Significant Improvements Coming to Parksville Community Park

July 6, 2020

On July 3, the City of Parksville received confirmation of the successful funding award of $1,263,521 through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream, for improvements to public spaces in the Parksville Community Park. Total cost of the project is $1,723,063.

The project scope includes construction of a new outdoor stage and a multi-use gathering space in the Parksville Community Park. The project is supported with grants from the federal ($689,225) and provincial ($574,296) governments, a grant from the Island Coastal Economic Trust ($204,000), the Parksville Beach Festival Society and the City of Parksville.

In 2018, the Parksville Beach Festival Society approached Council with the concept to build an outdoor stage in the Parksville Community Park. The outdoor theatre will provide a formal entertainment space and support the festival’s five-week international sand sculpting exhibition, concerts in the park and other family activities. Construction of the stage will begin this fall with completion expected by June 2021. The outdoor theatre will be located near the existing picnic shelter and will feature a covered accessible stage, dressing rooms, washrooms, storage space, lighting, acoustic treatments, hardscaped access ramps and area for dancing.

The new gathering space construction is scheduled for fall 2021 with completion spring 2022. The gathering plaza will be located near the waterfront gazebo and will feature benches, picnic tables, relocation of outdoor shower, shade canopy, plaza and path paving and landscaping. The gathering plaza will be a multi-use, multi-function area which can offer performance space, shaded seating area and public space for interaction, inclusion and engagement.

This project will create community oriented, publicly accessible, multi-purpose space which will be the heart of our community. These new spaces complement each other; the gathering plaza will be more contemplative, a space for people to meet for conversation and the outdoor performance stage will provide a focus for community and cultural events creating an exciting hub for entertainment and activity in the park.

QUOTE – MAYOR ED MAYNE, CITY OF PARKSVILLE

“We appreciate the significant support of the federal and provincial governments for projects in the Parksville Community Park, the jewel of our City, which with this support will only get better. Both the new gathering space and the permanent outdoor stage will provide informal and formal opportunities for people to gather, creating a sense of community and also enhancing the quality of performance-related events, bringing new and exciting cultural events to Parksville for residents and visitors. Our thanks to the Parksville Beach Festival Society for bringing this project forward.”

QUOTE – CHERYL DILL, PRESIDENT, PARKSVILLE BEACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY

“The Parksville Beach Festival Society board is thrilled and encouraged with this tremendous news. This funding, in concert with funding from Island Coastal Economic Trust and community donations, which have been raised over several years, will facilitate the construction of an incredible legacy for our community. We will continue to collaborate with the City to ensure the outdoor theatre for the performing arts is a reality in 2021. Our society has hosted well-attended events in the park for many years and this theatre will enhance community engagement, support economic development and improve the vibrancy of Parksville and the surrounding region.”

REFERENCES:
  • Canada and British Columbia invest in infrastructure in the Vancouver Island region to create jobs and strengthen communities
  • Backgrounder: Canada and British Columbia invest in infrastructure in the Vancouver Island region to create jobs and strengthen communities
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