Moncton’s long-awaited Vision Lands development took a positive step forward on Monday with the unveiling of preliminary details for a new city park. The city has been eager to see progress on the 566-hectare area located between the Trans-Canada Highway and Wheeler Boulevard, mostly under private ownership.
During the council meeting, a plan was approved to subdivide a privately owned parcel into 11 building lots, expand public streets, and designate space for a park surrounding the North Branch of Halls Creek within the Vision Lands owned by HarbourEdge Realty Administration Corp. Council members praised the plan as a significant milestone in advancing the development.
Despite the approval, there are no specific timelines set for the commencement of construction activities. City officials emphasized the need for various procedural steps, including securing funding for road construction. The city’s 2026 budget allocates $500,000 for land acquisition for the park, with the purchase price remaining undisclosed.
Acknowledging the efforts of the developer in allocating space for the park, Councilor Daniel Bourgeois expressed gratitude for the commitment made. The proposed park, although smaller in size compared to other major Moncton parks, is a key component in the ongoing discussions surrounding the Vision Lands development.
The groundwork for establishing a new city park in the Vision Lands has been laid out over the years, with discussions initiated as early as 2022 by Bourgeois and then-mayor Dawn Arnold. As the city engaged in dialogues with landowners to update planning documents for the Vision Lands, termed as a secondary plan, the vision for the park began to take shape.
Josh Davies, the city’s manager of long-range policy planning, informed the council that an updated secondary plan, involving rezoning of parts of the Vision Lands currently designated for low-density housing, is anticipated to be presented in February. This signifies a significant step toward transforming the Vision Lands into a vibrant urban development.
Ultimately, the progress made in unveiling the park plans underscores Moncton’s commitment to realizing the long-awaited Vision Lands development, marking a pivotal moment in the city’s urban growth journey.