Parksville Outdoor Theatre
The new Parksville Outdoor Theatre was officially opened in July 2022 at an event hosted by the City of Parksville and the Parksville Beach Festival Society. The Parksville Beach Festival Society will operate and manage the theatre on behalf of the City for the next three years. The goal is to offer the facility to the community at reasonable rental rates while also raising funds to cover the costs to operate the facility.
Rental information
Theatre amenities
Application to book
Project history
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New Parksville Outdoor Theatre Celebrated on July 22
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkJuly 25, 2022
The much-anticipated official opening of the Parksville Outdoor Theatre in the Parksville Community Park took place on Friday, July 22. Hundreds of residents and visitors brought lawn chairs and settled in for the evening, kicking off Parksville Beach Festival’s summer concert series. The evening began with a performance by Salish shxw’aluqwa’ (Salish Sisters), traditional singers from Snaw-Naw-As First Nation, followed by speeches and the official passing of the management of this new theatre, on behalf of the City, to the Parksville Beach Festival Society.
In 2018, the Parksville Beach Festival Society approached Council with the concept to build an outdoor theatre in the Parksville Community Park. This new facility will provide a formal entertainment space, support the festival’s five-week international sand sculpting exhibition and concerts in the park as well as many other community activities and events.
In 2020, the City of Parksville received funding of $1,263,521 through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream, for improvements to public spaces in the Parksville Community Park. This funding generously supports the construction of the outdoor theatre and a new gathering space proposed for the area near the waterfront gazebo. Construction will begin this fall for completion in early 2023. This project also received generous funding of $204,000 from Island Coastal Economic Trust and received funding support from the City of Parksville and Parksville Beach Festival Society.
The Parksville Outdoor Theatre features a covered accessible stage, dressing rooms, washrooms, storage space, lighting, acoustic treatments, hardscaped access ramp, and area for dancing. The City has an operating agreement with the Parksville Beach Festival Society to manage the facility.
The Honourable Harjit S Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, and Member of Parliament for Vancouver South, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
“Artistic and cultural events help connect our residents and breathe life and vitality into communities. By investing in cultural spaces like the Parksville Outdoor Theatre, we are providing a place for residents to enjoy plays, concerts and a variety of activities – and building a more inclusive community.”Adam Walker, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum
"Finished in time for the return of the Parksville Beach Festival summer concert series, this new stage will carry the beat of local musicians for years to come. Not only does this provide new opportunities for local arts and culture movements, this project engages the community and inspires young musicians and artists!”Aaron Stone, Island Coastal Economic Trust
“A huge congratulations to the City of Parksville and the Parksville Beach Festival Society on this major investment that will enhance and breathe new life into the special events that make Parksville such a wonderful place to live and to visit. Led by islands and coastal communities, the Trust committed to this strategic investment as the first funder. This is a key role we’re honoured to deliver on today—serving as a catalyst for vital investment and economic development in exciting projects like this across the coast.”Mayor Ed Mayne
“The Parksville Outdoor Theatre, an exciting new addition to the City, will create a sense of community and enhance the quality of performance-related events, bringing new and exciting cultural events to Parksville for residents and visitors. We are grateful for the significant support from the provincial and federal governments, Island Coastal Economic Trust, and the Parksville Beach Festival Society.Cheryl Dill, President, Parksville Beach Festival Society
“We are so proud of this gorgeous, new performance theatre tucked within the jewel of Parksville, our community park. It represents many years of volunteerism and collaboration and promises tremendous opportunity for community engagement and economic development. Our Society is determined to ensure the operational success of the theatre while enhancing the arts and cultural vibrancy of Parksville and the surrounding regions.”###
For more information:
Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications
dtardiff@parksville.ca; 250 954-3073 -
Improvements to Parksville Community Park Amenities
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This release provides information about projects underway or anticipated in the Parksville Community Park. The park continues to be our local jewel and an important amenity for residents and visitors of all ages. Balancing multiple demands with a desire to maintain sustainable property taxes, the City continually works to improve the Parksville Community Park as well as our other parks, trails and facilities to meet current and future community needs. We are excited to welcome visitors and residents back to the Park for post-pandemic special events and festivities as well as day-to-day enjoyment.
