The Grand Concourse is an integrated walkway and green space network connecting 10 municipalities in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It has over 200 kilometers (120 mi) of walkways linking every major park, river, pond, and green space in the Northeast Avalon region. The Grand Concourse is managed by the Grand Concourse Authority, a non-profit organization with a board of directors made up of representatives from a variety of community-based and government groups.
The Grand Concourse was first developed through the generosity of the Johnson Family Foundation with Paul Johnson as its president and founder. A series of studies commissioned between 1989 and 1992 by the Foundation established the feasibility of connecting walks and parks via the publicly owned shorelines of aquatic networks throughout the St. John's Urban Region.[1] Trails had already been built by St. John's, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Parks Canada, and the Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation, providing a start for the Grand Concourse. Four demonstration Walkways were built by the Johnson Family Foundation:
Lake-to-Lookout
Cuckold Cove (from Signal Hill to Quidi Vidi Lake)
Rennie's River to Memorial University
Riverdale to Memorial University
An overall plan was developed to extend the Walkway Network from Signal Hill in the east, to Octagon Pond in the west. This plan was completed in 2004 but efforts continue by involved members to maintain and further develop the Grand Concourse.
The Grand Concourse AuthorityEdit
In 1994, the Grand Concourse Authority (GCA) was established under a Provincial Charter with a mandate to design and construct the Grand Concourse.[2] It is a charitable, non-profit organization, currently comprising 15 member groups who contribute funds for operations. Members have included Crown Corporations, Community Organizations, and all levels of Government.
Together the Members of the GCA have completed over 350 community-development projects since 1994. As of 2006, the cost to construct the Walkway Network was well over $27 million.[3]
Today, the GCA runs an extensive maintenance program, primarily in the City of St. John's, while continuing walkway expansion throughout the Northeast Avalon Region of Newfoundland. The Authority also participates in various environmental initiatives, open space and park development projects, as well as promotion and public education[4]
List of MembersEdit
The following municipalities, agencies, crown corporations, and organizations make up the Board of the Grand Concourse Authority:
The following walkways and trails are considered part of the Grand Concourse network:[5]
Trail/Walkway
Area
Signal Hill - North Head Trail
Signal Hill National Historic Site
Ladies Lookout Trail
Signal Hill National Historic Site
Cuckolds Cove Trail
St. John's
Signal Hill Road
St. John's
Johnson GEO-Vista Park
St. John's
Battery-Signal Hill Walk
St. John's
Lake to Lookout Walk
St. John's
Quidi Vidi Lake Trail
St. John's
Harbourside Walk East
St. John's
Harbourside Walk North
St. John's
Harbourside Walk South
St. John's
Old St. John's Business Streets Walk
St. John's
Military-Rennies-Circular-King's Bridge Walk
St. John's
Heritage Walk Loop
St. John's
Virginia River Trail
St. John's
Clovelly Trail
St. John's
Kenny's Pond to Virginia River
St. John's
Kenny's Pond
St. John's
Kents Pond
Pippy Park
Kents Pond to Long Pond Walk
Pippy Park
Confederation Hill
Pippy Park
Trailer Park to Marine Institute
Pippy Park
Long Pond Walk North
Pippy Park
Long Pond Walk South
Memorial University
Rennies River North
Pippy Park
Rennies River South
St. John's
Elizabeth Avenue-Prince Philip East Walk
St. John's
Elizabeth Avenue-Prince Philip West Walk
St. John's
Pinebud Park
St. John's
MUN Visitors Walk
Memorial University
Long Pond to Oxen Pond
Pippy Park
Oxen Pond to Wishingwell
Pippy Park
Mundy Pond
St. John's
Waterford River Walk (T'Railway)
St. John's
Caribou Hill Park
St. John's
South Brook
St. John's
Southlands
St. John's
Bidgood Park
St. John's
Rotary Sunshine Park
St. John's
Harbourside Park to Kent's Pond Link
St. John's
Elizabeth to Courthouse Link
St. John's
Elizabeth to Queens Road Link
St. John's
Mundy Pond to Waterford Link
St. John's
Mundy Pond to Bowring Park Link
St. John's
Mundy Pond-Cowan-Bowring Link
St. John's
Riverdale to Mundy Pond Link
St. John's
Arboretum Walk (T'Railway)
Mount Pearl
Branscombes Pond
Mount Pearl
Admiralty Walk
Mount Pearl
Sunrise Trail
Mount Pearl
Waterford Valley Linear Trail
Mount Pearl
Paradise T'Railway
Paradise
Elizabeth Park
Paradise
Neils Pond
Paradise
Octagon Pond
Paradise
Peter Barry Duff Memorial Park
Paradise
Adam's Pond
Paradise
Conception Bay South T'Railway
Conception Bay South
Manuels River Trail
Conception Bay South
Gateway Trail
Conception Bay South
Voisey's Brook Park
Portugal Cove - St. Philip's
Rainbow Gully Park
Portugal Cove - St. Philip's
Upper Three Corner Pond Park
Torbay
Western Island Pond
Torbay
Island Pond Brook
Torbay
Woodbridge Park / Forest River
Torbay
Awards and AccoladesEdit
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, 2001 - Award for Excellence in Innovation.
