Young families eager to use new south Kitchener park
KITCHENER — The new South Kitchener District Park can’t come soon enough for the residents who live in the fastestgrowing part of the city.
“We’ve been waiting for this,” said Lori Prospero, who was one of more than 40 people who went to an open house Thursday evening about the plans for the park. “We really need this. It’s been put off year to year.”
Plans for a park to serve the city’s booming southwest have actually been on the books since 1991.
“We’re excited,” said Alanna McLaughlin, who came to the open house with her husband Andrew. They believe the park will be a well-used amenity that will add value to their home.
“There’s really nothing over in that area now,” Alanna said. “We can’t wait. We’ll be able to walk home from all the events that are going to happen at the park.”
The area is home to many young families that desperately need amenities, Prospero said, adding that she has taken her kids to the playground and splash pad in New Hamburg because the closest splash pad at McLennan Park was closed this summer.
Indeed, there were plenty of young families at the meeting, with babies and toddlers in tow. Jessica Bondy urged park planners to ensure the park has shade structures if large trees aren’t possible. “I know some of our other parks really struggle with having sustainable shade for families,” she said.
City staff and consultants held the open house to outline plans for the 17-hectare (42-acre) park at the southwest corner of Huron Road and Fischer-Hallman Road and to hear from future park users about what they want to see in it. The first three phases are budgeted to cost $19 million.
The first phase, to open in spring 2019, is budgeted at $10.3 million and will put in basic amenities such as roads and parking, two lit and fenced artificial-turf soccer fields, a natural turf multipurpose field, a natural open lawn area, a playground and possibly a splash pad.
The second phase is budgeted at $5.5 million and will add trails, sports courts and washrooms in 2021. Until then, portable toilets will be available for park users.
Phase 3 in 2025 will add a bike track and skateboard park for $3.2 million.
The final phase, with plans
for an indoor pool and soccer fields, as well as twin ice pads, would come some time after that.
Grading is set to happen this fall. Construction is expected to start in the spring.
The park may end up being even bigger. The city is also looking to buy 14 hectares of surplus school board land adjacent to the park. If that sale goes ahead, it would almost double the park’s size to 31 hectares and make it the largest sports park in the city.
Construction can begin even before the city learns if that bid is successful, said Denise McGoldrick, Kitchener’s director of operations for environmental services.
The open house was also held to encourage future users of the park to give the city some input in things like the design of the playground and splash pad, and on public art that will go in the park. There’s an online survey on the city’s website at kitchener.ca/ southkitchenerpark.