What we heard and next steps
From 2021 to 2024, City of Kitchener’s Parks team set out to learn more about what you think makes a great park, to help shape the update of the Parks Master Plan.
Over 2400 City of Kitchener residents joined in these conversations with us. Whether you answered a survey, participated in a discussion, or filled out an online poll, we want to thank you for taking part in this important process to guide the future of City of Kitchener Parks!
Through a series of 32 group engagements, 16 online surveys, 10 ideas boards, 4 online polls and 13 follow up conversations, you let us know that you value inclusive, safe, accessible, environmentally responsible, and active parks.
We spent the last year holding our final community conversations and reviewing all the input we received. Overall, we learned that when it comes to Kitchener parks, what’s most important to residents is:
- Equity – Giving consideration to those who experience systemic barriers to participation
- Environmental sustainability – The importance of protecting, maintaining, and expanding open spaces, natural spaces and enacting climate mitigation measures
- Accessibility – Barrier-free access to park spaces, trails and features
- Safety – Feeling safe in parks during the day and night
- Inclusion – Feeling welcome in parks through access to park spaces and amenities
- Information – Sharing information about city parks and open spaces and creating learning opportunities within park spaces
- Health and wellbeing – Recognizing the physical, social, and mental health benefits of parks
- Partnerships – Developing thoughtful relationships and ongoing engagement with community members to create parks that reflect the needs and wants of residents
We are taking a more detailed summary of your valuable feedback and our recommendations to Kitchener City Council later this fall. These insights will also be carried forward into Kitchener 2051 – our new Official Plan project, to help shape the future of parks in Kitchener.
