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

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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:

  1. Re-affirm Kitchener’s vision and commitment to building and maintaining public parks
  2. Provide multiple guiding principles and policy themes to inform future park development
  3. 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'.


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:

  1. Re-affirm Kitchener’s vision and commitment to building and maintaining public parks
  2. Provide multiple guiding principles and policy themes to inform future park development
  3. 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'.


What is your favourite park in Kitchener and why?

We all have stories to tell about parks. Think about great events you've been to, memories you've made, and experiences you've enjoyed in parks. Tell us: what is your favourite park in Kitchener and why? You can write your story, post a photo, or even share a video. Your stories will help us understand the value of parks to our community. We are collecting stories here until the project ends.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Victoria/Willow River Park a staple in dtk living on Facebook Share Victoria/Willow River Park a staple in dtk living on Twitter Share Victoria/Willow River Park a staple in dtk living on Linkedin Email Victoria/Willow River Park a staple in dtk living link

    Victoria/Willow River Park a staple in dtk living

    by Simone_, 9 months ago
    I've been living in downtown Kitchener for a few years now, and have found myself walking or running in Victoria/Willow River Park nearly every day. I am so glad that we have this park so close to our downtown core. It's a great piece of green space. I've had picnics in this park, sat at the base of trees and read books, and come out when it transforms for festivals like Ribfest, Pride, and Beerfest. I feel this space is integral to the life of dtk.
  • Share Building natural gas pipelines through my community on Facebook Share Building natural gas pipelines through my community on Twitter Share Building natural gas pipelines through my community on Linkedin Email Building natural gas pipelines through my community link

    Building natural gas pipelines through my community

    by Brayden, over 2 years ago

    I live near Wilson park and like to walk my dog along the little stream there almost every day. That is until the Spring of 2021, when a large section of Wilson Park became a construction zone for work on a natural gas pipeline. A bit of a blight on the park, but OK we carry on. Fast forward to Spring 2022 and every single tree on one side of the creek has been cut down! Why in the world would you do this to the park? If you use upgrades to a natural gas pipeline as an opportunity to... Continue reading

  • Share Building Community through Exercise at Victoria Park on Facebook Share Building Community through Exercise at Victoria Park on Twitter Share Building Community through Exercise at Victoria Park on Linkedin Email Building Community through Exercise at Victoria Park link

    Building Community through Exercise at Victoria Park

    by ChoralInc, almost 3 years ago
    COVID lockdowns were tough for everybody. For those (like myself) who tried to keep up a daily exercise habit, the shuttering of gyms was particularly difficult from both a physical and mental health perspective. For my own personal exercise habits, simply going on walks and doing pushups in the backyard just wasn't enough.


    In late 2020, the new exercise area at Victoria Park finally opened for public use. While fairly simple, the selection of pull-up bars, dip bars, and other equipment helped get my exercise routine back on track. Starting in December 2020, I began a daily routine to visit... Continue reading

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    Victoria Park

    by Aayush Amin, almost 3 years ago

    Victoria Park is my favourite park because there is so many things to do and it is my childhood park.


Page last updated: 19 Sep 2024, 04:08 PM