The outdoor pool at Port Moody’s Rocky Point Park will stay — for now.
But a recommended design concept for the park’s future says the pool is nearing the end of its useful life and it likely won’t be replaced as the park is reimagined.
On Wednesday, May 8, residents will get a chance to view plans for the city’s signature 3.8-hectare park, as well as Old Orchard Park on the north shore of Burrard Inlet, at an open house to be held at the civic centre (100 Newport Dr.).
The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m., with a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m. in the Inlet Theatre.
The recommended plan for Rocky Point Park includes widened walking paths, better bike access and improved parking, as well as an expanded play area for kids and upgraded youth area and spray park.
The central lawn would also be opened up to improve views out to the water and a new, larger wooden boardwalk would be constructed along the waterfront.
Further changes, like raising the shoreline and all levels of the park as well as working to increase its tree canopy and possibly constructing tidal marshes and mudflats, would also make the park more resilient to the effects of climate change, like rising waters in the inlet.
Recommended changes for Old Orchard Park include construction of a new washroom and picnic shelter as well as replacing the existing playground.
A new, gently-sloped accessible path would meander down to the beach, which would be protected from storms and natural erosion by new habitat islands that would connect to the shore only during low tide.
The park’s meadow area would also be opened up to create more open space and improve views.
In conjunction with the open house, residents can also provide feedback on the two design concepts in an online survey that runs until May 20 or a paper survey that can be picked up at city hall or during the information session. It must be returned by May 17.
