A new washroom facility is being planned to replace a single outhouse (left) at Neck Point Park. It would include two universal washrooms and a changing area for SCUBA divers. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

BIG UPGRADES

Popular Neck Point Park to receive upgraded washrooms, SCUBA diving change room

Mar 25, 2022 | 4:46 PM

NANAIMO — The wheels are in motion for upgraded facilities at one of the city’s crown jewel parks.

Tender will go out from the City of Nanaimo in the next week for construction of a new universal washroom building and attached SCUBA diving change room at Neck Point Park in north Nanaimo.

Charlotte Davis, city manager of parks operations, told NanaimoNewsNOW the addition of extra facilities to Neck Point has been long requested, with a current one-stall outhouse the only current option for park guests.

“There’s 36 acres of beautiful waterfront down there and we’re really pleased to bring the washroom which means it’s going to be a destination where people can spend the whole day there and just make the most of the beautiful location with their family.”

The new facilities will replace the existing outhouse, located off the western edge of the well-used parking lot at Neck Point Park.

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Included in the design is a living, green roof with plants better designed to capture rain water. (City of Nanaimo)

The building itself will be constructed to new standards to promote accessibility, while the roof will be “green” with live plants to better capture rain and manage storm water.

Around 300 visitors a day use the park according to Davis, however she also noted a 70 per cent increase in trail usage since the onset of the pandemic.

Popularity for the great outdoors hasn’t subsided as restrictions eased.

“It’s one of our most popular destinations, it really does offer nature in the heart of the city and so now we’re just so pleased to be bringing this forward because we have been asked quite a lot to do this,” Davis said.

The City is not making a budget publicly available, out of respect for the tender process, however a bid is hoped to be awarded by mid-spring and project completion by the end of the year.

Davis added a lot of the timeline will be determined by existing capacity in the construction industry.

Neck Point Park is popular among the local SCUBA diving community, with multiple training sessions a week taking place. (Nanaimo Dive Outfitters)

In addition to added washrooms, the new SCUBA diving change facilities is a big win for local divers who use the area frequently.

Brenda Roszmann, owner of Nanaimo Dive Outfitters, said her groups are down at Neck Point Park and the connected Finn Beach multiple times weekly for lessons.

She said the area is perfect for rookie divers earning their open water classification with sheltered water and gentle gradients on the ocean floor.

“We do a lot of night dives there because of the animals and little critters that come out at night in that area. On what would be the left side [standing on shore] is a little crumbly wall, it’s a natural breakwater that has lots of marine life in it.”

Roszmann added a main issue with Neck Point Park is parking, particular on popular weekend days, however a dedicated change room and washroom space will make the area even better for divers.

“The outhouse is okay, at least there is one and that is more of what we are grateful for. We do have a local dive site in Nanoose that does not have any facilities and you have divers having to go into the shrubs and do stuff.”

The City of Nanaimo confirmed no major work will happen in the parking lot for this project, although some pedestrian access may change to accommodate the new building.

A new washroom facility and SCUBA diving change room at Neck Point Park is going out for tender shortly. (City of Nanaimo)

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