Places and Spaces: Kitchener's park and open space strategy
In Kitchener, we know parks aren’t just important – they’re essential. Parks are more than the sum of their parts. They are extensions of the communities they are placed in and contribute significantly to the community’s identity and individuals’ connections within it. Whether you use parks to gather, unwind, exercise, socialize, play, or celebrate, we want to hear from you. Let us know what a great park means to you!
Places and Spaces is an update to the existing Parks Strategic Plan adopted by City Council in 2010. It is the recasting of the parks plan to better reflect current demands of park space. It will re-evaluate all aspects of parks delivery in Kitchener down to the fundamental level - what makes a quality park in Kitchener?
The purpose of this strategy is to:
- Re-affirm Kitchener’s vision and commitment to building and maintaining public parks
- Provide multiple guiding principles and policy themes to inform future park development
- Modernize the process of park acquisitions
There are two core focuses for this strategy:
Places: the vision of parks in Kitchener. Places focuses on the quality of our parks for placemaking and creating diverse and functional spaces. Places will explore a wide range of themes, including principles of design (equity, accessibility), environmental (habitat, stormwater and climate change), and specific infrastructure planning (playgrounds, sportsfields, dog parks).
Spaces: explores the quantity of parks in Kitchener, and parks context within the City. It will detail Kitchener’s current inventory, look at the definitions of park space, determine the amount of park space we need and where, and provide or update the tools in which we acquire those spaces.
Please read the Foundations document, which outlines the Parks Strategic Plan update process, its structure and guiding principles.
We want to hear from you!
We are engaging residents to better understand how parks are used, what barriers exist to using parks, and what you value most about parks. Guiding documents, created with the data collected from these engagements, will help shape more inclusive and all-welcoming Kitchener parks.
Subscribe for updates by adding your email to the Stay Informed box on this page, then click 'Subscribe'.
Which are the most accessible and welcoming parks you have visited?
We want to learn from good ideas here and abroad. Share your examples of accessible and welcoming parks in Kitchener – or anywhere else in the world! Our definitions:
- Accessible: Anyone would be physically able to use the amenities and facilities, no matter their abilities or age. It was easy to get to and navigate.
- Welcoming: It's a park you want to visit, because there is a sense of belonging, comfort and safety there.
Instructions:
- Think of a park that is accessible and/or welcoming for you and your loved ones.
- Zoom into to the park you want to pin.
- Click the plus sign (+) to choose a pin. Was that park the most accessible? Choose the "Accessible" pin. Was it the most welcoming? Choose the "Welcoming pin. Was it both? Use the "Both" pin.
- Drag and drop the pin to the park.
- Tell us: What made that park so accessible or welcoming for you and your loved ones?
- Add as many pins as you like. It's also ok for a location to have multiple pins.
Infographics
Who's Listening
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Manager, Parks and Open Space Design and Development
Phone 519-741-2200 x4045 Email ashley.visneski@kitchener.ca -
Phone 519-741-2600 ext 4397 Email Mark.Parris@kitchener.ca
