Plan for Halifax Common to focus on collective vision

Members of the community met on Dec. 11 to discuss the Halifax Common master plan in the first of what will be five public meetings.

Richard Harvey, the manager of policy and planning with Halifax’s parks and recreation department, is leading the project with Carole Koziak-Roberts. He spoke of the importance of producing a collective vision.

“Because the Common belongs to all of us, it is important for all of us to be engaged in its current plan and its possible future use,” Harvey said. “And that’s really why we’re here today, to listen.”

Once the new Halifax Common plan is drafted, it will be presented to regional council for adoption. The master plan is intended to be used as a policy guideline for all decisions the municipality makes regarding the Common, Harvey said.

Constantina Douvris, the project landscape architect for the Common master plan, outlined four key outcomes of the project.

This includes having a policy and planning framework that will guide decisions in the future, a parks and open spaces plan that will illustrate the objectives of the policy, and renewal action plans to identify immediate re-investment needs. The fourth outcome is to develop the outdoor aquatic area concept design, which includes illustrations and cost estimates regarding the outdoor pool, the playground, the replacement of existing washroom facilities.

The first Halifax Common plan was developed in 1994. Erica Brook, an associate with an urban planning studio partnering with Halifax on the project, said the new master plan aims to update ideas from the previous one to fit Halifax’s current context.

During the meeting, attendees were asked how the Common might best serve their needs and the needs of the city. Answers from the crowd called for ideas such as public art, a more naturalized landscape and ensuring safety during the evening.

Alex MacDonald, a Halifax local who regularly walks through the Common, said he was encouraged by the number of people who attended the meeting.

“It tells me a lot of people are really passionate about what the Common is today, and I think they’re really excited about what the Common can be in the future, so I think it’s a good start,” he said.

MacDonald said he hopes to see the Common become a place that all members of the community can engage with in a way that makes them feel good, such as playing softball or skating.

Paddy Muir also attended the meeting. She said that it was interesting to hear what others had to say about the Common, but thinks organizers may have some difficulty combining various ideas.

“It will be tough trying to put something in there that is suitable for everybody, but there was a lot of valuable things raised here today, so it was a good process,” Muir said.

For those who are unable to attend community meetings regarding the Common, an online survey will be available to provide feedback from Dec. 13, 2017 to Feb. 12, 2018.