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Parks & Development

Post regarding parks and recreation programs available in the Half Moon Bay community area.

New public art selected for Half Moon Bay Park

Falling Star

Ottawa - Don Maynard is the winning artist in the Half Moon Bay Park public art competition. Maynard’s sculpture titled Falling Star, will reside at the top of the park’s toboggan hill, which will be located at the corner of Greenbank and Cambrian streets in Barrhaven South.

An omen of good luck and harbinger of change and new beginnings, Falling Star will be a beacon of magical possibilities and imagination in a new and rapidly growing neighbourhood. Balanced on one of its five points, the 15-foot high cast aluminum star will be anchored in the ground, bridging the immense gap between the galaxy above and our place on earth. Maynard will transform the surface of the aluminum, covering it in organic, hand-carved markings, crevasses, protrusions and deep gouges alluding to the stars’ long and awe-inspiring journey. A bold and elegant response to the celestial theme dominantly featured in the park’s design. Falling Star will shimmer during the night from the hundreds of holes drilled into the star, the emanating light-making reference to the celestial bodies and constellations above.

The Public Art Program commissions artists’ works for display in public spaces. One percent of funds for municipal development projects are set aside for public art to enhance the space and make art accessible to everyone.

The City’s Public Art Program initiated a two-stage public art competition for Half Moon Bay Park. The selection criteria for this work of public art included such considerations as artistic excellence, experience of the artist, site integration, reflection of the profile and character of the community, and sustainability.

For more information about the new public art, visit ottawa.ca/arts or call 3-1-1.

Tucana Park -March 26

Today we have received the revised plan for Tucana Park from Louise Cerveny. The note below outlines the changes made to the original design based on feedback she received. If the mild weather continues the construction of the park should get underway on schedule. Thank you for your interest in making this a park we will all enjoy.

Sue McDonald

See "Friends of Tucana Park" under Interest Groups heading for more info.

Please find enclosed the revised plan illustrating the changes to the original Tucana Park design that was presented to the community on March 5th, 2012.

The new location of the playground and pathways addresses the main concerns and comments provided by the community.

  • The play area and Seniors court under the shade shelter and pathways, although shifted towards the centre remain in the safest area of the park and do not compromise the sliding hill and puddle rink areas.
  • The low berms articulated with coniferous trees and deciduous shrubs that provide screening for the residential lots from the play areas have also been retained.
  • As outlined in the City Parks Lighting Policy, lighting is not provided in neighbourhood parks with the exception of parks accommodating seasonal or permanent full boarded rinks .

I have forwarded a request to By-law for a park evaluation regarding Dogs in the park and will respond to residents once I receive a response.

Regards,

Louise

Strandherd-Armstrong bridge contractor in receivership

OTTAWA — The contractor for the $48-million Strandherd-Armstrong bridge has gone into receivership with the project just over half done.

Bolton, Ont.-based ConCreate USL went into receivership within the past week. What the development means for the project was not immediately clear, though the city stated on Tuesday that it holds a performance bond of $23 million “which should ensure the completion of the project.”

The bridge between Strandherd Drive and Earl Armstrong Road is aimed at relieving congestion and delays on existing bridges over the Rideau River at Hunt Club Road and on Bridge Street in Manotick.

The eight-lane bridge is expected to accommodate traffic, transit, cyclists and pedestrians, and is about 60-per-cent complete, the city said Tuesday afternoon.

“The City will work with the Courts and Receiver to ensure the protection of the interests of the residents of Ottawa,” the city stated in a press release.

Construction on the project began in June 2010, and it was expected to be completed this year. The total project is worth $105 million, including construction of roads to the bridge.

Gloucester-South Nepean Councillor Steve Desroches issued a statement saying he was disappointed to hear about the company’s woes, “but pleased that operations are currently ongoing.

“I will continue to work with city officials in order to ensure the project moves forward. My priority is to not only ensure that the bridge is completed in a timely manner, but also built safely and to the proper standards,” Desroches said.

Plasco expects long-term contract by mid-March

Plasco Energy Group expects to sign a long-term contract to process Ottawa’s garbage by the end of next week, and is continuing work to get funding for a new plant, says the head of the company.

“There are no issues between us and the city, but it is a very detailed contract, and it’s been careful work by both the city’s inside and outside counsel and our own lawyers,” Rod Bryden said on Friday.

Three months after council endorsed the deal with Plasco by a vote of 22-1, Bryden said the company is primarily working to secure debt financing for construction of the estimated $175-million project, and is in discussion with commercial lenders.

In December, council’s environment committee and council quickly approved the 20-year agreement (which has options for extending it another two decades), with Bryden saying at the time that the company had financing for the plant lined up and wanted to act before it had to renegotiate any agreements — especially since investors have been concerned about unstable capital markets.

The process is moving along as Bryden expected, he said on Friday, “but for sure wouldn’t have taken a step if we hadn’t had council’s approval in December.”

When asked about the status of the contract, all the city said was that staff “will be updating Mayor and Council. Information will be available to media at that time.” There is no set date for that, spokeswoman Jocelyne Turner wrote in an email.

Under the agreement, Plasco would take 300 tonnes of city garbage a day and process it into burnable gas and slag, for $83.25 a tonne in the first year, and increasing with inflation thereafter.

Tucana Park Meeting March 5, 2012

 

The first meeting to review the conceptual plans for Tucana Park was held March 5. Forty seven neighbours attended to hear Louise Cerveny, Park Planner, City of Ottawa and Jack Copeland, Landscape Architect discuss the park features.

The park will contain 2 play areas, I junior tot lot for children 18 months-5 years and 1 senior tot lot for 5-12 year olds. These two areas will include contemporary play structures with a web climber and swings.

There will also be benches, a gazebo and a picnic table. The remainder of the park space will be landscaped with ornamental grasses, low shrubs and trees surrounding a central grassed area.

Construction is expected to start in June 2012 and be completed by September 2012, weather permitting.

Access to water and hoses will be available if the neighbours would like a Puddle Rink for skating in the winter.

The neighbours that attended the meeting voted unanimously to have signs “No Dogs Allowed” posted in the park as there are several parks nearby for dogs.

Please send your comments directly to Louise or on this site.