Newfoundland T'Railway Council, 2001 - Trailblazer of the Year Award.
St. John's Clean and Beautiful, Community Organization Award 2003 - Harbourside Park.
Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, Manning Heritage Award 2003 (Shared) - Bishop Spencer School Memorial.
Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, National Honour Award 2003.
CSLA Regional Honour Award 2004 - Bowring Park Duck Pond Rehabilitation Project.
CSLA Regional Citation Award 2005 - Walkway Maintenance Manual.
American Society of Landscape Architects 2005 - National Honor Award.
Canadian Institute of Planners, 2011 - Vision in Planning Award.
ReferencesEdit
^Peddle, Heddy M. and Johnson, P.J. (eds.) 1999. "Walker's Handbook. The Grand Concourse: Our Walker's Paradise" Johnson Family Foundation. St. John's, NL.
^D.W.Knight Associates. "The Grand Concourse Authority Benefits Study." Final Report submitted to the Grand Concourse Authority. 30 May 2007.
^D.W.Knight Associates. "The Grand Concourse Authority Benefits Study." Final Report submitted to the Grand Concourse Authority. 30 May 2007.
^"The Grand Concourse Authority." www.grandconcourse.ca
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The Grand Concourse is an integrated walkway and green space network connecting 10 municipalities in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador It has over 200 kilometers 120 mi of walkways linking every major park river pond and green space in the Northeast Avalon region The Grand Concourse is managed by the Grand Concourse Authority a non profit organization with a board of directors made up of representatives from a variety of community based and government groups Lake to Lookout Walk atop Signal Hill St John s Contents 1 Origins 2 The Grand Concourse Authority 3 List of Members 4 List of Grand Concourse Walks 5 Awards and Accolades 6 References 7 External linksOrigins EditThe Grand Concourse was first developed through the generosity of the Johnson Family Foundation with Paul Johnson as its president and founder A series of studies commissioned between 1989 and 1992 by the Foundation established the feasibility of connecting walks and parks via the publicly owned shorelines of aquatic networks throughout the St John s Urban Region 1 Trails had already been built by St John s the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Parks Canada and the Quidi Vidi Rennie s River Development Foundation providing a start for the Grand Concourse Four demonstration Walkways were built by the Johnson Family Foundation Lake to Lookout Cuckold Cove from Signal Hill to Quidi Vidi Lake Rennie s River to Memorial University Riverdale to Memorial UniversityAn overall plan was developed to extend the Walkway Network from Signal Hill in the east to Octagon Pond in the west This plan was completed in 2004 but efforts continue by involved members to maintain and further develop the Grand Concourse The Grand Concourse Authority EditIn 1994 the Grand Concourse Authority GCA was established under a Provincial Charter with a mandate to design and construct the Grand Concourse 2 It is a charitable non profit organization currently comprising 15 member groups who contribute funds for operations Members have included Crown Corporations Community Organizations and all levels of Government Together the Members of the GCA have completed over 350 community development projects since 1994 As of 2006 the cost to construct the Walkway Network was well over 27 million 3 Today the GCA runs an extensive maintenance program primarily in the City of St John s while continuing walkway expansion throughout the Northeast Avalon Region of Newfoundland The Authority also participates in various environmental initiatives open space and park development projects as well as promotion and public education 4 List of Members EditThe following municipalities agencies crown corporations and organizations make up the Board of the Grand Concourse Authority City of St John s City of Mount Pearl Town of Paradise Town of Conception Bay South Town of Portugal Cove St Philip