Loudon Activity Centre & Boathouse

LOUDON PARK REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Coming to tender this Spring!

Project Background and Overview

For over 25 years, the City of Nanaimo has been planning to redevelop Loudon Park and Nanaimo Rowing Club and the Nanaimo Canoe & Kayak Club. Both clubs offer a variety of rowing and paddling programming for all ages, including lessons, programs and hosting competitions. NCKC has called Long Lake their home since forming in 1988 and the Rowing Club since 1992. Both clubs require improved boat storage and facilities for their club members. The clubs joined together to form the Long Lake Flatwater Training Society for the purposes of fundraising for certain aspects of this project.

In 2019, Council gave approval for staff to work with the Rotary Club of Nanaimo North and the Long Lake Flatwater Training Society on the designs for this project.

The organizations have committed to each contributing $100,000 at minimum to the project. The groups are actively fundraising for specific items that are need. Vessel storage and a new dock are examples of what the fundraising is for.

Multiple engagements have been held with the nearby community, user groups, and City Council during the last 25 years to solicit feedback upgrade its site facilities to make Loudon Park a more desirable park for the surrounding community to use and enjoy. The Loudon Park Improvement Plan has been the guiding document during the development of this project over the years.

Loudon Park is a busy waterfront park on Long Lake enjoyed by many and is home to the on this project and have been incorporated into the final design.

Floor Plan of Building

 

Design Overview

Natural wood materials were used for the structure of the building and are expressed throughout the interior and exterior of the building. The timber design is inspired by the craft of traditional wooden boat building. The  curved  glulam beams that form the  wave-like roof are  large-scale versions of the carefully radiused bents used by craftsmen to build  traditional racing skulls,  tenders, skiffs and  canoes. The exterior is clad in durable corrugated cladding with exposed timber and expansive windows to connect the building to its surrounding environment.

Project Scope

Upgrades to the site will include a new boathouse building and training facility for the Long Lake Flat Water Training Society as well as site improvements for the public attending the park. 

The new boathouse building is single story, and is broken into 4 main sections, a boat storage area, a training facility, a public community multipurpose room, and accessible public washrooms and changing areas for park visitors.

Additional concrete and gravel pathways will be added for accessibility improvements to all areas of the park.

The playground will be replaced with inclusive play features and improved fall protection to ensure access for all.

Site utility upgrades are also incorporated into this project ,as well as landscaping and replanting areas of the park.

Project Timelines

The project is anticipated to begin construction in fall of 2023 with an estimated construction timeline of up to 18 months. 

Public access will be maintained as much as possible and closures will be communicated to the public by way of information boards on site as well as through social media.

The building permit application has been made with permit anticipated in Q2/Q3 of 2023. No development permit is required for this project.

Project Team

Park Background

Loudon Park is a busy waterfront park on Long Lake enjoyed by many and is home to the Nanaimo Rowing Club and the Nanaimo Canoe & Kayak Club. Both clubs offer a variety of rowing and paddling programming for all ages, including lessons, programs and hosting competitions. NCKC has called Long Lake their home since forming in 1988 and the Rowing Club since 1992. Both clubs require improved boat storage and facilities for their club members.

The Park's amenities are also in need of updating, and potential upgrades would also include new and accessible public washrooms, upgraded playground equipment, and improved and accessible waterfront access. Plans for the park also include environmental enhancement, preserving natural areas as much as possible, rehabilitation of riparian vegetation and reforestation, as well as areas to manage storm water. At the same time, utility upgrades will be tied in with the project work and will include - servicing the new building with utilities, as well as replace and relocate approximately 81m of ageing sanitary sewer main that runs through the park.

The facility will be fully accessible, including public washrooms and have upgraded storage for the various clubs' watercraft and equipment. 

The concept for the structure is a signature re-curved timber-framed roof form from the shape of the waterline on the sides of boats as they move through the water. 

Both the Flatwater Training Society and the Rotary Club are actively fundraising to continue to contribute up to $100,000 each to the realization of the project.