Terra Developments Inc. (Terra) has submitted a request to the City of Regina (City) for the name Horizon Station to be assigned to the Towns MR4 (see Appendix A).
Policy Impacts
Civic Naming Committee Guideline
The Civic Naming Committee Guideline (Guideline) requires the Administration to consider requests from developers, Community Associations and Zone Boards for names to be assigned to parks. Names are first submitted to an internal Civic Naming Committee, which considers the names within the context of the Civic Naming Committee Guideline, adopted by Council in November 2018 (CR18-116). Upon approval by the Civic Naming Committee, names can be assigned to streets or public park space with Council approval.
The Guideline states that ‘Developers collaborate with the Civic Naming Committee to work toward achieving a target of 25 per cent of street and 50 per cent of park names within a concept plan bearing a name with an Indigenous connection’. Horizon Station is the second of four parks planned for the Towns. The remaining two parks will need to have names with an Indigenous connection in order to meet the 50 per cent target.
Cultural Plan
The Civic Naming Guideline contributes to the harmony of the city by providing an opportunity for Community Associations as well as other public groups to participate in public process, allowing them to be informed and engaged in what is happening within their community. Park naming also supports the objectives of the Regina Cultural Plan, to “ensure that the naming of streets, parks and other civic assets is done to celebrate Regina’s unique history and cultural diversity and that it tells the whole story of Regina.”
Financial Impacts
There are no financial implications for the City related to the naming of the park. All park signage will be installed within the park at the expense of the developer.
If the Regina Planning Commission chooses, they can deny the name Horizon Station and refer the report back to Administration to work with the Developer, the Community Association, and the Zone Board to select another name to bring forward for consideration.
The name Horizon Station was submitted to the Civic Naming Committee and approved for use. Once approved for use by the Civic Naming Committee, in accordance with park naming procedures, the name was shared with the Arcola East Community Association and East Zone Board, as representatives of their residents and recreation zone. Both were supportive of the name.
If the name is approved by City Council, The Towns MR4 parcel will contain a park sign with a decal that explains the significance of the name for those that visit the space.
When Terra began the design of the park space in the Towns, they reached out to the grade six class at St. Gabriel School to provide feedback. As part of the process, they took the class to parks and playgrounds throughout the city to discuss what they liked about the spaces and what they thought could be improved upon. Based on that feedback, as well as needs identified through the Recreation Master Plan, the design of the park was completed with a train theme. When construction is finished the park will contain a regulation size athletic field, a boarded rink, small non-boarded skating loop, warm-up shelter that resembles a train station, picnic area, neighbourhood dog park and a partially accessible playground with a train theme. Based on the theme for the design of the park the grade six class at St. Gabriel School, also selected the name Horizon Station to submit to the Civic Naming Committee for approval.
This name also fits with the overall concept of The Towns Subdivision, which pays tribute to the many communities that were developed along the province’s early rail lines to support the function of the steam engines. This type of theme naming is currently allowed under the current Civic Naming Committee Guideline. The names used for the theme of this neighbourhood were also approved by the Civic Naming Committee. Additional rational for the name is included in Terra’s submission to the Civic Naming Committee attached as Appendix B.
Given that the community organizations representing residents of the Arcola East Neighbourhood are supportive of the proposed name and the name aligns with the Civic Naming Guideline, Administration recommends approval be granted to assign the name Horizon Station to the Towns MR4.
In accordance with the Civic Naming Guideline, City Council approval is required to name park spaces.
Respectfully Submitted, Respectfully Submitted,
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Prepared by: Janine Daradich, Manager, Planning and Partnerships