Rainbow Park set for growth

The project carries a price tag of $700,000, but city staff say the cost extends well beyond the building itself.

Engineering Technologist Michael Le Morvan says approximately half of the budget is tied directly to the construction of the washroom facility. The remaining cost covers extensive infrastructure work needed to bring services to the site, including sewer, water, and electrical connections.

“The sanitary line is in the north side of the park, and that’s in a high elevation,” said Le Morvan. “So part of the cost is to create that connection to serve the washroom. The other part of the cost is connecting the water from the central park with the part of the park and of course, BC Hydro.”

Le Morvan says the city planned the project with winter construction in mind. Instead of building the structure on site, crews will install a precast building that can be delivered and connected once underground servicing work is complete.

Work on sewer and water connections is expected to continue through the fall before the building is installed. Landscaping and final site work are then expected to be completed in the spring and summer ahead of the facility opening.

The project also aims to significantly improve accessibility within the park.

Current outhouses are located in an area that can be difficult for some visitors to reach. The new facility will be positioned in a flatter, paved section of the park where many events are held.

“First of all, this washroom is going to be centralized within the park,” said Le Morvan. “This one is going to be located mostly in the central part where events happen in the park, is really well paved, is flat, and as you can see on the diagrams that I show you, they are completely accessible.”

Prince George City Councillor Ron Polillo says the project addresses a long-standing need in one of the city’s most heavily used recreational spaces.

“It is a premier park,” said Polillo. “I believe it’s the second busiest and the second most used park in the city. And it did not have washrooms. And to me, that was something we needed to address.”

Polillo says the addition of safe, inclusive, and accessible washrooms will benefit not only those who regularly use Rainbow Park, but residents throughout Prince George.

The project was approved during the city’s 2026 budget deliberations and is being funded through the Development Cost Charges Parkland Fund and the Northern Capital and Planning Reserve.

Construction is expected to be completed by early summer 2027.

by Nick Dube

Rainbow Park set for growth

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