SAINT JOHN - Saint John has a long and proud history of parks and green spaces. As the first incorporated city in Canada, it also became the first city in the country to set aside land for public squares in its Royal Charter of 1785. With the creation of the City came the creation of the city’s first green spaces. These parks, “known by the names of King’s and Queen’s Square, shall be and forever remain open, unenclosed and unappropriated to any use or uses whatsoever either private or public…” These four squares — King’s Square and Queen’s Square on the Uptown Peninsula and their mirror images of King’s Square West and Queen’s Square West on the City’s lower west side — were the first green spaces developed in Saint John. King’s Square, located next door to the bustling City Market, is one of the most used open spaces in the entire city. The protection of the four “royal” squares from any type of development under the City’s charter does not extend to all city parks. The preservation of public space has been a hot topic in Saint John in recent weeks. This past Wednesday, the City hosted a public consultation session for the Sandy Point Road Study to engage citizens in a discussion about the future of city-owned land on the western edge of Rockwood Park.

Co-written by Giovanni Paquin SAINT JOHN - Last Wednesday was the project launch for one of the most exciting urban planning projects in Atlantic Canada. The City of Saint John kicked off PlanSJ: Our City, Our Future – a two-year initiative that will bring the City’s badly-outdated municipal plan in line with current realities and modern planning principles. Saint John’s current Municipal Plan received Council approval in 1973 and was based on the assumption that the City’s population would grow to some 250,000 residents. Today, almost 40 years after the plan came into effect, the City’s residents number 68,000 – less than one third of the plan’s anticipated total. With faulty projections and dozens of subsequent amendments, the current plan has slipped into obscurity over the years and has failed to adequately guide development in a manner that best serves the interests of Saint John residents. That’s all about to change.

Cowritten by Giovanni Paquin ST. JOHN'S - One of our favourite discoveries during the 2009 API Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland was, of all things, their garbage. We were “lucky” enough to be in the city for garbage day. Street after street was lined with garbage bags covered in green and blue polyester nets. We assumed that this was a quirky Newfoundland tradition that highlighted the importance of the fishing industry to St. John’s economy – they’ve got so many nets they’re even using them to cover their garbage! Ah the ignorance of a visiting tourist.

Co-written by Giovanni Paquin and Andrew Matheson FREDERICTON - Reconstruction has finally begun on Fredericton’s beloved yet long-neglected York Street Railway Station. The future of the dilapidated landmark has been the subject of much discussion in this city for years. The potential reuse of this site understandably spurred the imagination of many Frederictonians. Its heritage status, unique architecture and central location led to numerous proposals from the community over the years, including a new home for the local Royal Canadian Legion branch and a train museum. Train service to Fredericton ended in 1962 and in 1995 all CP rail lines to the city were ripped up. While the torn up rail lines have been transformed into one of the nation’s most extensive public trails networks (which we foresee discussing in more detail in future contributions), the same cannot be said for the trackless station, which was abandoned and has languished for more than a decade.