Nepean Point Redevelopment

The National Capital Commission is leading the Nepean Point Redevelopment project, which is based on the winning design of an International Landscape Design Competition held in 2017 by the National Capital Commission.  Beginning with a June 2014 visioning and design workshop, and continuing into October 2017 with proposal presentations by the Design Competition finalists, stakeholder groups and members of the community have been able to help define key goals of the Redevelopment project from its inception.

 

The winning innovative design will create a lively, 21st century green space, in the heart of the National Capital that provides the opportunity for a new interpretation, improved landscape and enhanced public access. The plan includes:

 

  • Replacement of a section of the existing perimeter fence with a landscape
    ha-ha and a perimeter walking path.      A ha-ha is a recessed landscape design element that creates a vertical barrier while preserving an uninterrupted view of the landscape beyond, which in this project consists of the Ottawa River and the National Capital Core Area;
  • The addition of architectural features that introduce a series of deep-seated nooks framing panoramic views to the Ottawa River;
  • Walking paths;
  • A landscape shelter which replaces the original amphitheatre design;
  • Three new entrances to facilitate access to Nepean Point, which includes a pedestrian bridge linking Major's Hill and Nepean Point Parks.

 

Subject to the availability of funding and the attainment of federal approvals from its Board of Directors, the National Capital Commission is proposing to move forward with the implementation of Part I of the project plan. This includes:

 

  • Demolition of the remaining Astrolabe Theatre features, which have reached the end of their life-cycle.
  • In response to the fact that the National Capital Commission is required to carry out the temporary removal, rehabilitation and storage of the Samuel de Champlain statue and monument, the Boundary Marker, and the Centennial Survey Monument in July of 2020 and that these project components, which originally included the Anishinabe Scout statue, had been initiated as a separate project under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012), a separate section 67 determination under CEAA 2012 will be made in July 2020 for these specific components. The determination required for the removal and storage of the Anishinabe Scout statue, as well as for all the other project components posted on the Notice of Intent, will be made in the Fall of 2020 under the Impact Assessment Act.
  • Temporary relocation of the National Gallery of Canada (the Gallery) Black Nest and Water Planet, and Majestic art sculptures, and protection of the 100 Foot Line and Nature Will Reclaim You sculptures.
  • Site works related to the perimeter of the park including the restoration of minor sections of the existing perimeter wall and the construction of a landscape Ha-Ha boarder feature around the majority of the perimeter of the park.
  • Restoration of segments of the perimeter wall and excavation of base materials in areas for the Ha-Ha feature that will replace the existing perimeter wall.
  • Removal of existing trees in poor health.
  • Foundation and infrastructure work towards a pedestrian bridge linking Major's Hill and Nepean Point Parks.

 

Throughout 2020, the site will be in a state of construction. The project will continue to be coordinated with stakeholders identified throughout its implementation phase, including the Gallery.

 

Nepean Point is a significant National Capital Commission property of about 20,100 square metres located within the National Capital Core Area on a natural limestone escarpment bordering the Ottawa River.  The site, which offers uninterrupted panoramic views of the region, is located adjacent to the Gallery.

 

The existing site layout, completed in 1974, includes the Astrolabe Theatre, a concrete amphitheatre with a ticket booth, storage and change room facilities and a stage.  The site is also home to the Samuel de Champlain statue and monument identified in Parks Canada's Directory of Federal Heritage Designations under the National Historic Person designation.  Nepean Point also houses a variety of public art sculptures that are owned by the Gallery.

More

Latest update

October 20, 2020 – The National Capital Commission, as lead authority, and the National Gallery of Canada issued their Notice of Determination and determined on October 16, 2020, that the Nepean Point Redevelopment project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Notice of Determination - Nepean Point Redevelopment - October 20, 2020
1 Public Notice - Nepean Point Redevelopment - Public Comments Invited - March 2, 2020

Contacts

National Capital Commission
Environmental Assessment
40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5A8
Email: IA-EI@ncc-ccn.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Ottawa (Ontario)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Other, not otherwise specified

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2020-03-02

  • Proponent

    The National Capital Commission

  • Authorities

    • National Capital Commission
    • National Gallery of Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    80522

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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