Developer proposes his land for new school next to Centennial Park in Moncton

A Moncton developer hopes that the province will choose his land next to Centennial Park for a new school.

Last month, Premier Brian Gallant announced Monctonisgetting a new kindergarten to Grade 8 school in the west end.

Although there's no word yet on when the school will be built or where, the province has put aside $1.5 million to begin planning the new school, which will replace Hillcrest and Bessborough schools.

• Moncton secures new K-8 school for west end
• Education council recommends closure of Hillcrest School in Moncton
• Proposal to replace west end school in works in Moncton

RomeoGoguen, who ownsMapoma, adevelopment company inMoncton, owns vacant land along the north edge of Centennial Park, directly across the street from the CN Sportplex,a large recreational facility in the west end, which planners feel is an easy location to drive to.

"He said, 'Listen, if it made sense for the community and the community was interested in putting a school there I think it would be a great piece of land because it borders the park and right across the street are the best fields in the city,'" said Bill Whalen, owner of Hawk Marketing, who is working with Goguen on the project.

What a great place to have recreation and social activities as part of your school mix.-BillWhalen, owner of Hawk Marketing

Goguenbought the land from aCrown corporation, Canada Lands Company.

He had a 10-year development plan, buthe put it on hold about a year ago after he heard the two schools were closing down.

According to Whalen, the landowner has started playing around with plans to see what the school layout could look like and how the community could be improved.

"If my kids could've gone to a school that had the beautiful Centennial Park and across the street had the fields of CN Sportplex what a great place to have recreation and social activities as part of your school mix," Whalen said.

But not everyone supports having anew school at that location.

Whalenand Jim Scott, president of Trace Planning and Design, recently met with committees from both west end schools. While parents atHillcrestwere for the idea, parents atBessboroughwant a new school on the current site.

A broader vision

Whalen said the developer has also met withNew BrunswickFinanceMinisterCathy Rogers, members of thedistrict education council and with the city.

"Romeo's big thing was, 'I don't want this to be anotherMonctonHigh, where once the school decision is made, the old school gets left behind and nothing done with it.'

"He wanted to create a vision for the other two sites."

The plan would include housing.

"In the end, this is the province's decision but let's raise our hand and say, 'We've got a piece of land that we think might make some sense for the parents, for the kids and for the community.'"

Scott saidbetween 20 and 25 acres would be needed for a kindergarten to Grade 8 school but15 acres would be OK.

There have not been any discussions between the landowner and the province. But the landowner will develop a proposal package, while continuing discussions with the city and going through a rezoning process.

"Romeo wanted to make it very clear that he wanted this to be a wonderful place for kids," Scott said. "We want this to be a neighbourhood school."