This is fantastic news!
Sydney has tremendous potential and just needs a kick-start. There is no reason why Sydney couldn't be the St. John's of N.S.
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Tar ponds redesign draws Central Park comparison November 24, 2011 - 4:38am By MARY ELLEN MacINTYRE Cape Breton Bureau
$1.48-million contract will produce green spaces, concert area
.SYDNEY — When an engineering design contract for trails, bridges and walkways over Sydney’s tar ponds and former coke oven site was announced Wednesday, the head of the citizens liaison committee couldn’t contain his enthusiasm.
"Green grass is already growing on the former tar ponds site," Alastair MacLeod said in a news release issued by the Sydney Tar Ponds Corp.
"We anticipate that the transformation of the tar ponds area will benefit Sydney like Central Park benefits New York," the release stated.
The $1.48-million design contract went to Stantec Consulting to produce plans for an outdoor concert area with recreation and green spaces plus boardwalks and bridges that will serve as a throughway to the downtown area from Whitney Pier and Ashby.
Contacted by telephone for further comment, MacLeod suggested his comparison with Central Park was appropriate.
"There are a couple of comparisons because Central Park is a wonderful green space in the middle of Manhattan and it does exactly what it will do for the citizens of this city," he said.
"As well, there was lots of controversy in the 1800s over the creation of Central Park because there wasn’t the political support for the architect and the funding."
The beginning of the tar ponds remediation was fraught with controversy, MacLeod recalled. When the $400-million project got underway almost seven years ago, millions had already been spent on other cleanup attempts and many doubted the latest effort would be a success.
Now, years later, there is excitement over the former eyesore and health hazard being developed into an attractive and useful green space.
"Of course, this is a fraction of the size of Central Park but it will do the same kinds of things for Sydney," MacLeod said.
"It will bring recreation and green space areas and all things any urban park could want.
"You’ll be able to go from Whitney Pier or the Ashby area through grass and trees and with water views, go to concerts and sporting events there."
MacLeod said the 15-member citizens liaison committee has been an active part of the project.
"We meet monthly for updates and I can tell you the project is on time and on budget," he said.
The project is cost-shared between the provincial and federal governments. Representatives of both levels of government lauded the awarding of a contract that reflects how the area will be used when the cleanup is completed by 2014.
"The government of Canada is working with its partner to ensure that the remediated land enhances the quality of life for members of surrounding communities," Peter MacKay, Nova Scotia’s lone federal cabinet minister, said in the news release.
"This contract also continues to build on the project’s economic benefits locally and builds a foundation for future economic growth."
Bill Estabrooks, the province’s minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal, said he was gratified to see this particular contract awarded.
"This is an opportunity to strengthen Sydney and connect communities once separated by their industrial past," he said in the release.
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By MARY ELLEN MacINTYRE Cape Breton Bureau.
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