A $30-million revamp plan covering a seaside walkway and amenities is being endorsed by White Rock officials in an effort to generate visitors from around Metro Vancouver.
The proposed includes:
- 10-metre-high whale sculpture
- 180-metre seaside walkway
- Park covering 6,500 square metres of land reclaimed from the ocean at a cost of $15 million
- Marina expansion pegged at $850,000
- $1 million for a memorial park
- $2 million worth of seabed dredging
- $300,000 for marine buoys, and
- $5.5 million for a waterfront parkade.
Meanwhile, critics are questioning the amount of money associated with the project.
While addressing the issue, Mayor Wayne Baldwin for City of White Rock, told the Vancouver Sun that the money will not be extracted from the taxpayers’ pocket. Reportedly, $13 million will come from fees expected to be paid by high-rise developers. Grants by the government will cover additional costs and in case of any shortfalls, the mayor said, they would down on proposals such as the memorial park.
Criticism is in fact also being targeted at a projected whale surrounded by a pool of waterjets as seen in the initial design released by the city. Referring to the issue, Baldwin told Vancouver Sun that it might not even be there when the project s finished.
Counselor Dave Chesney adds to the issue by telling the Vancouver Sun that there has been confusion among residents when it comes to the plan.
“One thing I can tell you,” Chesney said. “There won’t be a whale-spouting plaza. It was a pie-in-the-sky design. … People are right to ask questions. We’ve done a poor job of communicating as a council.”
