Grand Concourse (St. John's)

The Grand Concourse is an integrated walkway and green space network connecting 10 municipalities in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It has over 200 kilometers (120 mi) of walkways linking every major park, river, pond, and green space in the Northeast Avalon region. The Grand Concourse is managed by the Grand Concourse Authority, a non-profit organization with a board of directors made up of representatives from a variety of community-based and government groups.

Lake-to-Lookout Walk atop Signal Hill, St. John's

Origins

The Grand Concourse was first developed through the generosity of the Johnson Family Foundation with Paul Johnson as its president and founder. A series of studies commissioned between 1989 and 1992 by the Foundation established the feasibility of connecting walks and parks via the publicly owned shorelines of aquatic networks throughout the St. John's Urban Region.[1] Trails had already been built by St. John's, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Parks Canada, and the Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation, providing a start for the Grand Concourse. Four demonstration Walkways were built by the Johnson Family Foundation:

  • Lake-to-Lookout
  • Cuckold Cove (from Signal Hill to Quidi Vidi Lake)
  • Rennie's River to Memorial University
  • Riverdale to Memorial University

An overall plan was developed to extend the Walkway Network from Signal Hill in the east, to Octagon Pond in the west. This plan was completed in 2004 but efforts continue by involved members to maintain and further develop the Grand Concourse.

The Grand Concourse Authority

In 1994, the Grand Concourse Authority (GCA) was established under a Provincial Charter with a mandate to design and construct the Grand Concourse.[2] It is a charitable, non-profit organization, currently comprising 15 member groups who contribute funds for operations. Members have included Crown Corporations, Community Organizations, and all levels of Government.

Together the Members of the GCA have completed over 350 community-development projects since 1994. As of 2006, the cost to construct the Walkway Network was well over $27 million.[3]

Today, the GCA runs an extensive maintenance program, primarily in the City of St. John's, while continuing walkway expansion throughout the Northeast Avalon Region of Newfoundland. The Authority also participates in various environmental initiatives, open space and park development projects, as well as promotion and public education[4]

List of Members

The following municipalities, agencies, crown corporations, and organizations make up the Board of the Grand Concourse Authority:

List of Grand Concourse Walks

The following walkways and trails are considered part of the Grand Concourse network:[5]

Trail/WalkwayArea
Signal Hill - North Head TrailSignal Hill National Historic Site
Ladies Lookout TrailSignal Hill National Historic Site
Cuckolds Cove TrailSt. John's
Signal Hill RoadSt. John's
Johnson GEO-Vista ParkSt. John's
Battery-Signal Hill WalkSt. John's
Lake to Lookout WalkSt. John's
Quidi Vidi Lake TrailSt. John's
Harbourside Walk EastSt. John's
Harbourside Walk NorthSt. John's
Harbourside Walk SouthSt. John's
Old St. John's Business Streets WalkSt. John's
Military-Rennies-Circular-King's Bridge WalkSt. John's
Heritage Walk LoopSt. John's
Virginia River TrailSt. John's
Clovelly TrailSt. John's
Kenny's Pond to Virginia RiverSt. John's
Kenny's PondSt. John's
Kents PondPippy Park
Kents Pond to Long Pond WalkPippy Park
Confederation HillPippy Park
Trailer Park to Marine InstitutePippy Park
Long Pond Walk NorthPippy Park
Long Pond Walk SouthMemorial University
Rennies River NorthPippy Park
Rennies River SouthSt. John's
Elizabeth Avenue-Prince Philip East WalkSt. John's
Elizabeth Avenue-Prince Philip West WalkSt. John's
Pinebud ParkSt. John's
MUN Visitors WalkMemorial University
Long Pond to Oxen PondPippy Park
Oxen Pond to WishingwellPippy Park
Mundy PondSt. John's
Waterford River Walk (T'Railway)St. John's
Caribou Hill ParkSt. John's
South BrookSt. John's
SouthlandsSt. John's
Bidgood ParkSt. John's
Rotary Sunshine ParkSt. John's
Harbourside Park to Kent's Pond LinkSt. John's
Elizabeth to Courthouse LinkSt. John's
Elizabeth to Queens Road LinkSt. John's
Mundy Pond to Waterford LinkSt. John's
Mundy Pond to Bowring Park LinkSt. John's
Mundy Pond-Cowan-Bowring LinkSt. John's
Riverdale to Mundy Pond LinkSt. John's
Arboretum Walk (T'Railway)Mount Pearl
Branscombes PondMount Pearl
Admiralty WalkMount Pearl
Sunrise TrailMount Pearl
Waterford Valley Linear TrailMount Pearl
Paradise T'RailwayParadise
Elizabeth ParkParadise
Neils PondParadise
Octagon PondParadise
Peter Barry Duff Memorial ParkParadise
Adam's PondParadise
Conception Bay South T'RailwayConception Bay South
Manuels River TrailConception Bay South
Gateway TrailConception Bay South
Voisey's Brook ParkPortugal Cove - St. Philip's
Rainbow Gully ParkPortugal Cove - St. Philip's
Upper Three Corner Pond ParkTorbay
Western Island PondTorbay
Island Pond BrookTorbay
Woodbridge Park / Forest RiverTorbay

Awards and Accolades
  • Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, 2001 - Award for Excellence in Innovation.
  • Newfoundland T'Railway Council, 2001 - Trailblazer of the Year Award.
  • St. John's Clean and Beautiful, Community Organization Award 2003 - Harbourside Park.
  • Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, Manning Heritage Award 2003 (Shared) - Bishop Spencer School Memorial.
  • Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, National Honour Award 2003.
  • CSLA Regional Honour Award 2004 - Bowring Park Duck Pond Rehabilitation Project.
  • CSLA Regional Citation Award 2005 - Walkway Maintenance Manual.
  • American Society of Landscape Architects 2005 - National Honor Award.
  • Canadian Institute of Planners, 2011 - Vision in Planning Award.

References
  1. Peddle, Heddy M. and Johnson, P.J. (eds.) 1999. "Walker's Handbook. The Grand Concourse: Our Walker's Paradise" Johnson Family Foundation. St. John's, NL.
  2. D.W.Knight Associates. "The Grand Concourse Authority Benefits Study." Final Report submitted to the Grand Concourse Authority. 30 May 2007.
  3. D.W.Knight Associates. "The Grand Concourse Authority Benefits Study." Final Report submitted to the Grand Concourse Authority. 30 May 2007.
  4. "The Grand Concourse Authority." www.grandconcourse.ca
  5. "Grand Concourse Mapping." www.grandconcourse.ca/mapping
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