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Consultation has concluded
Over the past decade, residents of Fredericton have expressed a desire for Officers Square to be a peopled urban space with capacity to host special events that helps foster a strong sense of community and that brings business into the downtown. The City has been working hard to revitalize this cherished gathering space and national historic site and we’re excited to be entering the final phases of this project and to share them with you!
The revitalized Officers' Square will include:
a new perimeter wall and cast ornamental fence to replace the former one that had failed. The new wall respects conservation principles but is stronger than the previous one. The wall is also built to preserve the roots of the large trees that grow near it.
a rain-protected stage to accommodate community theatre troupes to large festivals, and everyone else in between. The stage facility will also store electrical equipment for users, a “plug and play” capability that will dramatically lower costs for community groups wanting to use the facility.
a new stage and electrical infrastructure that will provide electrical services to run the hugely popular Garrison Night Market and other community events in the space.
a new chilled ice-skating track and walkway constructed around the perimeter of the Great Lawn will be enjoyed during all four seasons. The track and walkway was shifted to the north to protect the newly-discovered paleo shoreline.
a new seating area in front of the Fredericton Museum: The Front Porch Plaza will be a spot to gather with friends, meet a date for lunch and just enjoy being in Officers’ Square.
a playground and water feature at the northeast corner of the Square.
You can view renderings of how Officers’ Square will look once these much-needed updates and exciting additions are made here. As for when the work will happen, the work will roll out as follows:
2022:
New ornamental fence installed and perimeter wall completed
New trees, flowerbeds planted
Great Lawn development completed
Construction of ice-skating track, lighting, operational building and stage begun
2023:
Ice-skating track and stage completed
Front Porch Plaza completed
Playground and water feature completed
Wolastoqey/City Joint Development Area (JDA)
Resulting from the Officers’ Square Archaeological Impact Assessment, a 18th Century paleoshoreline was discovered in the southwest corner of the Square. The City immediately set this area aside to be jointly designed and developed with the Wolastoqey Nation, and this area is now called the Wolastoqey/City Joint Development Area (JDA). As the City proceeds with the redevelopment of the Square, the JDA will be fenced off and not included in the redevelopment plans for Officers’ Square. The only exception will be the replacement of the existing retaining wall along the west side of the Square and the replacement of the existing access from Queen Street for people with mobility issues. Going forward, the City will collaborate with the Sitansisk and the other Wolastoqey Communities to complete a design and then develop the JDA. This project is part of the City’s ongoing commitment to partner with the Wolastoqey to ensure that, together, we create a First Nation presence in the downtown that promotes the Wolastoqey History, Language, Traditions and Culture.
Have questions? Check out the FAQ here or leave your own question below and City staff will answer them as soon as possible!
Over the past decade, residents of Fredericton have expressed a desire for Officers Square to be a peopled urban space with capacity to host special events that helps foster a strong sense of community and that brings business into the downtown. The City has been working hard to revitalize this cherished gathering space and national historic site and we’re excited to be entering the final phases of this project and to share them with you!
The revitalized Officers' Square will include:
a new perimeter wall and cast ornamental fence to replace the former one that had failed. The new wall respects conservation principles but is stronger than the previous one. The wall is also built to preserve the roots of the large trees that grow near it.
a rain-protected stage to accommodate community theatre troupes to large festivals, and everyone else in between. The stage facility will also store electrical equipment for users, a “plug and play” capability that will dramatically lower costs for community groups wanting to use the facility.
a new stage and electrical infrastructure that will provide electrical services to run the hugely popular Garrison Night Market and other community events in the space.
a new chilled ice-skating track and walkway constructed around the perimeter of the Great Lawn will be enjoyed during all four seasons. The track and walkway was shifted to the north to protect the newly-discovered paleo shoreline.
a new seating area in front of the Fredericton Museum: The Front Porch Plaza will be a spot to gather with friends, meet a date for lunch and just enjoy being in Officers’ Square.
a playground and water feature at the northeast corner of the Square.
