City of Richmond
Middle Arm Integrates Art, Engineering and Liveability
5 February 2010Those who have recently driven along River Road and wondered what all the construction is for will have their questions answered on February 5, when several exciting new developments will be opened to the public.
“The Middle Arm greenway is an amazing project that integrates public art, dike upgrades and play stations for children,” explains Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “Visitors to the Richmond Olympic Oval will enjoy this interactive pathway from the Aberdeen Station on the Canada Line while Richmond residents will benefit from the improvements year-round.”
The City of Richmond has a multi-year dike-raising program to address population growth and potential sea level rise. Along the Middle Arm, this has meant raising the dike from 3.5 m to 4 m. The rise is accompanied by upgrades to drainage equipment, including the construction of the new Cambie Drainage Pump station, which has increased pumping capacity from approximately 2000 L per second to 4500 L per second.
“Flood protection for our communities and protecting public safety are priorities for this government,” said Minister of Public Safety Kash Heed. “That’s why since 2007, we have invested more than $2.3 million for flood mitigation in Richmond including nearly $800,000 to upgrade the Middle Arm Dike.”
What began as a pragmatic approach to improve infrastructure has become an opportunity to enliven the Middle Arm with art and sustainability. The new pump station electrical building integrates glass artwork and a green roof. Across the trail, a cantilevered plaza built over the new pump station offers spectacular views of the Fraser River, mountains and YVR airport. As part of the Vancouver Biennale, a sculpture by Chinese artist Jun Ren will be installed on the Plaza. The sculpture, entitled Water #10 is an amorphic stainless steel structure that evokes the flow of water and the interplay of light and air.
"The Middle Arm Greenway project will greatly enhance the community's enjoyment of our surrounding natural beauty,” said Parliamentary Secretary Alice Wong. “Walkers, runners, and bikers will all benefit from the extension of the Waterfront Urban Trail. This project is an example of what can be achieved when we work together to better our community.”
Follow the Middle Arm Greenway south to arrive at three innovative accessible play spaces. These include a sound garden with drums, parabolic dishes and other sound equipment. Other spaces feature a play tugboat, and a playscape with soft, tactile elements and rolling pathways.
“Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada is thrilled to celebrate the new world class accessible playground,” said Rem Langan, Chairman, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Canada. “At RMHC, we are proud to support programs aimed at improving the quality of life of special needs kids. This new accessible playground will bring many smiles to Canadian kids and their families. And by offering a universal play environment, we will enable kids of all abilities to play together.”
The Middle Arm Greenway offers a 1.55 km riverfront path for commuters to walk or cycle between Aberdeen Station and the Richmond Olympic Oval. The sinuous path along the dyke provides senior-friendly, barrier-free access with gentle-grades between road and dike level.
The new waterfront will continue to evolve. Phase II of the project will include springtime planting, river-side spectator seating and further flood protection improvements. The greenway improvements have been undertaken by the City of Richmond, with significant support from a range of partners: Western Economic Diversification Canada, Build Canada, the Province of British Columbia, 2010 Legacies Now, Emergency Management BC, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada, and the Rick Hansen Foundation through the Let’s Play Project.
