The design for a $2.3 million waterfront park next to the Olympic oval has been endorsed by city council.
The "Oval West Waterfront Park" concept - which will be split into two phases - was first approved by the city back in 2007.
Funding for $300,000 of the first phase (costing $1,150,000) has already been approved as part of the 2011 capital budget.
The remaining costs for the initial and subsequent phase will be subject to future council approval.
The waterfront park, if and when built, will be on the banks of the Fraser River's middle arm, wedged between the west side of the oval and the No. 2 Road bridge.
"The Oval West Waterfront Park will provide a high quality park amenity to the community," said the city's park planner Doug Shearer.
"(The park) will further link the Fraser River Middle Arm to the City Centre generally."
Although the new park will separate the under-construction Aspac development from the river, Shearer outlined in his report to council last week that the line between the housing and the park will be "visually blurred" to "help integrate the site into its context."
There will be a plaza and seating area, as well as "informal lawn gathering spaces" with views of the river.
The park's trail is designed to lead people via boardwalks through native grasses and shrubs and the middle of the park will house "Fish Trap Way" - a park within a park, which could boast a water feature, public art and a pedestrian connection from River Road to the waterfront.
"Lighting, site furnishings and plantings will all be of a high quality, in-keeping with Middle Arm park development to date, maintaining and enhancing the waterfront view corridor throughout," he wrote.
Protection against flooding will also be strengthened should the park be built as planned.
"Improvements to the city's diking system will be built concurrently with the park, meeting or exceeding standards required by the Ministry of the Environment," Shearer added.
It's also anticipated that the new waterfront park will increase the width of the current dyke trail west of the oval, allowing more user groups to access it.
BY ALAN CAMPBELL acampbell@richmond-news.com
