Lansdowne Park, Public Art at the Firehall, Winter Carnival
With all the problems attached to the commercial and sports side of Lansdowne we often lose sight of the other part of the development, the actual park which will occupy a large part of the site, particularly that part of it facing the Driveway and the Rideau Canal. The company that won the design competition for the park portion of the development, Phillips, Farevaag and Smallenberg (PFS), a Vancouver based landscape and urban design firm, has been doing preliminary soundings based on their winning design. They briefed me recently on some of their preliminary findings and they look interesting. The areas under examination are those around the Aberdeen Pavilion, the Pavilion itself, the Horticulture Building which, if Heritage approvals are finalized, will be located north-west of the Pavilion and the large lawn area to the south of the Pavilion and the adjacent water feature.
The watch word so far is to make the space as flexible are possible so that the same location could serve multiple uses depending on the events going on elsewhere at Lansdowne, the time of the year and the demand for certain kinds of activities. Some areas are proposed to be public spaces all the time and may not be programmed at all to ensure circulation on the site and space for purely public use that we have in ordinary parks. Other areas could be used to a greater or lesser extent for varying purposes from concerts or private events (e.g. receptions) or events where admission would be charged. One of the items to be looked at will be a potentially expanded and full time Farmer’s Market near the Aberdeen Pavilion, or perhaps for part of the year in the winter, in the Aberdeen Pavilion or the Horticulture Building.
What the PFS people really want to do is to get input from the community on some of the preliminary ideas about the use of the park. They also want to find out from us what other uses we would like to see in the park and the kinds of infrastructure or landscaping that would need to be in place to support those activities. Right now the thinking is a consultation process involving the Glebe and Old Ottawa South in the latter part of February, or perhaps somewhat later. We will endeavour through our website and the OSCAR to get information out to you on these sessions as soon as the dates and locations are known. Please do make an effort to come out when the consultations are held as, given all the problems we have had with the commercial side of the Lansdowne proposals, getting this public part of the development right, and reflecting community needs and aspirations, will be important.
Public Art at the Firehall
When we were planning the renovation of the Firehall a small part of the construction budget was set aside to commission a piece of art for installation in the building, consistent with city policy on art in public buildings. Last year a competition was held to choose a project from a number of proposals submitted by local artists. As you will see in this issue of the OSCAR, the artist who won the competition, Deborah Margo, is seeking community input into the design elements to be incorporated into the project’s copper panels. The panels will be suspended in front of one of the former doors to the fire engine bays in the entry vestibule and will be illuminated at night. This is a great opportunity for you to have a say in what design elements will be in this important piece of public art and that, in your view, best symbolize or represent the community you live in. Do take some time to respond to Deborah’s appeal and contribute your ideas; who knows your idea could be one of the designs immortalized for all to see as they enter the Firehall! Click here to see Deborah's featured submissions and get details on how to submit.
Winter Carnival
Our annual Winter Carnival will take place in Windsor Park this coming Sunday, February 7 between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. This is always a well attended event and you can join in the turkey toss, sleigh rides and of course our famous chilli cook off. It’s a great opportunity to meet your neighbours who, like you, have been hibernating and therefore been invisible since Christmas and to have some fun with the kids. If you would like to help out, or to submit an entry in the chilli or bread baking contest, Click here for details. Everything is free, but donations for food are gratefully received! (Editor's note: It's also a great way to have fun and volunteer—students get your volunteer hours! Click here for more information.)