The main Union Terrace Gardens lawn will remain muddy and bald until the end of winter, it has been revealed.
Turf will not be laid in once-green space in Aberdeen city centre until at least mid-February.
The decision should allow the park to be opened in time for Christmas after its £30 million revamp, as promised in The P&J on Saturday.
Council chiefs have ruled there is too great a risk of damage to the new grass during the colder months.
And the return of the Spectra light festival to Union Terrace Gardens (UTG) also poses “high risk” of turf damage.
It also looks as though there will be nothing to mark the opening, with Spectra described as “the first major event” to be held in the new-look UTG.
Aberdeen City Council previously criticised for state of UTG lawn after Spectra
Town House top brass have in previous years been criticised for leaving the lawn to ruin after hosting major events in the sunken Victorian park.
Chief capital officer John Wilson has revealed the city won’t make the same mistake again as UTG “nears completion”.
Back in early October, he said the opening was “a matter of weeks” away.
Now, the grass won’t be laid until after the award-winning lightshow and any required remedial work on the grounds.
Even then, the local authority will wait until “weather conditions are favourable”.
The public will be told to keep off the lawn while the turf takes root, meaning it could still be well into spring before access is allowed.
And, by delaying the turf laying the council should be able to make good on a pledge to have the gardens open by Christmas.
The only other job remaining is fitting golden cladding beneath new walkways in front of the arches under Union Terrace.
With the project dogged with supply issues due to the global turmoil of the last few years, the materials are on site and being installed.
‘High risk of damage’ if new Union Terrace Gardens lawn is laid in December
A “couple of reasons” have been laid out in a report to be discussed by councillors next week.
Mr Wilson said the wet and frosty weather expected is “not ideal” for laying turf.
He added: “The forthcoming Spectra lightshow event in February 2023 will have exhibits located within the central lawn area. This in turn will attract a significant footfall across it.
“It is expected that with mitigation protective measures put in place, there will inevitably still be a high risk that there will be turf damage across the lawn if it were to be laid.
“Bearing in mind the above, the expectation is that practical completion will be
achieved prior to Christmas thereby allowing the garden to be open to the
public.”
- You can take a fly-through tour of the gardens here.
- And you can find our UTG advent calendar – counting up to opening day – here. This article was behind door number one.
Hundreds of thousands needed to make Spectra 2023 happen
Meanwhile, councillors will be asked to sign off on £240,000 in funding for the eighth iteration of Spectra.
Commissioning director Gale Beattie said the 2023 event is facing budget pressures due to “exceptionally high costs” in the events sector due to inflation.
“Spectra has an immediate funding requirement to enable delivery of the event in 2023,” she added.
“As this will be the first major event held in Union Terrace Gardens once it has opened to the public, additional funding is needed to ensure the site has the scale and quality artworks required to meet expectations, as well as activating other city centre spaces.”
She claims the festival of light is “vital” to Aberdeen’s calendar and will directly contribute to the post-Covid recovery.
The money will also be used to commission artwork for Spectra 2024 and 2025, as well as ramping up marketing.
Conversation