Master Fix Ion Orchard

[Beltran Mathews]

AtMasker Orchards, you can drive right to the tree with your family and all of your picnic gear for an idyllic day in the country. Wander through our 200 acre orchard, breathing the crisp fall air while enjoying quality time with family and friends. The views of the entire valley are breath taking, especially amidst the warm glow of the areas notoriously spectacular fall foliage. Masker is more than a pick-it yourself apple orchard; it is a family tradition, and an experience that your family will remember for a lifetime. Return to nature this autumn. Come to Masker Orchards. The apple season runs through early November.

Thank you to everyone who participated in engagement opportunities for the Rocky Point and Old Orchard Parks Master Plans. The third and final phase of engagement concluded May 20, 2024. City staff will present a report with Phase 3 public engagement results at the Regular Council Meeting on July 9, 2024. See the agenda package (item 7.5) to view the report and the attached public engagement summary.

During Phase 1 engagement in July and August 2022, we asked participants how they use Rocky Point and Old Orchard parks today, and what they want the parks to be like in the future. Find out what we heard from the community. We used that feedback to develop draft design concepts and proposed actions.

During Phase 3 engagement in April and May 2024, we asked for feedback on a recommended design concept for each park. City staff will present a report with Phase 3 public engagement results at the Regular Council Meeting on July 9, 2024. See the agenda package (item 7.5) to view the report and the attached public engagement summary. Council will consider the complete draft master plans for each park, including the final recommended design concepts, in July/September 2024.

The recommended design concept presents two stages of planning: a short-term stage (within the 10 years covered by the master plan) with Rocky Point Pool remaining in place and a long-term stage (potentially beyond the 10 years covered by the master plan) that envisions the pool space being used in other ways that will benefit the community. The decision to include a second, longer-term option was informed by a number of factors, including mixed public feedback on the pool during Phase 2 engagement (page 26 in the engagement summary report), the knowledge that the pool is nearing the end of its useable life, discussions regarding whether the pool needs to be within Rocky Point Park or can be considered for a future move to a different location, as well as professional best practices for park planning and design. The short-term plan, as shown in the recommended concept, includes the pool remaining in Rocky Point Park.

The City will not be making decisions about the future of the pool until we have completed the Recreation Facilities Feasibility Study and then conducted a more detailed needs assessment, which will involve community input.

The Rocky Point Park Master Plan will recommend that park improvements be implemented in phases. This will enable the park to remain accessible in some way throughout separate construction projects. It will also help the city to strategize budgets and approval processes for a series of separate projects. The Master Plan will recommend what each phase would entail based on which improvements are most urgent as well as considerations of projects which may require lengthy approval processes such as changes to the shoreline.

Given that major elements on this edge require extended planning, collaboration with other partners, and lease discussions, all of which are beyond the scope of this project, the following recommendation is proposed:

New playground (item number 3 on the design concept)

The existing playground is near the end of its useable life and needs to be replaced. Previous engagement has indicated that people feel the playground should stay roughly the same size as it is today. The concept proposes that the play area make use of the slope through hill slides and climbing slopes. A natural look and theme for the play area is indicated, to blend in well with the park context.

New washroom/changeroom and picnic shelter (item number 4 on the design concept)

A small washroom/changeroom facility is proposed at a mid-level point, providing a new facility which is more accessible from the beach and playground than the existing facility at Old Orchard Hall. The discreet building would be embedded into the slope and integrates a new picnic shelter on the roof, acting as a viewing deck looking out to the inlet.

Lounge deck and shower (item number 6 on the design concept)

A small deck acts as a porch for the new washroom building and is connected to a larger beach-level deck through stepping benches. The larger deck at the beach would integrate lounge seating and tables to facilitate gathering and resting. An outdoor shower is suggested on or adjacent to the deck to allow for washing up after the beach.

The Meadow (item number 7 on the design concept)

The opening in the tree canopy south of the main park, commonly known as the Meadow, will retain its character and use. The concept proposes the construction of a more gradual pathway that would connect the upper and lower pathways, and re-shaping of the land to create more useable small lawns tucked into steeper natural meadows.

Improved drop-off area (item 9 on the design concept)

Improvements to the vehicular drop-off area at Alderside Road will be considered as part of the detailed design of the park. Because there is limited parking at the level of the park, making the drop-off area more accessible is important. Consideration will also be given to providing space for a food truck in this area during high season.

During Phase 1 engagement in July and August 2022, we asked participants how they use Rocky Point and Old Orchard parks today, and what they want the parks to be like in the future. We used that feedback to develop draft design concepts and proposed actions.

The draft design concepts demonstrate how potential park improvements could be laid out. The final design concept for each park that will be incorporated into its master plan may include some ideas from a particular draft concept but not all of them. For this reason, we are asking for your feedback on specific ideas rather than on each draft design concept as a whole.

The concept plan for Old Orchard Park is a bold move to improve select key amenities in the park, integrated sensitively into a steep sloped environment, while balancing the rich ecological integrity and family feel of the park. The concept plan showcases how all actions (i.e. park improvements) could be achieved.

On October 25, 2023, participants watched an online presentation to learn about the draft design concepts and potential improvements for Rocky Point and Old Orchard parks. There was an opportunity to submit questions or comments in writing. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

We hosted an open house in the Civic Centre Galleria on October 26, 2023. Participants had a chance to review information boards and share their thoughts on draft design concepts showing a variety of potential improvements for Rocky Point and Old Orchard parks. City staff and consultants were on hand to answer questions. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

Old Orchard Park is classified as a city park, welcoming visitors from Port Moody and beyond. Its location on the north shore of the Port Moody Arm of Burrard Inlet makes it a popular destination as well as a starting point for people walking or cycling Shoreline Trail.

We'll present one recommended design concept for Rocky Point Park and one recommended design concept for Old Orchard Park on the project web page and via an information session. We'll provide an opportunity for community members to offer comments and ask questions.

The program consists of a total of 7 hands-on workshops that combine both classroom and urban orchard experiences to gain skills in orchard planning, young sapling care and training, and mature fruit tree maintenance. To give participants exposure and experience with the full range of yearly tree care, the program runs every second Saturday of the month from February through October (with breaks in May and August). In order to build on program knowledge and teach content that is timely with the seasons, the sessions run as follows:

Please note: Dates may shift as needed to respond to extreme weather. Sessions generally run from 10-12 pm (4 hours) on Saturday mornings. All sessions are held in the Greater Seattle Area, with the exception of a session at NW Fruit in Mt. Vernon.

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