Winnipeg is nicknamed ?River City,? but despite its centre being located at the conflux of two waterways, the reality is that the city?s waterfronts have long been neglected. Most modern metropolitan areas around the world orient themselves towards their waterways, and water-facing sites are generally sought-after real estate. There are numerous case studies of reactivated waterfronts that have yielded cultural and economic gains through public access. Winnipeg?s waterfront sites, in contrast, are often used as surface parking lots and industrial infrastructure.
A view of the current state of the Alexander Docks, located on the Red River. The site is flanked by development along Waterfront Drive. Photo by Brian Gould.
Our conviction that Winnipeg needs to rethink its relation to its rivers led the two of us to organize a community-based ideas competition in 2018. The intent of On the Docks was to involve citizens in exploring the urban potential of the abandoned Alexander Docks, a riverside site that is starting to be surrounded by developments. We asked the community a simple question: What type of public space would most benefit the site" Designers as well as non-designers were encouraged to dream big with imaginative solutions. Play of the Land, by Billy Chung of Toronto-based Something Specific, contrasts the Prairie horizon with an artificial landscape along the Red River?s edge. This continuous greenery extends the city fabric to the river with a year-round, act...