LEES+Associates was commissioned to develop a Parks & Trails Master Plan for the City of Powell River. The goal of the plan was to provide guidance for Council, staff and stakeholders in the acquisition, improvement and maintenance of parks, natural areas, open spaces, active transportation infrastructure, and trails over the next 15 years.
The process included three rounds of public, staff, stakeholder and intergovernmental engagement that provided a strong foundation for the plan. Key short, medium, and long term recommendations included:
Improve accessibility in key parks and trails
Secure continuous public shore access
Consolidate and improve existing sports fields
Implement trail accession process and trail design guidelines
Add signage at key intersections and trailheads
LEES+Associates worked with Richard Drdul of Drdul Community Transportation Planning to develop an Active Transportation Plan addressing active transportation facilities and routes.
The Plan identified a network of bicycle routes and bicycle/pedestrian crossings to enable and encourage people to walk and cycle throughout Powell River.
LEES+Associates was retained by the City of Whitehorse to complete landscape design including site preparation, grading, and drainage for a new inclusive playground at the City’s flagship Shipyards Park.
Our team prepared detailed design and tender documents for the new 9,500 square-foot, fully-accessible playground. The project was funded by the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charity as part of its initiative to build a fully accessible and inclusive playground in each province and territory in the country.
LEES+Associates developed a Recreation Access Management Plan (RAMP) on behalf of Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) for the CMCH lands on Mt. Seymour. The RAMP was developed to determine whether formalization of the trail system is warranted and to determine the management approach for the future.
The project involved a rigorous methodology that considers trail assessment data, environmental data, public engagement, Indigenous consultation results as provided by the Province, and input from stakeholders. Through analysis of this data, the RAMP describes management zones; trail classifications and descriptions; monitoring approach recommendations; and limits of acceptable change. The management plan also outlines recommendations for management principles and actions including, but not limited to, wayfinding approach and options, user conflict management strategies, environmental protection, trail user outreach and communication, and development of partnerships and collaboration.
The Management Plan will be a document ready for implementation through work plans and capital plans, if approved by the Province.
In 2011-2012 LEES+Associates completed a feasibility study followed by design development and construction administration assistance on the Memorial Garden of Gethsemane. Working closely with the client, a local architect and horticulturist and through several site visits, the team efficiently moved the design from an initial vision through construction in less than a year.
Additional services provided include a business case analysis, equipment specification and procurement, the development of marketing graphics and ongoing strategic advice.
The Memorial Garden provides a variety of interment options in a secure and attractive environment (including double depth burial lots, family estates, a children and infant’s garden and cremation lots).
Through a combination of hardscape, planting, covered spaces and water features, the site will provide a setting befitting commemoration. Development will occur in two phases.
In the interim, the second phase of the site will be maintained as a turf farm.
In 2014 LEES+Associates developed a master plan to guide the development of a proposed municipal cemetery for the City of Salmon Arm, BC. The process included consultation with the public and key stakeholders, analysis of interment trends, local demographics and development of the concept master plan.
The subject lands at the base of Mt Ida are heavily forested, and have the capacity to serve the community as a cemetery for 80 years or more. The conceptual site plan included built-in flexibility for phased development and incorporated traditional and new forms of interment and memorialization.
Design development of the first phase of the cemetery of took place in 2015. Construction began in 2016 with selective tree clearing to create the burial ‘pods’ within the forest.
Construction was completed in 2016. Shuswap Memorial Cemetery is anticipated to receive the first burials in spring 2019.
From 1929 to 1971, over 6,000 infants that had died at or shortly before birth were buried in one area of Mountain View Cemetery.
In 2006, LEES + Associates worked closely with Cemetery management and staff to design and install a memorial garden to recognise these infants and provide, for the first time, the opportunity for families to commemorate their loss with individual markers.
A dry streambed of rounded river stone, one for each infant, winds through the former lawn area. The streambed incorporates the several dozen engraved cobbles that have been placed near the actual place of burial of each remembered baby. A garden path winds through the site, with benches and large boulders providing places to sit and reflect.
The beds that surround the channel are planted with flowering shrubs, herbs, spring bulbs and perennials. An etched dedication on a large boulder at the entry into the garden explains the site and recognizes all the infants buried there.
LEES+Associates was retained by the City of Kelowna to undertake the preparation of construction documents for the first phase of a new cremation precinct known as Legacy Gardens. The design provided additional cremation niche and mausolea crypt inventory by transforming an existing service road around the Bennett Memorial into a premium cremation garden.
Key features include:
780 custom columbaria and 12 mausolea crypts with sandblasted images of apple trees and grape vines grown in the Okanagan
Reliquary shelves
Custom benches
New ornamental planting
Families appreciated the quality of the design and materials that created an improved landscape setting in which to inter family members. Consequently the cemetery has seen revenues increase significantly.
On September 13th, 2009, the annual memorial service for RCMP members killed in the line of duty was held for the first time at the newly-renovated assembly area at the RCMP “Depot” Cemetery in Regina, Saskatchewan. This area was one of two heritage areas at “Depot,” the national training academy for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, that were redesigned by LEES+Associates.
The point-of-entry is flanked by curved, rusticated Tyndall Stone entry walls and tall limestone stone pillars. A black, powder-coated steel archway spans the entry drive. The archway was inspired by an historic precedent (since removed) but also incorporates a display of bronze replicas of the four “Badges of the Regiment” worn by members of the Force since 1896. A new pedestrian entry with clay brick paving, site furnishings, lighting and generous planting beds were also installed.
The focus of the area is the eight free-standing memorial walls upon which 72 engraved granite commemorative plaques are mounted. Flower ledges for the display of wreaths and flowers are incorporated into each wall.
In May 2007, Lees+Associates was awarded the first phase of a project to renovate two significant heritage areas at “Depot,” the national training academy for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in Regina, Saskatchewan. One of the sites was a small cenotaph area located adjacent to the historic Sleigh Square. Following a heritage assessment, conceptual and final design, renovations to the cenotaph site were completed in the summer of 2009.
The three original limestone monuments now sit on a stepped plinth, illuminated by low level lighting shielded with custom, cast bronze panels. A 2.5 m, rusticated Tyndall Stone wall with limestone coping provides a dignified backdrop. Hand carved stone planters, clay brick paving and flagpoles on decorative cast concrete bases furnish the site. This ambitious renovation has achieved its objective of conveying deep respect for fallen members while providing architecturally appropriate elements reflecting the character, history and values of the RCMP.
LEES+Associates began working with the Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) in 2018 to create a concept design to enhance North Arm Territorial Park located near Behchoko, NWT along Highway 3 approximately 100kms west of Yellowknife.
The expanded park will include a wide range of amenities in addition to those at the existing Day Use Area. The park plan works to balance the diverse needs of different user groups, including local residents and tourists. Opportunities to support year-round use are an important part of the planning process, and several winter use amenities have been identified offering unique recreational and cultural opportunities during the winter.
Feedback from community and visitors will be used to inform the park concept. As part of the design process LEES+Associates is supporting the GNWT with a public engagement event during which the community will be asked to provide feedback on two park concept options.
The park concept design includes:
An Improved Day Use Area: Cultural Meeting Building and landscape, washrooms/change rooms, swimming beach, walking trails, picnic sites, nature play area and kitchen shelter.
A Proposed Campground: RV, tent and walk-in tent campsites with associated amenities designed to be built in several phases starting with 15 campsites in Phase1.
Recommendations for Accessible Amenities: Washrooms, picnic tables, trails and campsites.
