The Forks today unveiled designs to transform the historic Alexander Docks into a beautiful new riverside park. Click HERE to see the incredible before and after concept drawings!
With the docks closed and the site unused for over a decade, the plans envision the site becoming a welcoming, accessible waterfront space for all Winnipeggers. The revitalized area would include gathering spaces, seating terraces, improved lighting, recreational access from land and water, and dedicated areas for reflection and ceremony.
“We are not just rebuilding a dock. This will be a new park that will restore beauty and joy to this part of the waterfront,” said Sara Stasiuk, President and CEO of The Forks. “This team is rebuilding a place for people, a lush urban oasis for everyone in our community to enjoy.”
The new space will revitalize and enhance the active transportation pathway leading from Stephen Juba Park to South Point Douglas. It also features a new dock allowing canoes, kayaks and other watercraft to dock adjacent to the historic Exchange District. The dock is envisioned to be a new Waterbus stop in summer with a large welcoming public space for people at the water’s edge.
Importantly, the park design preserves the site of the memorial for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people maintained by the community since 2014 and a new permanent arbour for gathering and ceremony. The project design (led by Scatliff + Miller + Murray, and Narratives Inc.) has been shaped by extensive public consultation which began in 2016, when the City of Winnipeg tasked The Forks to lead this project. In 2021, The Forks received $600,000 from the city’s Downtown Covid Recovery Strategy City of Winnipeg Economic Response and Recovery Plan, which helped pay for additional consultations as well as initial engineering study work. Today’s designs were shaped by many community voices including area residents, business owners, as well as family and advocates of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People.
“Alexander Docks will become one of Winnipeg’s great riverfront parks — a place for everyone to gather, reflect and enjoy the water. The Forks has a strong record of developing and managing outstanding public spaces that connect with Winnipeggers, and I’m confident they’ll do the same here,” said City of Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham.
The Forks estimates the redevelopment of Alexander Docks will cost approximately $10.8 million. The fundraising will be led by The Forks Foundation which has begun having discussions with both public and private funding partners. This investment is crucial to revitalize a now derelict site, making it safe and beautiful for all Winnipeggers to enjoy.
See https://www.theforks.com/support/alexander-docks for more information.