NORTH RUCKLE FLOODWAY PARK DESIGN CONCEPT

The North Ruckle Floodway Park was an 18.4 hectare neighbourhood in Grand Forks, BC. During the 2018 floods, many of the homes in this area were lost. The City completed a “Managed Retreat” and set this area aside to become a “Floodway Park.” The design intent was to accept seasonal flooding and design spaces that respected the ecological, and SPD, Bluerock, and ARC were part of a team that designed the park, and refined the design with input from City staff, Council, and Advisory Committee, Environmental Experts, Engineers, and former residents. The park features Off- Stream Habitat Areas, designated riparian, wetland, and reforestation areas, a gathering space/outdoor auditorium, floodway markers, a proposed pedestrian bridge, and flood-viewing platform. A series of different trail types link the entire area together, and provide access for park visitors.