New looks planned for Carleton, Wilmot parks in Fredericton

Future plans for Carleton Park on Fredericton's north side include a pier jutting into the St. John River, with an adjacent lookout.

Fredericton City Council was presented with 25year plans for both Carleton Park and Wilmot Park on Thursday.

In Carleton Park, the plans call for moving the parking lot closer to Union Street and adding a boat launch. This would require obtaining the land on the other side of the walking bridge that is owned by Irving Oil Ltd. and was once the site of large storage tanks.

Mayor Mike O'Brien said the city hasn't been in discussions to acquire the land.

"That's an optimistic plan," he said. "It would be beautiful to have it. It would tie in the riverfront and the Nashwaak beautifully, but there's still a lot of discussion to be had with that."

Gazebo in Wilmot

For Wilmot Park on the south side of the city, some of the changes would include putting the play areas closer together, restoring the gazebo and making the centre pathway through the park alignwith Government House on the opposite side of Woodstock Road.

"The big idea is to make sure each park meets the intent of its residents and the desire of its residents," said Jim Scott, landscape architect of Trace Planning and Design, who was commissioned to come upwith plans for the parks.

The projects would cost $3 million to $5 million each.

The first stages of the park improvement projects are expected to start this year.