St. Patrick's Island plans unveiled

Officials unveiled plans on Wednesday for a $20-million redevelopment of St. Patricks Island.

The revamped park will feature new pathways, a small amphitheatre, a watercraft launching and landing area, a river-side beach and concession stands, according to the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), which is in charge of the project.

Non-indigenous underbrush on the island will be removed from the park, which is intended to be a people-oriented get-away from city life, quieter than Princes Island to the west, said Michael Brown, CMLCs president.

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The plan also calls for restoration of the lagoon that links St. Georges Island with St. Patricks Island.

New York-based W Architecture and Denver-based CIVITAS were chosen from among 17 proposals as the landscape development team, officials said.

The contractors will now come up with a more detailed design, and apply for the needed regulatory approvals at the local, provincial and federal levels.

Development of the island is expected to begin next year.

Construction has already begun on a new $25-million pedestrian bridge to replace the existing one that links the 12.5 hectare island to the East Village.

The new crossing, set to open next year, will also cross over to the Bow Rivers north bank, giving pedestrians access to the park from the northeast neighbourhood of Bridgeland, via an exisiting LRT-station bridge.