The Memories on Memorial Walkshops on Saturday, June 22 will share the significant history of Memorial Avenue, review a recent assessment of the century-old elm trees and consider different streetscape design opportunities.
The walkshops will encourage discussions about the community’s values, vision and preferences for Memorial Avenue which will inform the design process.
Walking tours will be offered at 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Tours are accessible and will begin and finish up at the McMillan Arts Centre (133 McMillan St.) and include opportunities for residents to envision the future of Memorial Avenue. Tours will be facilitated by City of Parksville staff and the project consultant’s public engagement and technical specialists. Pre-registration is required at www.memorialave.ca.
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The city is working with McElhanney Ltd to plan, design and oversee construction upgrades to aging underground water and sanitary sewer lines along Memorial Avenue, as well as improvements to the streetscape with the aim to maintain the historic street trees and enhance their health.
For residents not able to attend on June 22, an online story map with information from the walkshop will be posted to www.memorialave.ca.
Prior to finalizing the streetscape design, a Community Design Workshop on July 10 will build on input collected at the walkshops and assist the project team to develop a conceptual design for Memorial Avenue. The project schedule aims to complete the streetscape design in fall 2019 along with an engagement report detailing the consultation process and the public input collected. Construction should begin spring 2020.
Memorial Avenue and the trees which line the street have grown into an important living monument of civic participation and contribution. Known as one of Parkville’s most beautiful and historic streets, the 34 century-old elm trees which line the street were donated by a local women’s organization to memorialize fallen veterans from around the Parksville area. Preserving the trees and their legacy is a priority of the project.
Questions about the project may be sent to memorialave@parksville.ca.
— NEWS staff, submitted