The drive leading to the Animal Farm at Canatara Park will be much smoother this summer following the city's resurfacing project.
Beginning on Monday, Cathcart Boulevard (also referred to as the Animal Farm road) will be closed west of Lake Chipican Drive for resurfacing work on the roadway, path, and parking lot.
However, the Animal Farm will remain open. Visitors can walk to the farm from Lake Chipican Drive, around the large park field.
Construction Manager Robert Williams said work on this phase of the Canatara Park Road Resurfacing Project is expected to take approximately three weeks, depending on the weather.
"We're getting off to a little bit of a slow start with some new hydro conduits that are going to be for new light poles that are going to go in as part of this project, then some culverts, and we'll be grinding up the road and paving it," he said. "Our phase one should [take] about a month and then all of the work is supposed to be completed before Canada Day."
Williams said they appreciate people's patience during the work period as they recognize how busy Canatara Park is.
"We're not trying to limit access to the park, we're just trying to keep everybody safe so we can do our work," he said. "Everybody's patience is appreciated."
After this summer, Williams said most of the repaving work will be done within the park, with the exception of three lake parking lots.
There are no plans to resurface those parking lots at this time, but Williams said the city's parks department is working on a master plan to address future needs.
The Canatara Park Road Resurfacing Project is expected to cost $839,236.