$750,000 investment at Forest Glade park makes a big splash
A new splash pad and accessible washroom unveiled at Forest Glade Optimist Park on Thursday will be open by the Victoria Day long weekend.
Located between Forest Glade Library and the skate park, the $750,000 investment is part of a $2.2-million sports and recreation upgrade underway in the area.
Ward 7. Coun. Jeewen Gill contributed $20,000 in ward funds towards the $50,000 purchase and installation of security cameras to help monitor park activity.
“Since the start of the COVID -19 pandemic, we saw an increased use of these (park) amenities,” Gill said. “The city is continuing to make investments to make them better and more usable.”
Next up for park improvements is the completion and installation of new pickleball and tennis courts where the old tennis courts once were. That $850,000 project is expected to be finished by the first day of summer.
New catch basins have been installed in and around the parking lot area, where the last lift of asphalt paving will be the final touch.
The park also offers baseball diamonds, a twin-pad arena, a community centre, a library, multi-use trails, and more.
“It's such a destination for people who live in this community that we want to keep making improvements that meet the needs of the residents,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
James Chacko, senior manager of parks for the city, said he expects all nine splash pads in Windsor will be up and running ahead of the coming long weekend starting May 21.
All are free of charge and will operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weather permitting, until Thanksgiving.