Jump to content

Grand Concourse (St. John's)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by WikiCleanerBot (talk | contribs) at 21:31, 12 November 2020 (v2.04b - Bot T20 CW#61 - WP:WCW project (Reference before punctuation)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Lake-to-Lookout Walk atop Signal Hill, St. John's

The Grand Concourse is an integrated walkway and green space network connecting 10 municipalities in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It has over 200 kilometers (120 mi) of walkways linking every major park, river, pond, and green space in the Northeast Avalon region. The Grand Concourse is managed by the Grand Concourse Authority, a non-profit organization with a Board of Directors made up of representatives from a variety of community-based and government groups.

Origins

The Grand Concourse was first developed through the generosity of the Johnson Family Foundation with Paul Johnson as its president and founder. A series of studies commissioned between 1989 and 1992 by the Foundation established the feasibility of connecting walks and parks via the publicly owned shorelines of aquatic networks throughout the St. John's Urban Region.[1] Trails had already been built by St. John's, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Parks Canada, and the Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation, providing a start for the Grand Concourse. Four demonstration Walkways were built by the Johnson Family Foundation:

  • Lake-to-Lookout
  • Cuckold Cove (from Signal Hill to Quidi Vidi Lake)
  • Rennie's River to Memorial University
  • Riverdale to Memorial University

An overall plan was developed to extend the Walkway Network from Signal Hill in the east, to Octagon Pond in the west. This plan was completed in 2004 but efforts continue by involved members to maintain and further develop the Grand Concourse.

The Grand Concourse Authority

In 1994, the Grand Concourse Authority (GCA) was established under a Provincial Charter with a mandate to design and construct the Grand Concourse.[2] It is a charitable, non-profit organization, currently comprising 15 member groups who contribute funds for operations. Members have included Crown Corporations, Community Organizations, and all levels of Government.

Together the Members of the GCA have completed over 350 community-development projects since 1994. As of 2006, the cost to construct the Walkway Network was well over $27 million.[3]

Today, the GCA runs an extensive maintenance program, primarily in the City of St. John's, while continuing walkway expansion throughout the Northeast Avalon Region of Newfoundland. The Authority also participates in various environmental initiatives, open space and park development projects, as well as promotion and public education[4]

List of Members

The following municipalities, agencies, crown corporations, and organizations make up the Board of the Grand Concourse Authority:

List of Grand Concourse Walks

The following walkways and trails are considered part of the Grand Concourse network:[5]

Trail/Walkway Area
Signal Hill - North Head Trail Signal Hill National Historic Site
Ladies Lookout Trail Signal Hill National Historic Site
Cuckolds Cove Trail St. John's
Signal Hill Road St. John's
Johnson GEO-Vista Park St. John's
Battery-Signal Hill Walk St. John's
Lake to Lookout Walk St. John's
Quidi Vidi Lake Trail St. John's
Harbourside Walk East St. John's
Harbourside Walk North St. John's
Harbourside Walk South St. John's
Old St. John's Business Streets Walk St. John's
Military-Rennies-Circular-King's Bridge Walk St. John's
Heritage Walk Loop St. John's
Virginia River Trail St. John's
Clovelly Trail St. John's
Kenny's Pond to Virginia River St. John's
Kenny's Pond St. John's
Kents Pond Pippy Park
Kents Pond to Long Pond Walk Pippy Park
Confederation Hill Pippy Park
Trailer Park to Marine Institute Pippy Park
Long Pond Walk North Pippy Park
Long Pond Walk South Memorial University
Rennies River North Pippy Park
Rennies River South St. John's
Elizabeth Avenue-Prince Philip East Walk St. John's
Elizabeth Avenue-Prince Philip West Walk St. John's
Pinebud Park St. John's
MUN Visitors Walk Memorial University
Long Pond to Oxen Pond Pippy Park
Oxen Pond to Wishingwell Pippy Park
Mundy Pond St. John's
Waterford River Walk (T'Railway) St. John's
Caribou Hill Park St. John's
South Brook St. John's
Southlands St. John's
Bidgood Park St. John's
Rotary Sunshine Park St. John's
Harbourside Park to Kent's Pond Link St. John's
Elizabeth to Courthouse Link St. John's
Elizabeth to Queens Road Link St. John's
Mundy Pond to Waterford Link St. John's
Mundy Pond to Bowring Park Link St. John's
Mundy Pond-Cowan-Bowring Link St. John's
Riverdale to Mundy Pond Link St. John's
Arboretum Walk (T'Railway) Mount Pearl
Branscombes Pond Mount Pearl
Admiralty Walk Mount Pearl
Sunrise Trail Mount Pearl
Waterford Valley Linear Trail Mount Pearl
Paradise T'Railway Paradise
Elizabeth Park Paradise
Neils Pond Paradise
Octagon Pond Paradise
Peter Barry Duff Memorial Park Paradise
Adam's Pond Paradise
Conception Bay South T'Railway Conception Bay South
Manuels River Trail Conception Bay South
Gateway Trail Conception Bay South
Voisey's Brook Park Portugal Cove - St. Philip's
Rainbow Gully Park Portugal Cove - St. Philip's
Upper Three Corner Pond Park Torbay
Western Island Pond Torbay
Island Pond Brook Torbay
Woodbridge Park / Forest River Torbay

Awards and Accolades

  • Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, 2001 - Award for Excellence in Innovation.
  • Newfoundland T'Railway Council, 2001 - Trailblazer of the Year Award.
  • St. John's Clean and Beautiful, Community Organization Award 2003 - Harbourside Park.
  • Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, Manning Heritage Award 2003 (Shared) - Bishop Spencer School Memorial.
  • Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, National Honour Award 2003.
  • CSLA Regional Honour Award 2004 - Bowring Park Duck Pond Rehabilitation Project.
  • CSLA Regional Citation Award 2005 - Walkway Maintenance Manual.
  • American Society of Landscape Architects 2005 - National Honor Award.
  • Canadian Institute of Planners, 2011 - Vision in Planning Award.

References

  1. ^ Peddle, Heddy M. and Johnson, P.J. (eds.) 1999. "Walker's Handbook. The Grand Concourse: Our Walker's Paradise" Johnson Family Foundation. St. John's, NL.
  2. ^ D.W.Knight Associates. "The Grand Concourse Authority Benefits Study." Final Report submitted to the Grand Concourse Authority. 30 May 2007.
  3. ^ D.W.Knight Associates. "The Grand Concourse Authority Benefits Study." Final Report submitted to the Grand Concourse Authority. 30 May 2007.
  4. ^ "The Grand Concourse Authority." www.grandconcourse.ca
  5. ^ "Grand Concourse Mapping." www.grandconcourse.ca/mapping
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grand_Concourse_(St._John%27s)&oldid=988387265"