Maffeo Sutton Park, the city's most popular events location, is about to get $90,000 in improvements.
The first upgrade, which has already begun, is $30,000 in renovations to the park's washrooms, which will include the installation of floor and wall tiles, new concrete countertops and sinks, new toilets and urinals, new partitions and doors, accessible grab bars and improved heating and ventilation systems.
"It didn't make sense to spend all of that money on the Spirit Square, then have the washrooms in the poor condition they're in," said Ian Blackwood, the city's manager of facilities maintenance and construction. "We think any money invested in the washroom facility right now is money well spent."
The money comes from capital funds put aside by the city for a new park-planning process.
When council took back a portion of land at Maffeo Sutton Park originally intended to be given to Millenium Suro for a condo development – part of the failed deal for a conference centre hotel – it had to revise its park plan to include that land.
That new plan could include an entirely new washroom facility at Maffeo Sutton Park, which is why everything but the new floor tiles can be removed and installed elsewhere.
The second improvement includes lowering the blue Spirit Square covering by 1.4 metres and windshields to the side of the structure.
Trucks will still be able to pass under the covering, but the lower top and retractable shields will improve protection from the elements, ultimately providing more options for performances and special events.
The cost for that work is estimated at $60,000.
"We're still researching the shield portion, but reducing the height is actually a fairly quick process," said Blackwood. "The goal is to encourage more use, and give user groups more flexibility."
The Spirit Square renovation is expected to be completed by June. The city received a $500,000 provincial grant in 2008 to create the Spirit Square.
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