The Commissioner of Development & Infrastructure Services provided an introduction to the presentation and the next steps for the process in the further development of the Mulock Property.
The presenters introduced themselves as Lisa Rapoport, Partner, PLANT Architect Inc., Eric Klaver, Partner, PLANT Architects Inc., and Sara Udow, Principal, Process. Lisa Rapoport provided a status update on the project to date and the overall timeline for the visioning project.
Members of Council engaged in an exercise to provide their perceptions of the Mulock property and the surrounding area, the site itself and to describe their vision for the site's future.
The presentation continued with the indigenous history of the area and the context of Truth and Reconciliation. The presentation included a general history of the area and the development of the site by Sir William Mulock. The presentation provided an overview of the heritage characteristics of the house itself and the surrounding grounds.
Members of Council discussed their thoughts on the history of the site and how the property could be developed to share this history but also continue to look to the future.
The presentation continued with an overview of the physical features of the site and presented a number of options for the development of the park. This included possibilities for landscaping the site, passive gathering spaces, active recreation uses such as a skating trail or rink, amphitheatre, a gathering space for markets, festivals, events, and different types of gardens including traditional indigenous medicine gardens, vegetable gardens, community gardens, restoration and flower gardens. Other options for the site were included such as parking options, entrances to the site and a linkage to the neighbouring Jim Bond Park.
Members of Council discussed the potential options which were presented and presented their ideas for how to incorporate these features into the site.
The presentation concluded with an overview of the next steps in the public consultation for the site which include an online survey, focus group and residents visioning workshop.