JANE BARRY
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Standing on the Bentley Street Pavilion with the mighty St. John River freshet of 2008 rushing by, it must seem like a dream fulfilled to Bill MacMackin and Charlie Swanton. They have been collectively involved as leaders in the promotion and positive development of Saint John's waterfront for more than 18 years. They look across to the Bentley Crossing housing development and speculate that it very likely wouldn't be a reality today if a group of community volunteers with a lot of foresight hadn't consulted with the public, shared their vision and worked very hard to make waterfront development a new source of community pride. Last summer at a magical night along the harbour, thousands gathered on Harbour Passage to watch the fireworks, where only a few short years before it was a mass of overgrown rubble, old warehouses and decaying infrastructure. The unique multi-partner waterfront arrangement, of which they have been a part, has captured the support and imagination of our community. Their objective to launch a new era of community and economic revitalization for the City of Saint John through the development of environmental, esthetic, cultural and economic improvements along the city's waterfront has struck a chord with local businesses and citizens alike. It has restored public access to an extensive area of the waterfront while still providing for traditional port business. It has breathed a new spirit of hope, sense of community and renewal into Greater Saint John.
Peter Walsh/Telegraph-Journal
Charlie Swanton and Bill MacMackin have dedicated 18 years collectively to the development of Saint John’s waterfront along with the support of governments and thousands of community members and businesses.
MacMackin, the president of Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership, says, "I like to see the trees planted, the asphalt and concrete flowing. I really enjoy it as something you can touch and feel and seeing people using it".
Swanton, chairman of Saint John Waterfront Development, explains that it started back in 1999 with the Malone, Given, Parsons Study. The Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership was formed in 2001, reporting through the Saint John Development Corporation.
The Inner Harbour Land Use Plan, a master plan for development of the Saint John Inner Harbour and Waterfront, was introduced in 2003. It was the culmination of more than two years of work, including feedback from more than 500 stakeholders. John Wallace is a valued and familiar figure associated with the early phases of this work.
The funding partnership includes representation, support and funding commitments from the City of Saint John, the Saint John Port Authority, Enterprise Saint John, the Saint John Board of Trade, Uptown Saint John Inc. and the Province of New Brunswick. These days, they are keeping the name simple: Saint John Waterfront Development. Since inception,through donor campaigns, applications for funding programs and contributions from federal, provincial and municipal governments, more than $8 million has been raised. In the next 15 years, it is estimated that more than $265 million in public and private expenditures will be invested in the uptown and waterfront. These can generate new household income, direct and indirect employment and increased commercial and property taxes.
The vision for the future is based on guiding principles, including community involvement and a sustainable balance between the environment and the economy. Benefits include dramatically improved, well-connected, public access, provision of new, high-quality open spaces, strengthened city image, community pride, improved quality of life, accelerated development and investment in a vibrant waterfront and uptown. It has become a city with a changed image, making it a more attractive place to visit, work, live, play and invest.
Since 2001, the partnership has had an enthusiastic, involved, visionary group of grass-roots volunteers. They are critical to achieving "True Growth" and Saint John becoming a premier waterfront in Canada. With a modest-sized, highly competent staff headed by Ross Jefferson, high-calibre, committed business leaders and scores of volunteers, careful planning has led to concrete results.
Saint John Waterfront Development is currently working on the following projects: St. Andrews Park as part of the Bay of Fundy Cruise Welcome Centre, featuring Barbour's General Store, as the city's Visitor Information Centre, the Little Red Schoolhouse and John Hooper's famous sculpture People Waiting; a magnificent lookout project taking shape near the old bridge abutments at the Reversing Falls; adding to enhanced public green spaces and actively pursuing the development of the Coast Guard site. A contract has been awarded for Development Services: Reversing Falls - Lower River Passage to develop a "World-Class Tourism Product at Reversing Falls", with plans for public input soon.
Five years ago, there was recognition that Harbour Passage would benefit from citizen involvement to bolster the city's responsibility for maintenance. Along came The Greater Saint John Community Foundation and an idea to provide that opportunity, the Harbour Passage Garden Party. It has grown to be a fun, productive event which draws widespread participants and sponsors. It doesn't cost anything to go. There is no need to raise money. By donating a bit of personal time, participants grow community pride, make new friends and gain a feeling of satisfaction and ownership of their waterfront walk.
Harbour Passage Garden Parties have elicited donations of plants, trees, shrubs, advertising, printing, musicians, entertainers, a sound stage, compost, mulch, prizes, refreshments, expertise and volunteer labour valued in the thousands of dollars, from community partners. Hundreds of participants enjoy refreshments, prizes, and music after cleanup, weeding, planting, compost and mulch spreading to beautify the cranberry waterfront trail. It's a small way to give back for the enjoyment of being able to take a waterfront walk in the centre of the city.
On Saturday, May 24, the Greater Saint John Community Foundation will host its Fifth Annual Harbour Passage Garden Party. All are welcome to come celebrate a renewed sense of community pride, a revitalized downtown core and enhancement of our rich waterfront heritage.
For more information contact Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership, One Market Square, Suite 301, Saint John, N.B., E2L 4Z6; tel: 674 4278; e-mail: info@sjwaterfront.com; website: www.sjwaterfront.com.
Community Profile is a weekly column highlighting community causes and work done by non-profit organizations in the Greater Saint John area. It is contributed by Jane Barry, executive director of The Greater Saint John Community Foundation. Contact the foundation at 506-672-8880. To view other Community Profiles go to www.saint-john-foundation.nb.ca.
