Restored Bannerman Park will be ready for summer

It's been a long and noisy project, but the upgrades being made to Bannerman Park in St. John's are nearly done, and Coun. Sandy Hickman says it's on track to be opened for the summer.

The park is slated for a reopening on June 21, and while most of Bannerman still looks like a construction site, Hickman said work will soon be wrapped up on a number of items.

The pool and the splash pad will both be open on time on July 2 — rain, snow sleet, or hail, it will be open.- Coun. Sandy Hickman

The new pool and pool house, the splash pad and a new bandstand are all set to wrap up work in the near future.

"The pool and the splash pad will both be open on time on July 2 — rain, snow sleet, or hail, it will be open," said Hickman.

The bandstand that stood in the park for around 75 years has been replaced with a new structure, but Hickman said the old one will be repurposed.

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"It's being upgraded, the roof has been done, the walls are coming down to open the place up more and there will be a rail in there so it will be safer and more visible for people that may be undertaking activities that we don't want in there," he said.

"This will also improve the acoustics, most importantly, as a concert venue."

Folk Fest coming back

The new bandstand will fit in nicely with the St. John's Folk Festival returning to Bannerman Park. It had been relocated to Bowring Park in the city's west end while construction was ongoing.

"The Folk Festival fits in perfectly. It will go right back in there as if it never left and it will be enhanced because of the gazebo," said Hickman.

"I think they'll find it much better organized down there now when they take over in the first week of August."

While the new pieces being added to the park mostly appeal to younger children, Hickman said there are still activities for older kids and preteens.

"There are few things I think that the 10-12 year-olds could use, but we invite them to Rollerblade around the Loop, as we ice skate in the winter, and to undertake other activities, get on the ball field when there's no games and throw a ball or kick the ball around."

As for the Colonial Building, Hickman said that's a government project that will take a bit more time.

However, he added the long wait will be well worth it once renovations are completed.

"That's a government project and I must say I'm very impressed with that project. It will be fabulous when it's finished, but it is taking some time."