Waterfront Park Revitalization

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Overview

The Waterfront Park Revitalization Project is a highly requested community feature that will improve access to nature while honouring Indigenous culture and history. Due to the extensive size of the project, the 6 kilometres space has been split into two targeted priorities, the Snye Point Outdoor Event Space, and the Waterfront Park. The project space includes waterfront from the Athabasca Bridge, through Snye Point, and all the way to Horse Pasture Park in Waterways.

Ongoing and dedicated collaboration with Indigenous partners is a priority for the entire Waterfront Park Revitalization Project. Further meaningful discussions are necessary to ensure inclusion of Indigenous elements such as the local Cree, Dene and Michif languages, the true history of the land, and the lived experiences of those that were the original stewards of this land. It’s anticipated from these discussions, important Indigenous components can be proudly featured within the park design.

Current Status

Waterfront Park

Public engagement wrapped up in September 2021. The final concept design is pending and will be released publicly when completed. The Waterfront Park Concept Design was carefully defined from feedback gained from two phases of engagement.

Snye Point Outdoor Event Space

To ensure that the Waterfront Park Revitalization Project remains within a responsible budget, Administration has cancelled the tender for the Snye Point Outdoor Event Space. The decision to cancel the tender has been made because the projected cost to complete this work was much higher than what was initially budgeted. The termination of this tender does not mean that the work on the Waterfront Park Revitalization Project is cancelled.

The Snye Point Outdoor Event Space project will be reviewed and considered as part of the development of the 2023 Budget Development Process. Administration will ensure that a future concept for the Snye Point Outdoor Event Space will be cost efficient and fiscally responsible.

The public engagement from many partners, along with the Indigenous Sharing Circles and knowledge will inform future versions of the Snye Point Outdoor Event Space, however the specific amenities or details may vary from the original concept.

Public Engagement

Engagement for both priorities have concluded after detailed and thoughtful conversations with residents, Indigenous partners and key community stakeholders. Below is a timeline of the two priorities different phases of engagement.

Feedback was collected and carefully considered to implement into the designs of the two priorities. Versatile engagement opportunities were provided such as online surveys, online tools, phone surveys, Indigenous and stakeholder workshops, and open houses.

Timeline
Description	Date
Snye Point Outdoor Event Space Targeted Engagement	January 2021
Snye Point Outdoor Event Space Public Engagement	March 2021
Waterfront Park Phase 1 Public Engagement: Share feedback on preliminary concept ideas	June 2021
Snye Point Outdoor Event Space Final Conceptual Design Released	August 2021
Waterfront Park Phase 2 Public Engagement: Share feedback on final concept design defined from public feedback	August 2021

What We Heard

Waterfront Park: Phase 1

The information below is an overall summary of the Waterfront Park Engagement What We Heard Report. Engagement period was from June 14-30, 2021.

Waterfront What We Heard Report Graphi Summary

Key Findings

27% of responses indicated walking is their favourite part of the Waterfront followed by River (20%) and Recreation (20%).
16% of responses choose Recreation when asked “What is one thing you would like to change about the Waterfront area?” This was the highest response from all five options.
When asked what new activities they would like in the park the top three responses were Benches and Places to sit, Washrooms, and Lookout points.
72% or participants preferred Concept 1.

Recurring Themes

Reconciliation
Environment
Activities
Infrastructure and Resiliency
Process

Summary of Preferred Concepts

We asked participants in the online survey and during the virtual workshop which preliminary concept they preferred for the overall park design "look-and-feel" and for five specific areas with the Waterfront Park boundary. The table below summarizes the preliminary concepts preferred by each engagement activity.

Graphic outlining concept preferences

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are you building on a flood plain?

The Waterfront Revitalization Project's goal is to utilize our natural waterfront for community benefit, while building a resilient park and strengthening flood mitigation. To design the park in a way that responds to flooding, elements and approaches have been incorporated in the design to reduce a flood’s impact. Some of the ways this is achieved is by locating key park amenities outside of the flood plain, incorporating natural landforms to protect park features from debris and ice, and utilizing resilient materials that can be restored or rehabilitated in the event of a flood.

Is the flood mitigation work at Snye Point Park part of the Waterfont Project?

Yes, permanent flood mitigation was previously completed along reaches 3 and 4 that are within the Snye Point Outdoor Event Space boundary. A recent council motion was to increase the permanent flood elevation from 250.5m to 250.9m. This increase in .4m has been included in the Waterfront Park construction work.

Why is Morimoto Drive moving at the Snye Point Outdoor Event Space?

During community engagement in March 2021, we heard from you that connecting the park to the Snye is very important. Moving Morimoto Drive will allow for a large pedestrian area that is directly connected to the water. This will enhance safety and connectivity along the waterfront, and enable park users to touch the water without having to cross a road.

What access do residents have at Snye Point?

Residents will be able to access Snye Point with their vehicles by using the dedicated parking lot. A multi-use trail is provided for residents arriving by foot or bike. The parking lot and multi-use trail respect environmental regulations and intends to create safe access for all users.

Where is the access for float planes?

The Snye Point Outdoor Event Space Final Conceptual Design intends to maintain existing float plane access along the Snye. Additional float plane access may be contemplated by the RMWB in future design phases of the Waterfront Park.

Why are we updating the area?

The revitalization of the Snye Point Outdoor Event Space has been identified as a priority by Municipal Council. The Waterfront Park will be designed for residents and visitors all year round, including festival grounds, recreation and play areas, destination nodes, amenities, public art, cultural and heritage recognition, and other elements. It will contribute to realizing the vision of a vibrant, sustainable region we are proud to call home.

How will Indigenous history and culture be included in the design?

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo recognizes that the Waterfront Project is located on Treaty 8 land—the traditional territory of the Cree and Dene and the unceded territory of the Métis people. We respect this deep and continued history of the site and look forward to capturing these through design elements such as marker poles, welcome circles, and signage and wayfinding. Collaborating with the Indigenous community is an essential component ensuring we understand and incorporate their perspectives.

How has the space been designed for being on a flood plain?

The Waterfront Park is located on a flood plain, appropriate design elements were incorporate to support withstanding future floods.

How was feedback from previous engagements incorporated into the design?

The design incorporates feedback heard from recent engagement with residents, stakeholders and Indigenous Partners creating a welcoming community space shaped by the region.