Founded in 1989 by the Johnson Family Foundation, the Grand Concourse Authority (GCA) was
originally mandated to link existing walking trails around the City of St. John’s, Newfoundland into a
connected system. Starting with one landscape architect and a group of summer interns (including
DSA founding principal Roxanne Button), work began on a series of 10 studies that led to the creation
of walking trails and themed Heritage Walkways throughout the city. The GCA also oversaw the
development and restoration of parks, trails and walkways, interpretive signage, and construction of
park service buildings. In 2001-2002, Roxanne Button designed three of those visitor services
buildings: Bannerman Park, Octagon Pond, and Powers Pond. The latter two buildings also have a
boathouse component for kayaks and canoes.
The GCA won numerous awards for its work over 25+ years, including several from the Canadian
Society of Landscape Architects, American Society of Landscape Architects, Historic Sites Association
of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Canadian Parks & Recreation Association.