FAQs

We are still early in the design process and have yet to confirm the size, location, or type of stormwater facility for Countryside Park. Design options could include a wetland, pond, or underground facility. These details will become clear through the design process. Plans may change considerably throughout. We'll share design proposals with the public for review and comments at various stages.

The conceptual plan is used only to give an idea of what might be possible. Plans may change considerably throughout the design process. We will share design proposals with the public for review and comments at the next stage of engagement. We added the preliminary concept for Countryside Park to Engage: Preliminary concept.

• signage
• buffer zones
• railings, and
• natural planting barriers

We encourage you to check out other Kitchener stormwater ponds. You won't notice many mosquitos there. We avoid pools of shallow, stagnant water in our pond designs. We do this to prevent creating mosquito breeding grounds. We also add native plants within and around the pond perimeter. This creates a habitat for natural predators of mosquitos such as bats, birds and frogs. These native plants also support pollinator insects like butterflies and native bees.

The native plantings we use make it difficult for geese to enter stormwater features. We also use raptor poles to welcome birds like hawks who are natural predators of geese. Some options, such as underground stormwater facilities, create no new habitat for ducks and geese. We will consider all possibilities as the design progresses.

We design ponds with some areas that are deep enough to prevent stagnant water. This prevents odour and mosquito breeding habitat from forming.

We hear the importance of keeping existing trees. We're committed to increasing our urban tree canopy. Unfortunately, it is possible that some trees will need to be removed to construct the stormwater features in this park. We will get a better sense of the impacts once we reach the next engagement phase. If we must remove trees, we will replace trees following the City's tree management policy.

We will upgrade the trail and move it around the stormwater features as needed. We'll maintain the same continuity that the trail currently has. We will share design concepts when we reach the next phase of engagement. The design concepts will include site-specific details like trail relocations.

In the summer of 2022, we did test drills in the park. The purpose of these tests was to assess the groundwater table and the soil conditions on site. The stormwater facility design will account for these conditions. The design will not impact groundwater levels.

We hear that access to the park is important. During construction, we will close part or all of the park for safety because of the use of heavy equipment. Earlier this year, we surveyed the community about how you use this park. One way we will use the survey results is to reduce impacts on the community during construction.

This new stormwater pond will not affect your property taxes. Kitchener Utilities collects stormwater fees based on the size and type of properties. Residential properties pay a flat fee that funds stormwater management across the city. 

Stormwater fees are used to fund many programs. They help us monitor infrastructure, create our stormwater master plan, and take on new projects.

Utility rates can change yearly, and these changes are pre-planned. More information about rates can be found on our website: Stormwater utility - City of Kitchener

In 2015, we consulted the public about the Stormwater Management Master Plan. We consulted city-wide rather than taking a park-by-park approach. Since 2015 our approach to engagement has evolved and improved. We are committed to inclusive and equitable community engagement. 

 In early August 2022, we sent postcards to people living next to the park and placed signs within the park. We aimed to inform park and trail users and immediate neighbours of this project well before the project's design phase. Our outreach will be more expansive as we begin our design process for the ponds. As the project progresses, we will mail public meeting invitations within a broader neighbourhood area. We will seek neighbourhood input to better integrate the new stormwater ponds into the park. We will use this Engage page, social media ads, and mailouts to share news about engagement opportunities.

We advertise engagement opportunities in a wide variety of ways depending on the project or initiative, using approaches that are appropriate and accessible for the residents most affected by the issue. Some projects, like construction or development projects, also have specific requirements they must follow (example: sending letters to affected residents). 

Here are some ways to stay informed about engagement opportunities:

• Register for a free Engage Kitchener account to get notifications of new opportunities on that site 
• If you have a free My Kitchener account, add the “Engagement opportunities” widget to get those same notifications 
• Subscribe to the public consultations newsfeed and the calendar on the City's website to get notifications about in-person or virtual public meetings

We are committed to inclusive and equitable community engagement.  Our focus is on eliminating barriers from the participation process, ensuring those who are most affected are actively included, measuring our progress through demographic data collection, and committing to ongoing relationship-building and engagement.  We use a wide variety of approaches for engaging the broader community, selecting techniques based on the specifics of the issue or project at hand. For more information, please read our Community Engagement Policy.

In 2016, the City of Kitchener created a Stormwater Master Plan. Through this plan, we learned that 75% of the city has no stormwater treatment or flood controls. The plan identified 12 potential places for new stormwater facilities, including Meadowlane Park. This park was the only suitable place for such a facility in this area of Kitchener. Through the master plan we looked for locations that fit these criteria:

• Larger than 1 hectare
• On publicly owned land
• A nearby storm sewer diameter is bigger than 450 millimetres
• The catchment area is large and doesn't receive water-quality treatment
• The site is not too steep
• The site does not have significant treed areas or wetlands
• Meet Kitchener's water quality criteria

The development of recommended alternatives for each project was completed as part of the City’s Integrated Stormwater Master Plan. That report is available on Kitchener’s website.

We use the conceptual drawings from the Stormwater Master Plan (2016) only as an idea of what is possible. At the next engagement phase, we will share design options for feedback. These will provide more context. Excavations for stormwater features will be limited to City property.

The designs may include underground facilities or stormwater ponds. For an example of stormwater ponds check out the ponds at Waldau Woods Park and Forest West Park. We will share photos and examples of what to expect in future engagement stages.