New outdoor stage and gathering space - the outdoor stage and gathering space received funding of $1.26 million through a Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure grant and the outdoor stage received an additional $204,750 in funding from the Island Coastal Economic Trust.
In September 2021, Council allocated $515,000 from general revenue for construction of the stage. Construction of the stage is underway, and we anticipate the project to be ready for use in late June. Request for proposals for construction of the gathering place will soon be issued with construction scheduled to begin this fall.
Ventureland Playground - improvements included major upgrades to surfacing and new playground equipment. These improvements increase accessibility to the playground and the new equipment for all ages and abilities. Through the pandemic, the playground was an important outdoor space for children and their families. The playground continues to benefit from the generosity of the Parksville Lions Club with the new splash park added in 2018 with the help from community organizations and donations from the public. Currently, the City has an outstanding grant application for additional rubber surfacing in the playground.
Stormwater management - in 2021, through FCM and the Green Municipal Fund, we received a grant for $168,300 to complete a stormwater management master plan for the park. This plan is complete, and a grant application was submitted to the Green Infrastructure Fund in February for $1.6 million to implement priority stormwater management projects in the park.
Kin Hut and washroom facilities - in October 2021, Council approved the continued use of the Kin Hut washrooms and $499,000 for a new washroom facility. Requests for proposals for construction of the new washroom will soon be issued with construction to follow immediately after award of contract. We know the existing washroom facility was often over capacity and this will help alleviate the demand when we welcome people and events back to the park.
Safe sports play - many projects scheduled in 2022 will improve safety and accessibility for park users, address the need for multiuse facilities, and provide project coordination to ensure efficiencies and cost savings. Upgrades in the park include the accessible viewing and safe access to the area near the volleyball courts, pedestrian connections and pathways, and resurfacing and repairs for the skateboard park, lacrosse box, and racquet courts.
- In March 2022, Council approved Gas Tax funding to cover an expenditure of $362,000 for sports courts safety and accessibility improvements. From 2021, an additional $295,000 will be applied to this work as a carry forward for a total of $657,000 dedicated to a host of improvements.
- Upgrades to the volleyball court include physical barriers around the play area to prevent conflicts between players and vehicles and a new viewing area with bleachers, which will also contain errant balls during play.
- Addition of a new accessible pathway, designated pickup and drop-off zone, and crosswalk near the washrooms and food truck pads.
- Upgrades to the skateboard park expected to get underway this year will repair the cracks, heaves and ponding.
- The lacrosse box will be repaired, resurfaced, and relined for lacrosse, pickleball and basketball play. Bleachers and bike racks will be installed.
- Racquet courts will be repaired, resurfaced and relined for one permanent tennis and four permanent pickleball courts with a physical barrier between. Bleachers and bike racks will be installed.
City parks support the health of our community and contribute to the economic and environmental well-being of our City. For information about City parks and our beaches and open spaces, please refer to our website.
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Outdoor Theatre Construction Begins in Parksville Community Park
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Construction will soon begin on the new outdoor theatre in the Parksville Community Park. In October 2021, Copcan Civil Ltd was awarded the contract to construct the outdoor theatre along with water, storm and sanitary infrastructure. Copcan will mobilize at the construction site this week and will begin initial work which include tree removal, equipment and materials delivery and fencing. Site excavation will start in mid December and the City expects the project to complete in May 2022.
During construction through May 2022, Ravenhill Road in the Parksville Community Park will be closed to vehicle traffic, Monday to Friday. The road will open for weekends only. The picnic shelter will remain open and available for rentals during construction.
In 2020, the City of Parksville received confirmation of the successful funding award of $1,263,521 through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream, for improvements to public spaces in the Parksville Community Park. The project is supported with grants from the federal ($689,225) and provincial ($574,296) governments, a grant from the Island Coastal Economic Trust ($204,000), the Parksville Beach Festival Society and the City of Parksville. The grant award is for two projects in the Parksville Community Park - the outdoor theatre and the gathering plaza. Construction on the gathering plaza to be located near the waterfront gazebo, will begin fall 2022 with completion near yearend 2022.
This project will create community oriented, publicly accessible, multi-purpose space which will be the heart of our community. Follow the project and updates at Let’s Talk Parksville.
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