fair is coming soon!

Come Dream Up Our New Park!

Margaret Fairley Park Brainstorming Fair
Sunday, February 13th, 2011, 3-6pm, Drop-In
Kensington Gardens, 45 Brunswick Avenue

Join us for this family friendly event in which we'll play, dream, and imagine our new park.  Come meet your neighbors, have some snacks, and join in on brainstorming activities that will help spark our imaginations.  Following the meeting we'll gather all of our ideas for a proposal for the renewal of the park.