The redevelopment of Port Moody’s Rocky Point Park will cost the city more than $43 million over the next 10 years.
Tonight, Nov. 12, council will determine whether it should implement the master plan for the park which includes a revitalized area for kids and youth, improvements to the central green and performance stage as well as construction of a waterfront plaza and boardwalk east of the pier along with other enhancements to the shoreline’s natural environs to help make it more resilient to the impacts of climate change, like rising sea levels and more frequent storm surges.
If it’s approved, the project would be carried out over four phases beginning with upgrades to the spray and skate parks to “create an expanded and cohesive kids and youth zone that blends into the waterfront and the forested area.”
According to a report to be presented to council, the outdoor pool will stay for now and its future won’t be determined until the city has completed a study of all its recreational facilities. It’s expected to be ready sometime next year.
Majority of respondents to Port Moody survey want the outdoor pool at Rocky Point Park to stay https://t.co/ENxMNVpaSg
— Tri-City News (@TriCityNews) July 9, 2024
But, cautioned report author Ding Yu, Port Moody's parks planning project manager, the pool is reaching the end of its serviceable life and options have been contemplated “where the pool space could be repurposed to accommodate a range of other park amenities that better serve the community’s evolving needs.”
Port Moody embarked upon its latest master plan for the 9.5-acre waterfront park in 2022, along with another for Old Orchard Park across the Burrard Inlet. The city solicited ideas for both projects from in-person open houses and a community survey that summer, as well as several workshops with environmental stewardship, recreational and community groups, businesses and civic committees.
They were used to develop three draft design concepts that were then refined to a recommended plan last spring for further public consideration.
The proposed budget for the redevelopment plan’s first phase with an expanded play area, enhancements to the splash park including a new rain garden feature and improvements to the skate park is $13,880,850.
The second phase, which includes construction of the waterfront plaza and boardwalk west of the pier is budgeted to cost almost as much while work on opening up the central green to more expansive views of the water, improving drainage as well as constructing a walkway and pollinator gardens scheduled for the third phase would cost $10 million.
The fourth phase, that comprises enhancements to the waterfront west of the pier is budgeted at almost $5.6 million.
All the estimated costs include professional and permitting fees as well as a 20 per cent contingency.
Yu said when the work is done, it will “enhance the park’s role as a vibrant waterfront destination, balancing recreational opportunities with environmental stewardship.”
He said Rocky Point Park will also be more accessible, provide expanded recreational opportunities and be better equipped to handle climate change.
Meanwhile, a group that wants the city to expand Rocky Point Park is planning a rally at city hall prior to the start of Tuesday’s council meeting.
The group, which calls itself Expand Rocky Point Park, says Port Moody’s waterfront park isn’t large enough to accommodate anticipated population growth in the city.
“Without expansion, more and more people will have less and less access to parks,” says the group’s website that suggests the old Flavelle sawmill site just to the west would be the logical location for enlarging the park.
The sawmill closed in 2017 and a year later, Port Moody council adopted an amendment to its official community plan paving the way for redevelopment of the 34-acre property.
The company has pitched a plan to build a new neighbourhood for 7,000 people living in 11 condo towers ranging from 16 to 38 storeys, as well as offices, shops, light industrial spaces, 7.5 acres of park and a new boardwalk linked to Rocky Point Park. But it has yet to submit a development application to the city.
In the interim, all the old sawmill’s equipment has been removed and its structures dismantled. Recently, the property has been used for several film and TV productions, including the streaming series, Shogun, that won 18 Emmy awards in September.
The master plan for Rocky Point Park suggests more space could be created by removing its boat ramp and reducing the size of the adjacent parking lot.
The Tri-City News reached out to the organizers of the rally to expand Rocky Point Park, but did not hear back by time of publication.
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