market place west - saint johnmarket place west - 1028 glenn group ltd. the popular harbour passage...

Glenn Group Ltd. Market Place West - 1028

Market Place West

M a s t e r P l a n 2 0 1 0

F i n a l R e p o r t

Glenn Group Ltd.Market Place West - 1028

1. Introduction 2 1.1 Site ..................................................................... 2 1.2 Design Process and Concepts ............................ 3 2. Master Plan 4

2.1 Harbour Passage ................................................5 2.2 Tilley Square ......................................................7 2.3 UTC Playgound ..................................................9 2.4 Market Square ...................................................10 2.5 Commons ..........................................................11 2.6 Ballfield .............................................................13 2.7 Overall Master Plan ..........................................14

3. Phasing Plan 15

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Table of Contents


The project area is located in the west part of the City of Saint John, and bounded by Market Place Street and King Street West. It is a linear space, comprised of eight acres of park land nestled between the port and the neighborhood.

1.1 SiteThe old mill pond on the site, which included a fish hatchery and mills, was filled during port expansion in the 1930’s for the development of the existing sports field and post World War II housing. This expansion removed several businesses, residences, a bank and the post office. Blue Rock is the predominant geographical feature of the area which has recently been transformed into a housing development (Figure 1).

The project area is owned by the City of Saint John. At the north side of the site, a private lot separates the port from Market Square (Figure 2). The site contains Tilley Square, the Carleton Community Centre, the UCT playground, an outdoor rink, Market Square park, beach volleyball courts, a recycling operation, water pumphouse, a small electrical substation and a baseball field (Figure 3).

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Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

1. Introduction

Tilley Square

Carleton Community CentrePlayground

Mill Pond Rink

Market Square

Baseball FieldBeach Volleyball

Market Square

Historic Picture


1.2 Design process and concepts

The project started with a public meeting to solicit opinions on issues and ideas that would serve to better integrate the community into the park. Historian Harold Wright reviewed the historical data to bring about a detailed understanding of the roots of the residential neighbourhood, the transition of use over the years and to look for cultural inspiration. A review of existing land ownership and identification of potential issues of the land including easements, servicing, abandoned use impact and development potential followed. Discussions took place with City Engineering on infrastructure and traffic upgrading impacts including the contracted work to upgrade Market Place Street. A meeting with Leisure Services staff provided an understanding of the past issues of the site and determination geographically of what the area needs in terms of recreation. A diverse mix on activities for all ages is deserved. The final master plan address issues and city initiatives including: universal access, public safety, public art, “green transportation”, environmental sustainability, cultural celebrations, and incorporation of Harbour Passage into the park as opposed to simply being linked or attached. The final Master Plan includes: an updated Tilley Square, relocated outdoor rink, the Commons, a dog park, and the careful integration of landscaping to tie the park into the neighbourhood. The plan was presented at a second public meeting where it received great support from community members in attendance.

Wish list was derived with input from the community:

Move Blue Bins and internal roads;• More trees, create community gardens;• Create picnic area;• Recognize “Long Board”;• Provide leisure and quite places;• Spaces for horseshoes, fitness stations;• Warm up hut, adjust rink lighting, washrooms;• Walking loops, performance area;• Dog Park; and• Recreation level sports field for children.•

1. Introduction


4 – Market Square5 – Commons6 – Ballfield

Component Areas:

1 – Harbour Passage2 – Tilley Square Design 3 – UCT Playground

* Phase 1 Design Credit: Richard and Co Architecture

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2. Master Plan

Figure 4

The site has been divided into six component areas to aid it describing and illustrating each area more clearly. The intent of the overall design, however, is to form a continuous green belt of activity along the north side of Market Place West. The following sections will describe each component in more detail.


The popular Harbour Passage waterfront trail will eventually ring the entire Inner Harbour as shown in Figure 5. The proposed extension of Harbour Passage from Riverview Drive will lead the trail accross Market Place West to connect to Blue Rock. Harbour Passage will be integrated into Market Place West as opposed to simply being linked or attached as demonstrated in Figure 6.

