Phase 1 For Dominion Park Plan Set To Begin December

A park providing beautiful sunsets will soon get a makeover.

Phase 1 construction of the Dominion Park Master Plan is set to begin in early December with work planned to continue into June 2023.

The project is part of the 2022 City of Saint John General Fund Capital Program and is co-funded by The City of Saint John, the Province of New Brunswick, the Government of Canada, JD Irving Limited, and the Greater Saint John Community Foundation.

“We’ve had a few setbacks because of COVID-19 and pricing, but a lot of that has been ironed out, I’d say we’re moving forward well, we’ve modified the designs in light of those things,” mentioned Nadine Lowes, a landscape architect with the Glenn Group, which is the firm providing the design.

Lowes spoke to residents during an information session on Wednesday regarding Phase 1 and mentioned how fluctuations in the global market, interest rates, and inflation may alter pricing for materials, and the project’s timeline.

“Pricing and material costs are fluctuating … but it’s something that we’re factoring in now as we’re getting into construction and also the availability of contractors.”

However, Lowes addressed how the Glenn Group and the City of Saint John are discussing unique ways to make sure phase 1 continues to stay on course.

“We’re finding creative ways to address things, move things around if need be from phase one to phase two, but ultimately the whole project will be constructed.”

Phase 1 includes a spectacular new sunset look-out design, a canteen/washroom building, convenient sea-can change rooms, various seating options, landscaping that integrates existing vegetation with new features, and an accessible walkway system that creates linkages to the various facets of the beach area.

Lowes added the Glenn Group did face some challenges during the design stage of the canteen/washroom building.

“It was a bit of a grading challenge, as the last building was washed away by flooding, so we had to locate this one up in an area that’s not going to get flooded.”

“To get that pathway from the parking lot, up to the building as an accessible pathway for people, it was a bit of a challenge to situate the building, but we figured it out and got it set in this perfect spot,” continued Lowes.

The project is part of the city’s ongoing commitment to maintain regional and district parks and enhance Dominion Park.