Facelift at last for aging market (and park!)
The construction crews given the task of the long-awaited revamp of the Parkdale Market broke ground this week, and with their reconstruction under way, and a new emphasis on local growers and more space for vendors, the 2010 season is already shaping to be the most anticipated the venerable open-air market has seen in decades.
Paolo Copelli is the new market manager for the city, and in the audio link below he takes us through the time line for the physical changes we can expect to see over the next few months, culminating in a much larger L-shaped market area, with more room for shoppers better facilities for vendors.
In an understandably jubilant mood over all the work underway is Annie Hillis from the Wellington West Business Improvement Area, who sent the following out earlier in the week. You want to read to the end of it, because she includes valuable information about how you can give your input to exciting new plans for Parkdale Park as well – a separate reconstruction that is coming far sooner than most people realize.
Parkdale Market is getting a much needed facelift. New canopies, lamp posts, street trees and a wider sidewalk are all part of the Parkdale Market redesign. And not only is the Parkdale Market getting refurbished, but the adjacent Parkdale Park is also about to undergo significant renovations. Taken together, these two initiatives represent a substantial capital investment in one of our area’s key landmarks and commercial hubs.
Among the improvements to the Parkdale Market, one of the most significant is the renovation of the fieldhouse to include storage area for foodsellers, including refrigeration. This is a very vendor-friendly development and one that will help ensure that the Parkdale Market attracts and retains the best vendors in the city. In addition, visitors to the Market next spring will notice upgraded canopies for the stalls. And though they might be less noticeable, the new electrical and water services that are being installed will be of great value to the vendors too.
The excavation work to dig out catch basins and storm sewers beneath the Market has already begun. The contractor, Ottawa Greenbelt, is hoping to complete most of the work before winter. Whatever is left over will be completed in springtime. All the more reason to hope that winter is slow in coming!
Please note that vendors in the temporary row of new stalls along Armstrong St. are still open. They will be selling pumpkins, barrels of apples and other seasonal foods until the severe weather hits. Christmas trees will be arriving for sale between November 24 and December 24, 2009.
In addition to the work on the Market, Parkdale Park is also getting a new look, courtesy of federal infrastructure funding. Please come to the public consultation to view and comment on the park redesign this Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at Connaught Public School Library, 7pm – 9pm. City of Ottawa park planners intend to put the design out to tender this Fall so now’s the time to comment on the new design.
I’m glad to see the Parkdale Market is finally getting a facelift.
I was, however, bothered to see that the old stall frames were bulldozed and totally destroyed.
Could they not have been re-used somewhere else?
I would hope that the metal was at least re-cycled.