Beleaguered Beach Park Faces Big Week

Deadline for Project Proposals This Friday

It's crunch time for potential contractors interested in bidding on the latest iteration of the Lions Bay Beach Park (LBBP) refurbishment. The project was initially funded back in 2021 with grant money which was jointly awarded by the federal and provincial governments. The budget for the project is listed at $800,000.

This brings to three the number of designs that will have been considered for this project. The current RFP describes a 'design and build' project, meaning all earlier designs have been scrapped. It's not clear if any elements of the earlier designs will be incorporated in the new project. It has also not been made public if the money spent on earlier designs is included in the budget.

The most recent Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued late in the day on July 3. A mandatory site meeting was held on July 12, and the deadline for project proposals is this Friday, July 26. This means potential contractors have only a two-week turn-around to produce their proposals.

Jurgen Franke, a resident of Lions Bay, has been hired to manage the project.

Tender documents are accessible to the public via the BC Bid website HERE.

The ask is a big one, requiring the "design, supply, and installation of structures and equipment," and the "removal and disposal of old structures, play equipment, vegetation, and surfacing," on a very tight timeline.

The RFP lists items the contractor will be responsible for, including the design and building of:

• a new washroom facility with separate men's and women's washrooms, a mechanical room with storage space and depending on cost, an option to include an integrated concession stand.

• the existing playground site needs to be cleared and made ready for installation of new equipment already purchased by the municipality that will be installed by the supplier.

• the removal and replacement of kayak/water craft racks, with the new rack designed to have a capacity of 75 vessels.

• the existing paths are to be modified into a continuous pathway from park entrance to beachfront, with existing stairways to be removed or replaced as required.

• Landscape changes will also be considered, including the removal of any trees that are in the way of the new design or form a safety hazard due to age or condition.

The idea of an optional concession stand arose from early community feedback, and not from the Beach Park committee, according to Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Ross Blackwell.

"At this point, the idea for a concession is a small space attached to the washroom structure that would be a secure location for the sale (or) provision of a limited food and beverage service, versus something larger and specifically designed as a fully functional concession facility," Blackwell said.

Specifications for the project include such elements as vandal- and graffiti-proof fixtures, contouring of the grassy bank leading to the water, tree removal and landscaping replacements as needed, plus repairs to the existing retaining wall and Lori Beck Memorial pavilion. Also included is a safety rail, to be installed along the top of the wall separating the grassy park from the sandy beach area.

The jetty repair/refurbishment that had been deemed essential in an earlier part of the planning process has been removed from the scope of this project.

After the project proposals are evaluated by staff, the Village has promised some form of public engagement in early September. The contractor will then be selected and the job awarded later in September, with work expected to start in early October, when park usage drops off.

The Watershed will continue to follow this project as it gets underway.

Have thoughts to share? Leave your comments below, or email us at editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca

Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent journalism by subscribing to The Watershed HERE.