A splash pad and other additions could be coming to Centennial Square while a new platform is being pitched for a popular swim spot in the Gorge Waterway.
It’s recommended the city take $750,000 from its building and infrastructure reserve to craft detailed designs for the downtown square work and $300,000 from the same fund to design, build and install a new recreational swim platform next year.
Council will vote on the recommendation on Thursday (June 15).
The two initiatives are seen as immediate priorities in the plan to update parks citywide. The Centennial Square work would be phased and begin with renovating the central plaza and staircase, along with replacing the fountain with a new splash park and in-ground water-spraying features around the existing monoliths.
The plans also include a commercial kiosk, new accessibility features, more seating and added trees in the initial phase.
“These investments will help to enhance the Square’s overall appeal as a welcoming destination,” a staff report said.
In later phases, the city plans to convert the structure at the west end of City Hall into an indoor, multi-use space and add transit improvements to the east end of the square.
In 2017, Centennial Square was identified as a priority for accessibility, programming and other “quick win” improvements. The city got more than 1,400 responses during an engagement process that informed the concept design for the Square’s action plan.
Based on council’s direction from earlier this year, the city will aim to install a new swim platform in the Gorge Inlet for summer 2024. The swim structure will be located off of Bamfield Park, in the southwest area of the Gorge Marine Park. The city said that area of the Gorge allows for separation between swimmers, paddlers and boats, plus buoys would be added to outline the protected swim zone.
In 2021, the city installed a floating swim platform out in the water east of the Bamfield Park dock. The latter was also expanded last year and is located in the active recreation zone, which was formed after Victoria granted a Transport Canada permit that prohibits motorized vessels from entering the area.
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