[halifaxboyns]

I've found this forum quite entertaining; so I want to ask people some thoughts about the public gardens.

When I lived in Halifax, it was closed during the winter - which I always thought was a shame. After moving to Calgary; I found out that the Calgary Zoo puts on an event called "Zoo lights"; where they put up literally millions of christmas lights all over the zoo and people come at night to check it out. There is santa for the kid, ice sculpting, choirs, kiosks selling hot chocolate, coffee and what not. I didn't realize how popular it was, but this year when we tried to get tickets - we stood in line for nearly 1.5 hours and had barely 30 minutes to check it out before the zoo closed.

It got me to thinking about the public gardens and perhaps doing something similar during the winter - say for the month of December and first two weeks into January?

You could put up lights all over the place and open the park at night (say from 5pm to 9 or 10pm - leaving the day time for parks staff to make sure everything is working okay). You would need to make sure the paths are safe (so people don't slip), but it could be a really great attraction to people downtown. HRM could charge a fee to recoup the cost of paying the staff or if it's all volunteers; still charge but the money goes towards a charity?

What does everyone think?

[spaustin]

I believe Councillor Sloane pushed staff on this a while back and they produced a report saying it would cost X and cause maintenance issues. I think the staff missed the point. It's a park it's meant to be used. If anyone is a Yes Minister fan (BBC series from the 1980s), it made me think of that episode in which the civil servants are delighted at the low maintenace costs on equipment in a hospital with no patients :) I guess my point is spending a few additional dollars to get the most out of an existing asset like the Public Gardens makes sense to me. It should be open during the winter.

[hfx_chris]

Maybe for an event or something, but the snow removal costs to keep paths cleared and salted all winter would I assume get quite costly, plus the potential for damage to flower beds.

Not every winter would be as nice as the one we just went through

[fenwick16]

I believe Councillor Sloane pushed staff on this a while back and they produced a report saying it would cost X and cause maintenance issues. I think the staff missed the point. It's a park it's meant to be used.

This is something that makes sense. If it can't be open during the winter then possibly open it one month sooner and close it one month later. (I think that this is what Councillor Sloane was hoping for?). Certainly this is a favorite attraction in Halifax so it would be good to maximize its use.

[halifaxboyns]

Maybe for an event or something, but the snow removal costs to keep paths cleared and salted all winter would I assume get quite costly, plus the potential for damage to flower beds.

Not every winter would be as nice as the one we just went through

The Calgary Zoo uses gravel paths and as far as I know, it's open all year round.

Now in this case, I'm suggesting just for a limited period - since it would be a special event I wouldn't be opposed to paying to go either.

As to the protection of the plant beds - that could be something prepared for as fall approaches, using canvas covers and securing them. Also, if it was open in the winter, you could rope off areas where people shouldn't go to prevent that - I'm thinking that large field that kids play in.

[-Harlington-]

i think it would be a great idea to open it during the winter although there is cost issues i think maybe they could try just opening it with a use at your own risk or something and see how that goes.

[cormiermax]

use at your own risk or something and see how that goes.

:haha:

[joeyedm]

this is a good idea. that park would look beautiful lit up at night.

i was down on spring garden this past weekend, enjoying the awesome weather. my friends and i thought it would be great to walk through the gardens. alas it was still closed.

[joeyedm]

i recall during the xmas shopping season there was a spring garden event, where people were given hot chocolate etc during a friday evening. this event would tie in beautifully with the public gardens being lite up.

[worldlyhaligonian]

The friends of the public gardens wouldn't be too happy about this now would they... and we must obey their commands.

[halifaxboyns]

The friends of the public gardens wouldn't be too happy about this now would they... and we must obey their commands.

I was tempted to make some wildly sarcastic comment like 'stuff them' - but I'll be nice today; since my scheduled day off is tomorrow. :)

But I'm glad to see people are thinking about this...I think that event that was talked about earlier would be great too.

[Jonovision]

I think it would be great for the city to have them open. Even if its just for an event such as you have suggested halifaxboyns. It's so sad to have such a large block like that totally shut off from the public for half the year.

[halifaxboyns]

I think it would be great for the city to have them open. Even if its just for an event such as you have suggested halifaxboyns. It's so sad to have such a large block like that totally shut off from the public for half the year.

Well not only that; if you look at Central Park (which is what most of these parks are based on, just at different scales) - it's open year round. Some people in other threads have suggested Halifax get a zoo; but I can't see that happening personally.

But why not use a resource that you have now. I mean issues like protecting the plant beds can be dealt with in the fall - plus try it for a trial period of a year and see what happens? What can it hurt? You won't know until you try! Besides, I think with the push to increase densities in the inner city and bring more people downtown - you will get a greater increase in people wanting access to spaces like that (or the commons) in the winter.

[-Harlington-]

I think it would be great to use as an event such as the tree lighting which is in the grand parade but im sure the city can think of different ideas for events to hold there in the winter, i know id show up.
and as for a zoo as cool as it could be it wouldnt be downtown because of the climate, if it were more inland like bayers lake clayton park area or sackville or cole harbour ect. it might work but then again an aquarium would work better for this type of city.

[Keith P.]

Could the original poster or a moderator fix the title, please? :)

[hfx_chris]

Could the original poster or a moderator fix the title, please? :)
Oh shit I just noticed that. Beautiful!
I'd volunteer to cut the grass there any day!

:tup:

[halifaxboyns]

Oh shit I just noticed that. Beautiful!
I'd volunteer to cut the grass there any day!

:tup:

Wow - I didn't realize that. nice! Yet another case for multiple tim horton's before 8am!

[halifaxboyns]

There - I had the title fixed!

[Dmajackson]

Looks like the Gardens are opening early this year;

Public Gardens to Open Doors Early in 2010

(Wednesday, 31 March, 2010) - A sure sign that spring has returned is the opening of the Halifax Public Gardens. This year the gates will swing open three weeks earlier - Wednesday, April 14. The hours for the Gardens will run from 8 am to dusk each day. Two new Toulouse geese will join the garden’s resident fowl population. The new inhabitants are the same breed as the beloved “Mamma Goose” that lived in the Gardens for 20 years until her death in 2009.

While the birds are placed in the park for all to enjoy, visitors are reminded that they are not to feed the ducks because this can make them dependent on an unnatural food supply and interfere with their natural migratory patterns in the fall and spring. Visitors to the Gardens are encouraged to enjoy the space on a lunch hour, to stroll through the park area for exercise, or enjoy the free open-air concerts on Sundays during the summer.

One of the finest surviving examples of Victorian Gardens in North America, the Halifax Public Gardens began on Common land by the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society in 1836. The Gardens were recognized as a National Historic Site in 1984. For details on the gardens visit the website at www.halifaxpublicgardens.ca.