Plan for Halifax’s Wanderers Block gets going
HALIFAX, N.S. — Stadium? More space for horses? How about a Victorian greenhouse?
All of the complex issues and opposing views on the future of the Wanderers Block will be considered in a detailed functional plan. On Tuesday, Halifax regional council adopted the Halifax Common master plan, approved the implementation plan and gave staff the green light to get going on the long-awaited functional plan for the Wanderers Block.
There are many competing visions for this space: the Halifax Lancers want to expand, the Lawn Bowls Club wants to thrive where they’ve operated for over 130 years, the Public Gardens Foundation wants to build an $8 million Victorian greenhouse and the Wanderers football club want a $40 million permanent stadium.
Carolle Koziak Roberts, a landscape architect with parks and recreation, told council on Tuesday there are also decisions to be made about the parks depot and the horticulture facility.
“We have a lot of work ahead to figure things out but this work will also include the continued consultation with tenant stakeholders and engagement with the broader public,” Koziak Roberts said.
Coun. Waye Mason (Halifax South Downtown) said he’s received letters from the Lancers, Wanderers and others urging council to move forward on this so they can get going on their own plans. He said his only concern is about how long it will take to finish the plan and get it back in front of council.
Koziak Roberts said they hope to finish it within a year, or 18 months at the most.
Stadium
Derek Martin, HFX Wanderers founder and president, appeared in front of the community planning and economic development standing committee in September to make a case for a permanent stadium.
The stadium will definitely be a component of the functional plan, but the focus will be what would fit on the site and what permanent infrastructure is needed on the Wanderers Block, said Koziak Roberts. They won’t be considering the financial aspect or what other locations in HRM might work.
Skatepark redesign
The Halifax Common skatepark was identified as one of the top three priorities within the next three years as part of the implementation section of the Halifax Common master plan. The others are a new playground and the Wanderers Block functional plan.
Koziak Roberts said right now they’re scoping out what’s needed for the skatepark and consulting with experts. She said the asphalt section is a higher priority but they may be looking at a redesign for the entire skatepark.
She said staff will be coming forward with the design work in the first year and construction will start after that.
What the public had to say
When the master plan appeared before council in February 2022, council held their endorsement in favour of getting more public feedback. Several groups complained the public hadn’t had enough time with it.
Since then, Koziak Roberts said there have been online surveys, meetings and written submissions.
She said there was “broad support for the plan overall” and said there were no major changes to recommend except for the functional planning for the Wanderers Block.
Out of the public feedback, she said there was an emphasis on improving recreation facilities and requests to add pickleball courts. The top priorities were identified as improvements to pathways and park entrances, skatepark renewal, and the redesign of the Centennial Fountain.
