Coquitlam city council has signed off on the final designs for Town Centre Park Plaza, a performance amphitheatre it hopes to have built in time for the city’s 125th birthday next year.
When construction is complete, the 900-seat venue, which can be increased to 1,300 seats, will be able to accommodate large festivals, like Canada Day celebrations, as well as smaller performances and events.
It will be located on the edge of the east side of Lafarge Lake, where the natural slope of the area will be turned into seating space. The project is expected to cost $2.7 million.
“This is our showpiece,” said Coun. Craig Hodge. “This is where we want people to gather. This is an excellent opportunity for us to move ahead on something the city is lacking.”
But council was not unanimous on the issue during Monday night’s meeting.
Coun. Bonita Zarrillo said she does not believe there is enough support from taxpayers for the project, noting the public consultation process showed just 52% of respondents favoured the project.
“It shows a split as to whether the community even wants this,” she said, before voting against the proposal.
Zarrillo also had concerns about the lack of washroom facilities near the proposed plaza.
Coun. Chris Wilson, who voted in favour of the proposal, expressed concerns about the size of the project, noting that very few outdoor events would fill a 1,300-seat amphitheatre.
Mayor Richard Stewart said he was in favour of the project as it was presented to council but is open to the possibility of limiting the size of the plaza. He added that staff were also looking into the possibility of expanding washroom facilities in the park.
Construction on the project is expected to begin this winter and staff believe the plaza will be open in late spring 2016.
