The District has received close to 1,000 responses so far to a survey asking what residents want to see in the renovated Oceanfront Park at Newport Beach.
While municipal planner Carlos Zavarce noted in a presentation to council Tuesday that some of the feedback included, “Build it already, we’ve been talking about it for a long time” or “All I want to do is walk my dog down there” the overall engagement was promising.
Other feedback was more constructive, Zavarce said.
The public survey asks residents to pick their three highest priorities out of the following options: a windsport beach, public washrooms, a lookout pier, playground, splash park, picnic tables, barbecues, slacklines, bike racks, interpretive signage, bouldering and a covered space.
The survey also asks residents for ideas on how to keep the beach animated during the winter months.
The survey closes on Feb. 13, and the results will be presented in March.
District staff will be doing a “direct consultation” with stakeholder groups to get their detailed feedback. Both the survey and the consultation results will then go to the architect and urban engineer for the design phase.
A Seattle-based company called Anchor has been chosen as the design consultant for the park, which is expected to be a $10 million investment.
“The next steps in our mind are going back to the community, once we have a plan, and we’ll present that to the community and get feedback.”
The hope is to have a final plan by the end of the summer that includes construction times.
As part of the agreement for the oceanfront land, Newport Beach Developments will have to complete the park before residents move in.
The plan for the park so far includes a wind sports beach, dune area, boardwalk, native plants, lands-end monument, three non-motorized boat launches and one sailing centre that will include boat storage facilities and temporary parking.
To fill out the survey, go to www.newportbeachsquamish.ca/survey/
