Fencing now surrounds Pioneer Square Park beneath the Firehouse Grill restraurant. The site, a favoured hangout for the homeless, had received extensive damage to its irrigation system. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

shut down

City of Nanaimo gates off second downtown park, extended closures possible

Sep 1, 2021 | 5:35 AM

NANAIMO — A pair of downtown Nanaimo parks are closed indefinitely in response to social disorder issues.

Richard Harding, the City’s general manager of parks, recreation and culture, said last week crews put fencing around Pioneer Square Park on Victoria Cres. at Esplanade following extensive damage to the park.

He said all of the park’s sprinkler heads were broken and irrigation lines pulled up. He said other mounting social disorder challenges also factored into the decision to shut the park down.

“It just came to a tipping point where he had to put the fences back up,” Harding said, noting it became too difficult for the City to properly maintain the space.

Fencing was installed around the narrow green space then removed after area roadway upgrades were completed last spring.

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Potential improvements to Pioneer Square Park could be on the way, with Harding stating the park will now be included as part of The Hub initiative on Terminal Ave.

“We’ll add this park as well as the Italian Fountain into that design work and see if can we add some design elements that when you open them up they are more sustainable.” Harding said.

A permanent homeless encampment caused the City to install fencing in March around nearby Italian Square Park on Termnial Ave., which remains in place.

Complaints from the public have been made to City officials about closing Pioneer Square Park, citing impacts shuffling the homeless community around has, Harding said.

He also pointed out area business operators had long complained about the park’s deteriorating state.

Deciding to shut down already limited green space in Nanaimo’s downtown core are not easy calls to make, Harding emphasized.

“That’s why it takes a long time for us to decide to actually close some off. It’s not something we take lightly or do randomly.”

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