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Hurricane Devastates Park
In late September 2003, Hurricane Juan, a category two hurricane, made landfall in Nova Scotia, not far from Point Pleasant Park. The maximum force winds from the eastern eye-wall of the hurricane that swept over the park, and the city, caused millions of dollars of damage, and destroyed more than 75,000 trees in Point Pleasant Park alone.
Point Pleasant Park closed in order for work crews to perform cleanup operations. Nine months later, the Park was reopened to the public. With almost 85 per cent of the trees removed and its shoreline damaged, the Park looks bleak and feels desolate; it looks beyond repair and creates a tremendous sense of loss in park users.
An Opportunity for Renewal
There are also problems with the forest ecology of Point Pleasant Park. A combination of rocky terrain and the repeated removal of cut timber over the past 250 years have left what little soil there is deficient in nutrients. The destruction caused by the hurricane is seen as an opportunity to plan a sustainable ecosystem for the future. It is also an opportunity to renew the Park in order to better meet the needs of park users. With this in mind, Southwest Properties Limited and Halifax Regional Municipality formed partnership to begin a renewal process. An international design competition informed by local technical experts and public consultation was felt to be the way to find the best ideas for the Park.
The Public Responds: Return the Forest, Respect the History
In preparation for the competition, a public consultation process took place to determine how people wish their park to be renewed. The response was unprecedented and the overwhelming majority of citizens made it clear they want to see Point Pleasant Park's forest regenerated, and the Park's character restored. The public also recognized the Park as a significant place of cultural history and wishes to have the cultural resources integrated into future plans.
The Point Pleasant Park Challenge
What were the characteristics of Point Pleasant Park that created the sense of tranquility and expansive forest? How do we manage the forest so that generations to come will have healthy trees to walk under? What kind of trees grow best, look best, and where do we plant them so that they grow healthy and strong? How do we balance the popularity of the park with the overall health of the park? What views to the ocean do we want to keep and what views do we want to block? What are the new opportunities that have opened up as a result of the hurricane devastation? What do we include in a master plan that will support the day-to-day management plan of the park? What does a Nova Scotian coastal urban forest park look like and feel like?
These are the challenges we present to you in our master plan competition. Best of luck to all! |
