Since the late 1980s, The City of Nelson has maintained a sister city relationship with The City of Izu-shi in Shizuoka, Japan. To represent the camaraderie of this city sisterhood, The City of Nelson and The Nelson Izu-shi Friendship Society created and maintained a Friendship Garden in Cottonwood Falls Park starting in 2003. The park quickly became an important landmark for Nelson’s community, local Japanese-Canadians, and Japanese visitors alike. The multi-use park also houses a performance stage and a Saturday farmers market with many local vendors.

To complement the natural, cultural, and sculpted beauty of the park, The City of Nelson approached Shade Sails Canada Inc. to create an extensive 3,300 square foot shade structure to provide a safe and comfortable environment for park visitors and vendors. The City set a very specific budget limitation which was met and honoured. Other special considerations for this project include maintaining sight-lines of the performance stage, mature and new growth trees, and working with all stakeholders to consider interests and needs for the space.

Our projects and design teams worked closely with city administrators, engineers, installers and other stakeholders to create a shade structure that incorporates 19 steel posts supporting 7 interlinked Shade Sails. The final colour selection was Citrus in our Commercial DualShade fabric. With the hyperbolic shapes of these gorgeous Sails, the DualShade fabric glows and shimmers in the light with an iridescent dynamic effect that will be enjoyed for years to come