Highlights of the design include:Trailhead at Tilley Square to draw people across the street at the crosswalk;• Cranberry coloured concrete Sidewalk; and• Use of Harbor Passage lights, site furnishings and interpretive signs to celebrate the sense of place.•

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Figure 5

2.1 Harbour Passage

Market Place West Trail Section to Blue Rock

Blue Rock

Blue Rock - Proposed Lookout

Glenn Group Ltd. Market Place West - 1028 6

Figure 6

2.1 Harbour Passage

Trail Head Interpretive Sign Lights Site Furnishing

Harbour Passage Elements

Harbour Passage


Tilley Square is an existing commemorative park at the corner of King Street and Market Place Street. Over the years the Square has been subject to a number of circulation changes and inheritance of monuments which seem randomly placed today. Richard and Company Architecture completed a new design for a barrier free access to the building. This design is shown as Phase I - Figure 7 and will be constructed in 2010. Figure 8 shows a design for Phase II which builds upon this work, but strives to consolidate pathways and organize the monuments in the tradition of many of Saint John’s squares

2.2 Tilley Square

Onsite photo - GazeboOnsite photo - Monuments

Onsite photo - Ramp to Carleton Community Centre


2.2 Tilley Square

Phase I Tilley Square

Existing Tilley Square in plan view

Phase II Tilley SquareFigure 7


2.3 UTC PlaygroundThe universal playground was constructed a few years ago and its design was inspired by the portside location. The perimeter fencing and proximity of the outdoor rink make the streetscape uninviting. Noise and light trespass from the rink are a problem for nearby residents. The following recommendations are included in the plan: move the existing fence toward the playground to make space for Harbour Passage to go through; plant shade trees around the playground; reorient the rink (rotate 90 degrees) and move away from the sidewalk, name the rink “Mill Pond Rink” after the old mill pond; plant everygreen trees outside of the rink to block the views from the sidewalk to the exterior of the rink boards and to mask lighting; provide a plaza area as social space for the residents in the neighborhood to meet each other; include the “long board” bulletin for community events (a throwback to the old “long board” used by longshoremen to find out if they had work at the port that day), games tables, benches, interpretive signs and fitness stations (Figure 8).

Figure 8

Existing rink adjacent to street Existing fence location Fitness Station Fitness Station


2.4 Market Square

Located beside the rink, Market Square is an open green space that provides quiet and leisure activities for the residents in the neighborhood. Harbour Passage will be integrated into the park area forming part of the traditional cross pathway pattern. At the centre where the sidewalk and Harbour Passage meet, the old “Bell” monument will be placed to provide a focal point for the park. The bell will be flanked with flowers. The old roadway will be terminated with a service road to facilitate the relocation of the rink and to make the space more attractive for pedestrians. Benches and lights will make the space more inviting.

Figure 9

Existing sidewalk condition

The “Bell” Monument

Harbour Passage


2.5 Commons

This flat area has the highest potential for significant transformation of the entire site into a special place - the Commons. The idea is to create a central lawn surrounded by trees to form an outdoor room. Harbour Passage is set back from the street and flanked by a row of trees on each side. Instead of a fence, the street side is framed by a low turfed berm to control loose soccer balls from rolling to the street. The existing area seems like leftover space, it’s almost empty except for a beach volleyball field, a pumphouse and the blue bins (recycling site). The proposed Commons area will include; the beach volleyball, a plaza, non-competitive turf field and a dog park. Free space provides an area for picnics, horseshoes and games area for families, The plaza area complete with fitness stations and the dog park are for people in the neighborhood to socialize and meet each other on a regular basis.

Figure 10

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Blue bins on site

Substation Pumphouse


Figure 11 Perspective view from the Dog Park to the Commons

Photo of existing view


2.6 Ballfield

The ballfield is well used by the local residents. More parking space is needed for the ballfields. Formalized parking lots will be created away from the corner of St. John Street which can still be accessed from the St. John Street. Street parking is also available along the Market Place Street. Park-ing on street will act as traffic calming as does tree planting along the street.

Figure 12

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2.7 Overall Master Plan

Figure 13

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3. Phasing Plan

Figure 14

It will likely take a number of years to fully implement the recommendations of this Master Plan. As actual fiscal budgets are difficult to predict, this plan sets priorities. Priorities are flexible and will change as items that influenece them get resolved. For instance, the Commons area is encumbered by a lease arrangement with the Port Authority and Harbour Passage items may be partially undertaken by the current street upgrading project.

Phase II - Tilley Square

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