Officers' Square Revitalization

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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!

Ask A Question about the Revitalization of Officers' Square

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  • Share What happens when the river floods the Square? Will there be a webcam for the Square? Thank you on Facebook Share What happens when the river floods the Square? Will there be a webcam for the Square? Thank you on Twitter Share What happens when the river floods the Square? Will there be a webcam for the Square? Thank you on Linkedin Email 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 about 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 Facebook Share Hi, what climate change risk assessment was done for the revitalization? Were any climate adaptation strategies included? Cheers, Kaitlyn on Twitter Share Hi, what climate change risk assessment was done for the revitalization? Were any climate adaptation strategies included? Cheers, Kaitlyn on Linkedin Email 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 almost 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.

    https://www.fredericton.ca/en/community/environmental-leadership

     

  • Share Are you covering up the old foundation next to the museum? It certainly looks that way, based on the renderings. on Facebook Share Are you covering up the old foundation next to the museum? It certainly looks that way, based on the renderings. on Twitter Share Are you covering up the old foundation next to the museum? It certainly looks that way, based on the renderings. on Linkedin Email 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 almost 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 Facebook Share looks beautiful!! can't wait. on Twitter Share looks beautiful!! can't wait. on Linkedin Email looks beautiful!! can't wait. link

    looks beautiful!! can't wait.

    Greater Fredericton Social Innovation asked almost 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.

Page published: 10 May 2022, 06:09 AM