You can view renderings of how Officers’ Square will look once these much-needed updates and exciting additions are made here. As for when the work will happen, the work will roll out as follows:
2022:
New ornamental fence installed and perimeter wall completed
New trees, flowerbeds planted
Great Lawn development completed
Construction of ice-skating track, lighting, operational building and stage begun
2023:
Ice-skating track and stage completed
Front Porch Plaza completed
Playground and water feature completed
Wolastoqey/City Joint Development Area (JDA)
Resulting from the Officers’ Square Archaeological Impact Assessment, a 18th Century paleoshoreline was discovered in the southwest corner of the Square. The City immediately set this area aside to be jointly designed and developed with the Wolastoqey Nation, and this area is now called the Wolastoqey/City Joint Development Area (JDA). As the City proceeds with the redevelopment of the Square, the JDA will be fenced off and not included in the redevelopment plans for Officers’ Square. The only exception will be the replacement of the existing retaining wall along the west side of the Square and the replacement of the existing access from Queen Street for people with mobility issues. Going forward, the City will collaborate with the Sitansisk and the other Wolastoqey Communities to complete a design and then develop the JDA. This project is part of the City’s ongoing commitment to partner with the Wolastoqey to ensure that, together, we create a First Nation presence in the downtown that promotes the Wolastoqey History, Language, Traditions and Culture.
Have questions? Check out the FAQ here or leave your own question below and City staff will answer them as soon as possible!
Share What happens when the river floods the Square?
Will there be a webcam for the Square?
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Will there be a webcam for the Square?
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Will there be a webcam for the Square?
Thank you on LinkedinEmail What happens when the river floods the Square?
Will there be a webcam for the Square?
Thank you link
What happens when the river floods the Square?
Will there be a webcam for the Square?
Thank you
Dave Forsyth
asked
over 1 year ago
Hi Dave,
As part of the rehabilitation of Officers’ Square, a flood resilience approach was incorporated into the design, raising the ground level of the Great Lawn and skating track to minimize the impact from river flooding.
The City is planning to stream live webcam footage of Officers’ Square in 2024.
Thanks for your question!
Share Hi, what climate change risk assessment was done for the revitalization? Were any climate adaptation strategies included? Cheers, Kaitlyn on FacebookShare Hi, what climate change risk assessment was done for the revitalization? Were any climate adaptation strategies included? Cheers, Kaitlyn on TwitterShare Hi, what climate change risk assessment was done for the revitalization? Were any climate adaptation strategies included? Cheers, Kaitlyn on LinkedinEmail Hi, what climate change risk assessment was done for the revitalization? Were any climate adaptation strategies included? Cheers, Kaitlyn link
Hi, what climate change risk assessment was done for the revitalization? Were any climate adaptation strategies included? Cheers, Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn Gillis
asked
over 2 years ago
Hi Kaitlyn,
Thanks for your email! Overall, the City has developed several guiding documents around climate change mitigation and adaptation. While a specific climate change risk assessment was not completed as part of the Officers’ Square revitalization project, the project design struck a balance between revitalizing a historic space, providing a central gathering place in a growing and urbanizing downtown, and recognizing the potential impacts of flooding and other climate risks looking ahead.
The link below connects you with our environmental leadership page which connects to our Energy and Emissions Plans and Climate Change Adaptation Plan.
Share Are you covering up the old foundation next to the museum? It certainly looks that way, based on the renderings. on FacebookShare Are you covering up the old foundation next to the museum? It certainly looks that way, based on the renderings. on TwitterShare Are you covering up the old foundation next to the museum? It certainly looks that way, based on the renderings. on LinkedinEmail Are you covering up the old foundation next to the museum? It certainly looks that way, based on the renderings. link
Are you covering up the old foundation next to the museum? It certainly looks that way, based on the renderings.
Andrew DeMerchant
asked
over 2 years ago
Hi there! The South West corner of Officers Square is part of a collaborative Joint Development Area between the City and the Wolastoqey Nation which includes St Marys First Nation so we do not have a design for the area yet (see shading on the plan). If the area is filled in, the historical foundation will be identified and covered as part of the preservation of archaeological resources within Officers’ Square and related monitoring.
Share looks beautiful!! can't wait. on FacebookShare looks beautiful!! can't wait. on TwitterShare looks beautiful!! can't wait. on LinkedinEmail looks beautiful!! can't wait. link
looks beautiful!! can't wait.
Greater Fredericton Social Innovation
asked
over 2 years ago
Thank you! We're pretty excited for it to be done and for everyone to be able to get together and enjoy it.
