Downtown Halifax could become home to a new beach, play area and splash pad, among other amenities.
Develop Nova Scotia issued a tender on Monday for a detailed site design for a revamped community space on Halifax’s waterfront.
The space is located between Bishop’s Landing and the Nova Scotia Power building near Lower Water Street and Morris Street. It will be located next to the Cunard Building, a Southwest Properties development that will see 235 rental units as well as commercial units built next to the Nova Scotia Power building.
Develop Nova Scotia’s plan calls for a raised beach, shade structures and seating, a water play area and a separate playground, restrooms and showers. Plans may change as the project moves through a more detailed design phase.
Currently, much of the area to be developed is parking.
The beach is high on the wish list
The plan was created after consulting the public about what people want to see in the space. Some of the most sought-after features were a splash pad, a floating dock or walkway, and a “harbor-interactive” beach experience.
Halifax’s waterfront recently received such an opportunity with the construction of steps leading to the nearby Queen’s Marque Harbour.
However, twice in the past month, Halifax Water advised people not to swim or take part in any recreational activities in the harbor after an emergency pump failed and caused sewage and stormwater to flow into it.
The conceptual design of the public space includes a water playground, a raised beach and a children’s playground. (Nova Scotia Development)
According to the list of “must dos” in the public engagement report, each beach area will require regular water quality testing, a signal indicating water quality such as a light or flag, and publicly available online water quality data.
Some of the inspirations for a downtown beach area listed in the report include Woodbine Beach and HTO Park in Toronto and Breakwater Park in Kingston, Ontario.
According to the concept design, the space could also become home to the Acadia Monument, which was removed five years ago after it began to sink.
Construction of the space in the tender documents is expected to begin next March, with project completion expected in March 2024.
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