According to a district memo to the council, a new seasonal transit service to Oceanfront Park will be provided from June 10 to September 2, 2024. The new Oceanfront Squamish Park is expected to open to the community on May 25.
The transit service will be a deviation of the existing Route 5 South Parks route. It will occur every second trip of the Route 5 bus, resulting in 13 trips per weekday and 12 on weekends and holidays to the Park. A year-round route will be created when the Oceanfront develops to capacity.
The district memo to the council doesn’t specify the number of parking stalls available at the park but notes that there will be ample parking in the foreseeable future because the ‘Oceanfront Peninsula is a large undeveloped gravel surface.’
Parking will initially be on a proposed hotel site directly adjacent to the Park and Presentation Centre and Brewery. When the Oceanfront Peninsula builds out, roughly 40 public parking stalls will be on ‘Road D’, the east-west road that runs directly north of the Park’s open space area. Additional street parking and visitor parking opportunities will also be provided as the Oceanfront Peninsula develops. “The Oceanfront Peninsula is raised, providing an opportunity for a level of concealed underground parking,” the memo notes.
There are bike racks in the Park, and the District plans to add more. A 4-metre-wide paved multi-use loop trail will also circle the perimeter of the Oceanfront Peninsula. When the Park opens, a separate bike lane will be on the road.
Upon the Park’s handover in May 2024, the District will assume operations and maintenance. Its responsibilities will encompass public safety, garbage collection, snow clearing, driftwood removal, and bylaw enforcement, ensuring a safe and clean environment for all park users. Here are some other details noted in the district memo.
Events—The Park is anticipated to be a venue for hosting events. Event bookings will need to be moderated at the start to give the grass and plantings time to establish. The Park is the home of the Squamish Arts Festival—Sp’akw’us Shakedown.
Watersports Access – Staff is working with Squamish Windsports representatives to develop signage that will alert general Park users to the kiteboarding and windsailing recreational uses at the Watersports Beach. Signage will direct where kiteboarders can lay down their equipment, and alert users to risks and hazards.
Snow clearing – Snow clearing at the Park will be added to the list of 2nd and 3rd priority routes per our Snow and Ice Control Policy (not 1st priority).
Custom wood playground – The playground at the Park will be a unique, custom wood playground. Wood has an expected shorter lifespan and higher maintenance costs than metal or plastic-manufactured play equipment. Staff suggest that this will be a unique destination playground and that the District could limit all-wood playgrounds in other locations across the District to balance overall maintenance and playground costs.
Alcohol in Park—The plaza space and Park are located adjacent to the Oceanfront’s Presentation Centre and Brewery. Alcohol is not allowed in public parks, though it could be permitted on the steps and seating near the Brewery or, more broadly, in the Park later.
Off-leash dogs – Off-leash dogs may be explored at the Park once the new plantings are established, which may take a couple of years. Until the plants are established, there is no good location for off-leash dogs at the Park.
Public art – The public art pieces are interactive and climbable, and the District will install signage that will alert the public to potential risks.
Beach cleaning and driftwood removal – The Park will require driftwood removal from time to time, to ensure the beaches are usable spaces. The Park was designed to accommodate District maintenance vehicles and equipment for driftwood removal.
Signage – The District is developing regulatory and information signage for the Park. The signage will likely be installed after Park opening day. In the interim, Staff are developing temporary regulatory signage with Park regulations and emergency contact information.
Site furnishings – There are wood benches in the park. Staff worked with the design consultant and a local wood manufacturer to mitigate anticipated maintenance and extend anticipated bench life as best as possible. This is primarily accomplished with the size of each timber.
Beach accessibility—Due to the steep change in grade to achieve flood level, the concrete path is not accessible. Once the Park is turned over to the District, the District may explore creating an accessible path with a mat on the sand to the Main Beach.
Goose management – Geese established themselves at the Park during the construction phase. There is not a straightforward solution to reduce their impact on the Park
The District will also install ‘No overnight parking/ camping is prohibited’ signage, which the Bylaw can enforce.
Important Dates
May 2024 – District of Squamish assumes operations and maintenance
May 25, 2024 – Park Opening to the public.
Fall 2024 – Washrooms complete and open.
Fall 2024 – Presentation Centre and brewery complete and open.
May 2025 – District of Squamish assumes maintenance of grass and plantings.
Fall 2026 – Anticipated completion of Res 1, the first residential use at the Oceanfront
