Phase three of redevelopment work at Rockwood Park in Saint John has begun.

Construction got underway on Monday, according to the city’s director of parks and recreational facilities.

Marc Dionne said this phase of work involves several upgrades around Duck Pond and the interpretation centre.

“It’s another opportunity for us to enhance many of the features in the Duck Pond area and to make it better for the public and our surrounding communities that use the park,” Dionne said in an interview.

Work includes replacing some stormwater and sanitary lines, installing a new culvert between the Duck Pond and Lily Lake, and adding an aerator to the pond to help remove algae that form.

Crews will also replace the stairs and decking around the interpretation centre, install a new pavilion nearby, and add some boulders on Lake Drive South next to a rock climbing wall.

In addition, there will also be new picnic tables, decorative lighting and wayfinding signs installed.

Dionne said no major visitor impacts are anticipated during construction, which is expected to continue until the end of August.

“When they redo the bridge between the Duck Pond and Lily Lake, there is going to be some impact there, but we are going to have access through the back way through Hawthorne Avenue,” he said.

Once the bridge-related work begins, it is expected to take about 20 days to complete, said Dionne.

The total price tag of the project is just over $1.6 million, he said.

The first two phases were completed in the previous two decades and involved work along roads surrounding the area.