BANNERMAN PARK

CLIENT:

City of St. John's

SERVICE:

Landscape Architecture

Architecture

Civil Engineering

COMPLETED:

Summer 2013

Parks are a critical socio-economic asset that have numerous measurable benefits. 

Every municipality should have a well designed and well maintained community park. The benefits of parks and trails have been magnified with the advent of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Tract was retained to support the redevelopment of Bannerman Park. This multi-million dollar Placebuilder project included: an upgraded pool building, splash pad, playground, new parking, planting plan and lighting. The centerpiece of the design is “The Loop”, a 280m (910ft) artificial ice skating loop. 

Constructing the Loop was a significant challenge. Typically concrete, such as a sidewalk, contains saw cuts and expansion joints to account for expansion. An ice surface cannot have saw cuts or expansion joints, and has to be constructed as one concrete pour. To accomplish this required our having a steady stream of concrete mixers pouring concrete at the site through most of the night.

Since the Loop opened City residents have enjoyed approximately 100 skating days per season. Additionally, on adjacent Military Road, two new businesses have opened, in large part because of the increased number of visitors to Bannerman Park.

In 1864, Governor Bannerman gifted the Park to the people of St. John’s, making Bannerman Park the oldest and most historic park in the province.

Parks are a critical socio-economic asset that have numerous measurable benefits. 

Every municipality should have a well designed and well maintained community park. The benefits of parks and trails have been magnified with the advent of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Tract was retained to support the redevelopment of Bannerman Park. This multi-million dollar Placebuilder project included: an upgraded pool building, splash pad, playground, new parking, planting plan and lighting. The centerpiece of the design is “The Loop”, a 280m (910ft) artificial ice skating loop. 

Constructing the Loop was a significant challenge. Typically concrete, such as a sidewalk, contains saw cuts and expansion joints to account for expansion. An ice surface cannot have saw cuts or expansion joints, and has to be constructed as one concrete pour. To accomplish this required our having a steady stream of concrete mixers pouring concrete at the site through most of the night.

Since the Loop opened City residents have enjoyed approximately 100 skating days per season. Additionally, on adjacent Military Road, two new businesses have opened, in large part because of the increased number of visitors to Bannerman Park.