Beach in the plans for St. Patrick's Island

St. Patrick's Islandwill soonbe home to somenew recreational areas including a beach, according to the landscaping plans unveiled Monday by theCalgary Municipal Land Corporation.

The plan to build a12.5-hectareparkon the island near the Calgary Zoo is part of the city's bigger plan to revitalize the East Village. The islandhad become knownas a site ofdrug-relatedand transient behaviour.

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"We are ready to breathe new life into this space," said Michael Brown, CMLC president.

The developers will re-install an old channel next to the island in order to make way for a beach in the summer and an area for skating in the winter.

There will also be running paths, play areas for children, a small amphitheatre and a grassy knoll standingninemetres that is sloped for tobogganing.

The island will close to public access on March 18 so the work can get underway. It is expected to take up to two years to complete the $20-million overhaul.

New bridge

The work on the island is being co-ordinated with the construction of the newSt. Patrick'sIsland Bridge,which will link the area to the nearby northeast community of Bridgeland.

The bridge is on schedule to be finished by the end of 2013 at a cost of $25 million.