The City of Prince George is launching its Civic Core District Plan process, to create a vision for the city’s properties in the area around city hall.
Residents will have a chance to provide input on the plan, starting on Aug. 11. An in-person consultation session will happen at Canada Games Plaza on Aug. 11 from 11 a.m to 2 p.m., during Foodie Fridays. An online survey will also run from Aug. 11 to Sept. 15.
“I would encourage as many people as possible to share their visions at one of the booths or via the online survey. Understanding what our citizens priorities are for the civic core and then using this information to develop a long-term, phased plan will help shape the future of Prince George,” Mayor Simon Yu said in a statement released on Thursday. “We want to create a plan that we can hand over to our future generations to make our city one of the greatest. This has been a long time coming and I am interested to see what ideas our citizens come up with – be bold!”
The subject area for the plan includes the Prince George Public Library Bob Harkins branch, Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, Two Rivers Gallery, city hall, Canfor Leisure Pool, Canada Games Plaza, Kopar Memorial Arena, Veteran’s Plaza and the vacant lots where the Four Seasons Leisure Pool and former Fire Hall No. 1 used to be.
“The Civic Core District Plan is a guide that defines the long-term vision for the municipal properties in the downtown area near the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre,” the city statement said. “It will have strategies, along with timelines, for how to enhance the area while also meeting needs of those who live and work in the community.”
In addition to the public consultation, workshops with arts, sports, recreation and business groups started in July and will continue through August.
“There are several emerging priorities for downtown reinvestment associated with aging civic and community facilities, streetscape improvements, and utility infrastructure,” the city’s Civic Core District Plan web page says.
The Kopar Memorial Arena, located in the subject area, and the Prince George Playhouse and Studio 2889, located outside the area, are all nearing the ends of their useful lives.
The City of Prince George has $28.3 million set aside in the Fortis Reserve Fund, which could be used towards major capital projects in the Civic Core District Plan area. The funds came as a windfall at the end of a 17-year lease deal with FortisBC (formerly Terasen Gas).
In March 2022, city council voted to keep the funds in the reserve until additional consultation could be done.
