The updated Beban Park Master Plan is to be presented to council this Monday night.
What are the future development and management plans for Beban Park? Will there be a new sports arena?
The last major planning for the Beban Park Master Plan was completed in 1997. In 2009, the Beban Park Facility Redevelopment project was initiated to examine a building that would encompass Frank Crane Arena, Beban Pool and the Beban Social Centre facilities.
Three redevelopment options were presented to the public at an open house in February 2010. A final report was received by Council in April 2010 to act as a guide for facility improvements at Beban Park.
The 2015 updated Beban Park Master Plan looks at the following:
- building or updating facilities
- creating a “Heart in the Park”
- routing traffic and people in “Clear Park Circulation”
Issues and concerns have been raised regarding aging facilities for the Vancouver Island Exhibition and the Nanaimo Equestrian Association.
The red squares show where work is planned for 2015:
- Beban Tennis Courts – resurfacing for 2015
- Merle Logan Field – turf resurfacing for 2015
- Barns – repairs
Below is the vision for Beban Park. Unfortunately, it appears that one of the last stands of trees will be cut down to make way for expanding a recreation field near the dog off leash area. (top right hand corner)
To read the full report go to the City of Nanaimo website.
Back in 1953 Beban Park was acquired by the City of Nanaimo and was approximately 160 acres. Now it is 127 acres property. What happened to the 33 acres?