s Town of Torbay Town of Logy Bay Middle Cove Outer Cove Town of Flatrock Town of Pouch Cove Town of Bay Bulls Bowring Park Foundation Johnson Family Foundation Manuels River Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador C A Pippy Park Commission St John s Port Authority Suncor Energy FluvariumList of Grand Concourse Walks EditThe following walkways and trails are considered part of the Grand Concourse network 5 Trail Walkway AreaSignal Hill North Head Trail Signal Hill National Historic SiteLadies Lookout Trail Signal Hill National Historic SiteCuckolds Cove Trail St John sSignal Hill Road St John sJohnson GEO Vista Park St John sBattery Signal Hill Walk St John sLake to Lookout Walk St John sQuidi Vidi Lake Trail St John sHarbourside Walk East St John sHarbourside Walk North St John sHarbourside Walk South St John sOld St John s Business Streets Walk St John sMilitary Rennies Circular King s Bridge Walk St John sHeritage Walk Loop St John sVirginia River Trail St John sClovelly Trail St John sKenny s Pond to Virginia River St John sKenny s Pond St John sKents Pond Pippy ParkKents Pond to Long Pond Walk Pippy ParkConfederation Hill Pippy ParkTrailer Park to Marine Institute Pippy ParkLong Pond Walk North Pippy ParkLong Pond Walk South Memorial UniversityRennies River North Pippy ParkRennies River South St John sElizabeth Avenue Prince Philip East Walk St John sElizabeth Avenue Prince Philip West Walk St John sPinebud Park St John sMUN Visitors Walk Memorial UniversityLong Pond to Oxen Pond Pippy ParkOxen Pond to Wishingwell Pippy ParkMundy Pond St John sWaterford River Walk T Railway St John sCaribou Hill Park St John sSouth Brook St John sSouthlands St John sBidgood Park St John sRotary Sunshine Park St John sHarbourside Park to Kent s Pond Link St John sElizabeth to Courthouse Link St John sElizabeth to Queens Road Link St John sMundy Pond to Waterford Link St John sMundy Pond to Bowring Park Link St John sMundy Pond Cowan Bowring Link St John sRiverdale to Mundy Pond Link St John sArboretum Walk T Railway Mount PearlBranscombes Pond Mount PearlAdmiralty Walk Mount PearlSunrise Trail Mount PearlWaterford Valley Linear Trail Mount PearlParadise T Railway ParadiseElizabeth Park ParadiseNeils Pond ParadiseOctagon Pond ParadisePeter Barry Duff Memorial Park ParadiseAdam s Pond ParadiseConception Bay South T Railway Conception Bay SouthManuels River Trail Conception Bay SouthGateway Trail Conception Bay SouthVoisey s Brook Park Portugal Cove St Philip sRainbow Gully Park Portugal Cove St Philip sUpper Three Corner Pond Park TorbayWestern Island Pond TorbayIsland Pond Brook TorbayWoodbridge Park Forest River TorbayAwards and Accolades EditCanadian Parks and Recreation Association 2001 Award for Excellence in Innovation Newfoundland T Railway Council 2001 Trailblazer of the Year Award St John s Clean and Beautiful Community Organization Award 2003 Harbourside Park Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Manning Heritage Award 2003 Shared Bishop Spencer School Memorial Canadian Society of Landscape Architects National Honour Award 2003 CSLA Regional Honour Award 2004 Bowring Park Duck Pond Rehabilitation Project CSLA Regional Citation Award 2005 Walkway Maintenance Manual American Society of Landscape Architects 2005 National Honor Award Canadian Institute of Planners 2011 Vision in Planning Award References Edit Peddle Heddy M and Johnson P J eds 1999 Walker s Handbook The Grand Concourse Our Walker s Paradise Johnson Family Foundation St John s NL D W Knight Associates The Grand Concourse Authority Benefits Study Final Report submitted to the Grand Concourse Authority 30 May 2007 D W Knight Associates The Grand Concourse Authority Benefits Study Final Report submitted to the Grand Concourse Authority 30 May 2007 The Grand Concourse Authority www grandconcourse ca Grand Concourse Mapping www grandconcourse ca mappingExternal links EditOfficial Site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grand Concourse St John 27s amp oldid 1145632642, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
