Places and Spaces: Kitchener's park and open space strategy

Yes there are plans in place for a network of trails through Lackner Woods and into the surrounding neighbourhoods. A feasibility study was completed in 2021 to determine the possible routes and costs. There is no budget nor implementation plan at this time. Once initiated, the project will require an extensive public consultation process and Environmental Assessment before construction can occur.

The City recognizes the current housing crisis affecting its’ most vulnerable population. Addressing homelessness requires an all-of-community approach that includes community, local municipal, regional, provincial and federal partners – and the City of Kitchener is committed to continuing to play our part in finding solutions.   Until there are sufficient alternatives for those using Victoria Park island as refuge, the City will continue to provide support for the unhoused while balancing the enforcement of parks by-laws under a human-centered approach. The island remains open for public use, with alternative routes available to access to all of the parks amenities.

Thank you for your question! We’re making every effort to connect with as many people as possible for park projects, using the tools we have available – in-park signage, letters, social media, connection to neighbourhood associations and community groups among them. Parks representatives can always be reached through the city’s contact centre at 519-741-2345. Please feel free to use this number 24/7 to report any concerns, and, if required, Security staff can attend the site and work with police if needed. 

Garbage is collected regularly across the city though may be required more frequently in specific parks. Contacting us through the call centre will help us understand where the higher frequency is needed. Please connect with Niall Lobley (Niall.Lobley@kitchener.ca) if you wish to tell us more about it. 

First and foremost we appreciate your concern. I would immediately direct you to the project page linked below.

Tree removals are always difficult decisions to make. Removals here are part of the creek stabilization efforts, which means widening and meandering the creek. This will improve water quality, increase resiliency to storm events that cause flooding, and create in-water habitat. Every effort was made to save as much canopy as possible.

Trees that were cut will be re-used in the creation of in-water habitat and bank protections. New tree plantings are planned to replace felled trees, along with park improvements to include a quiet seating area along the creek edge. Construction is expected to begin in mid-May and completed by October.

https://www.engagewr.ca/montgomerycreek

Thank you for the question and comment. School grounds are important open spaces and used by communities, but they are not parks and the City does not control their long term use as open space. As such these are valuable, but provide greenspace over and above a minimum provision of municipal public park space. 

The City does have control over park land through redevelopment, and associated to this development is the construction of a public park, albeit significant smaller than the previous school grounds were, at the front of Rosemount Dr. A second small park is located at Frederick and Avon road and a third at Shantz Park at River and Manchester. 

Your feedback is much appreciated as we are keen to understand how close should a park be to community, how do neighbourhoods use school grounds through the year, supporting new parks vs. re-investing in existing, among many others. 

In clearer terms it means the city needs to create a new by-law specific to the use of CBC's, and "pass" as in the by-law requires Council approval. If it is approved by Council the by-law is then open for public appeals, after which time the by-law is enacted and can be applied to new development applications. 

Answered in previous question as one response

Answered in previous question as one response

Thank you for your questions. Decisions on how to decorate Victoria Park are made on a year on year basis. Staff are not aware that decisions to not place lights in certain areas is as a result of vandalism concerns. Victoria Park, as with other parks, are supported by both Waterloo Regional Police and City Security staff; both of which are in Victoria Park on multiple occasions daily. Please feel free to connect directly with Niall Lobley, at niall.lobley@kitchener.ca if you have any further questions or follow up.

The City did employ density bonusing policies under Section 37 of the Planning Act. Recent changes to the Act however have removed these policies in favour of a single consolidated framework called Community Benefits Charges (CBC). In principle they are similar, however applied very differently. Whereas bonusing allowed developments to choose which features to provide in exchange for added heights/densities beyond zoning restrictions, CBC's are applied as a single 4% of land area application, yielding a cash value that the City can use for a wide range of facilities - parks, trails, active transportation as you mention among them.

In order to being applying CBC's, all municipalities must first write and pass an associated by-law. The City will be engaging Council in Q1 or Q2 of 2022 to discuss the application of CBC's here in Kitchener.