A completely revamped Hollinger Park should be ready for use next year. There is also a very good chance the outdoor skating facility will return there this winter.
At a special meeting held Friday at noon, council voted to have the bulk of the work on the project completed this fall.
The park project consists of two components. The first part is the soil remediation, which was scheduled to be completed this fall. The second part are the upgrades and beautification of the park, which were not scheduled for this year.
A report from the city’s Community and Development Services Department recommended getting the rest of the work done this year.
“Rather than just completing this fundamental (soil remediation) work and having to close the park once again to implement these new design features in coming years, staff are suggesting that we try to incorporate all the new design elements along with the remediation work in 2019,” the report read. “This will help to minimize the potential for future disruptions to park users moving forward.”
The tender for the upgrades and beautification was awarded to Interpaving Ltd. For $1,406,525. The city received one other bid on the project, for $2,573,835. Interpaving will start work on the project immediately and should be finished within three months.
Council discussed where the funding would come from, given that the second component of the project was not budgeted for 2019. It was determined that the funds would come from recent municipal land sales, savings from other projects and reserve funds.
Mayor George Pirie said he would not have supported finishing the project this fall if funding it meant the city going over budget.
“This really kind of a test for this council,” he said after the meeting. “Because it is a legacy issue. No one in the city drives past this, what used to be a very beautiful spot, and is pleased with what they see right now. So, to be able to move forward and get this job done in a fiscally responsible (manner) using funds that we had developed in the fiscal year, it means more than likely we will not have to tap into reserves.
“Let’s get this job done now, in a fiscally responsible manner that won’t affect the taxpayers.”
He said the city picked up $1.2 million from the Toyota property it recently sold, plus some other funds.
“I don’t think we’ll even need to touch the reserves for this project,” he said.
The mayor said the long-term goal is to beautify the city overall, and parks play a big role.
“One of the objectives of this council is to make Timmins show better,” Pirie said. “This is the beginning of an integrated parks system that will take us from the river, the concepts thinking about this, right through to the Hollinger, Gillies Lake… so in the heart of the city, there are a series of parks that transforms how the city currently looks.”
One of the new features of Hollinger Park will be a central plaza.
“It will be a central meeting place, where people can gather for announcements or events,” said Mark Jensen, director of community and development services. “It will include a mining feature, like a headframe with a sundial… it will make the park special.
“If you look at the plan, there is still lots of open space.”
When asked by Coun. Rock Whissell, Jensen said with work done this fall, outdoor skating at Hollinger Park should resume this winter.
Coun. Joe Campbell asked if the city should be spending extra money on this project this year or keeping to the original schedule.
“As a city right now, we are in a situation where there are uncertainties,” he said. “Should we be going ahead with a project that’s nice to have?”
The city’s chief administrative officer said yes.
“We have a blight in the middle of the city that we have to address,” said CAO Dave Landers. “We do have some funds available, including funds from recent land sales, I’m comfortable that we can implement this.
“Components of this project been sitting for five years. We need to wrap this up.”
The city was directed to deal with the park by the medical officer of health, in 2016, based on a report from the Ministry of Environment indicated the soil was contaminated just below the service.
