Richmond Oval Planning Passes Key Milestones
14 March 2005
Financial viability, environmental and social sustainability, as well as community and legacy building will be the master guiding principles in developing a site plan for the Richmond Oval and its surrounding neighbourhood.
Richmond City Council has affirmed a number of key decisions in preparation for development of a site master plan for the 29-acre City-owned property on River Road, which will be home to the Richmond Oval and a new City Centre neighbourhood.
Following initial public consultation in February, the City has developed four master guiding principles and 10 development principles. Those principles will now be used to develop a draft site master plan. Additional public consultation is planned for early April to receive further input before a final site master plan is developed and brought forward to Council for approval.
In addition to adopting the guiding principles for the master plan, Council has also directed staff to pursue the realignment of River Road. Key points in the site transportation plan are:
River Road will not be blocked off and east-west access will be maintained.
East of No. 2 Road, River Road will loop southward, running approximately parallel to the existing railway corridor to Hollybridge Way. Traffic will then be able to rejoin the existing River Road at Hollybridge.
The realignment will add 400 metres in travel distance or about 1-2 minutes in travel time.
Map - Olympic Oval (Click Icon to expand image)
The realignment of River Road is consistent with the City Centre Transportation Plan, which includes construction of a new North Loop Road, which will ultimately run from Capstan Way to connect with the realigned portion of River Road at Hollybridge Way, creating a new crosstown bypass route. Other transportation improvements planned for the area include extending Lansdowne Road westward to Hollybridge Way and other transit and local road improvements.
The realignment of River Road allows for the reclamation of the waterfront for the creation of long-term, public recreational opportunities and amenities, including a major new City Centre park and waterfront plaza at the Oval site; creates better waterfront redevelopment opportunities for other lands along River Road; and enables the development potential of the Oval site to be maximized.
In addition to the site master plan, City staff are currently developing a programming plan for the Oval, which will determine uses of the facility after completion of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Staff have been conducting extensive consultation with community groups, local, provincial and national sporting groups and other potential users. The draft site master plan and programming plans will both be brought forward to open houses for public input and comment in early April. Dates for those open houses will be announced shortly.
Council has also decided not to pursue the option of locating a RV Park at McDonald Beach Park. City staff have been exploring possible locations for a recreational vehicle campground, following the closure of the Richmond RV Park, which formerly occupied a portion of the Oval property. McDonald Beach had been considered as possible location, but has been ruled out due to due a variety of environmental, economic and technical concerns. Staff will now explore other possible locations for a RV Park including privately held lands.
The Richmond Oval is scheduled to open in April, 2008. In order to achieve this, a project schedule final design approval is scheduled for June with site preparation beginning in September. Building construction is scheduled to begin in May, 2006.
The Richmond Oval will be home of the long track speed skating venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Post-Games, the Oval will become BC’s premier multi-purpose sports, recreation and community facility. The project also includes creation of a major new City Centre park and plaza surrounding the Oval and a new City Centre neighborhood along the banks of the Fraser River. For more information on the Richmond Oval see Olympic Oval Overview.
