HomeMy WebLinkAboutHK - 2016-05-03 - Item 4 - New Pathways in Victoria Park
Date:
April 5, 2016
To:
Heritage Committee
From:
Chris Spere, C.E.T., Manager, Engineering Construction
cc:
Hans Gross, P.Eng, Director of Engineering Services
Subject:
2016 Sidewalk Infill Victoria Park Multiuse trails along Jubilee Drive, David
Street, and Water Street South
Annually, Engineering undertakes a sidewalk infill program wherein new sidewalk is constructed
in areas identified by Transportation Planning where sidewalk does not exist.
The locations are selected based on the scoring criteria contained in the May 25, 2015 Council
endorsed Sidewalk Infill Policy. In developing the locations on an annual basis, several factors
are considered such as scoring, community / council requests, available budget and the
constructability of the project.
As part of the 2016 sidewalk infill program, the following streets within the Victoria Park heritage
district have been identified as candidates for inclusion:
Jubilee Drive between David Street and Water Street South;
Water Street South between Water and Jubilee Drive; and
David Street between Jubilee Drive and Hilda Place.
While the program is called sidewalk infill, all three locations will receive a hybrid between a
sidewalk and a multiuse trail.At all three locations, the sidewalk will meander around the
existing features including trees and statues and will consider Operations needs to maintain
them. Trees are expected to be a major consideration for the location of these trails as the
desire for this program is to not damage them during construction or harm them long term.A
plan is being developed with Operations for location and different construction methods to
preserve the health of the trees.
Project Details
Jubilee Drive Details:
All works are limited to the north side of Jubilee. Currently, concrete sidewalk enters the park at
the intersection of David Street and Jubilee and leads pedestrians into the parking area at the
washroom building and then into the commons area. The first piece of trail will be constructed
between the point of the sidewalk departure and a point west of this where an existing asphalt
trail runs near the road.
The existing trail departs Jubilee near the crossing for the Boathouse heading back in the
commons area. From this point new trail will be constructed along the rest of the north side of
Jubilee to the western leg of Water Street.
Water Street South:
Multiuse trail will be installed on both sides of the east leg of Water Street South.
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David Street:
Sidewalk/trail will be installed on the park side of David Street between the intersection of
Jubilee and David and a point across from Hilda Place. Existing trails lead from the intersection
north toward the Boathouse and around the lake to a point across from Hilda Place.
The existing Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District Plan outlines the requirements for
Meandering Drives and Paths. The Sidewalk infill policy outlines the requirements for sidewalk.
While these two policy have some conflict between each other, a compromise can be
established.
Victoria Park Heritage Conservation Plan
The following excerpts from the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation Plan are relevant
considerations for this project.
Sidewalks on the Park Road and the park side of David Street and Roland Street should be
discouraged, to facilitate uninterrupted natural views across the park.:
The sidewalk on the Park Road will restricted to the non-park side of the street.The sidewalk
along David will be on the park side, however it should be noted that it will be located in the
traditional sidewalk location due to the location of trees. It will be more offset from the roadway
than on typical roadways.
Paths should meander within the park in harmony with natural features:
The proposed paths will meander around existing trees (including root zones), flower beds and
statues.
Features for permanent paths should be gravel. Where all-season universal accessibility is
required, the finish should be poured concrete:
The material chosen for the sidewalk will be concrete.Along David Street, where space is
available to accommodate a full three metre wide trail, asphalt will be used. Asphalt may be the
chosen material though in areas where a concrete walkway would harm the root zones.
Conclusion
The new sidewalk/trails will provide the linkages needed to support pedestrian movements
within the neighborhood. The configuration of the new trails will minimize the impact to existing
features within the park such as trees, flower beds, and the monuments through the meandering
of the sidewalk/trail around the features. Impacts to the existing trees will also be minimized by
locating the trails away from the trunks and root zones and through accommodating
construction practices (reducing or eliminating excavation within root zones).
Topographic survey work and design is currently underway. This project is expected to tender
in May 2016, with construction in the park beginning in September 2016.
S:\\General\\01-11-436 Project Files\\Annual Programs\\Annual Sidewalk Program\\2016\\Memo - Heritage Committee for VP multi-use
trails.doc
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