Shape the Future of Prospect Park

It has been a while since we were last in contact with you about changes coming to Prospect Park. Thank you for your patience! We want to share a brief update.

We have been working to develop design concepts for park upgrades and stormwater measures in Prospect Park. This work is being done to help prepare our community for the impacts of climate change. Opportunities to engage with the designs and give feedback are coming in 2025.

If you have questions at any time, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at ProspectPark@kitchener.ca

Some of you have asked, “What more can be done in our neighbourhood to reduce the amount of runoff that reaches the park/creek?”

As you know, we are working to better manage runoff in Montgomery Creek with a stormwater project in Prospect Park. Meanwhile, our partner Reep Green Solutions can help residents who live upstream from the project manage rain and reduce runoff that reaches the park.

The Rain Smart Neighbourhoods Project helps you plan projects for your yard that will help reduce flood risk in the neighbourhood by planting more trees, building rain gardens, soaking up rain in permeable paving, and more.

This spring, join Reep’s Healthy Yard Webinar Series to learn how you can make changes in your yard that will improve the nature in your neighbourhood and extend the benefits of this project! You can also learn more about Healthy Yard Consultations, available to residents who want to help reduce flood risk for the neighbourhood with actions in their own yard.

Register for the webinar series at reepgreen.ca/events

Webinars include:

• Healthy Yards: Nurture Nature in Your Neighbourhood - March 28, 2024 from 7 to 8 p.m.
• Healthy Yards: Rain Garden Design and Construction - April 3, 2024 from 7 to 8 p.m.
• Healthy Yards: Nurture Nature in Your Neighbourhood - April 10, 2024 from 7 to 8 p.m.

As you know, we are working to better manage runoff in Montgomery Creek with a stormwater project in Prospect Park. Meanwhile, our partner Reep Green Solutions can help residents who live upstream from the project manage rain and reduce runoff that reaches the park.

It has been a while since we updated this project. Thank you for your patience while we slowed down our design process to get this project right.

What have we done so far?

• In 2021, we completed a stormwater feasibility study to understand park constraints.
• In May 2021, we connected with you through a park survey. Your feedback helped us understand park use and the features you would like to have in the park. As we continue to engage with you, we will check in to ensure that we know your priorities.
• In early 2023, we completed field studies in Prospect Park to assess soil conditions.

What we heard in the survey

Thank you to all who participated and shared their input. We received 155 surveys. Here is a summary of the feedback we received:

• Prospect Park is a place for family activities, birdwatching, walks, and cycling. It is also appreciated for its quiet, open space and playground for children.
• Residents prefer to spend time in the park during the day.
• Residents are dissatisfied with the play equipment, seating options, and a lack of shade. Ideas for improvements include planting more shade trees and outdoor workout equipment. These changes will help improve park satisfaction.
• Residents have diverse concerns and interests about park amenities and activities.

Common themes:

• Gathering Space: Residents would appreciate more trees and benches in the park. These changes will provide shaded seating areas for picnics and resting.
• Amenities: Residents wanted more active courts and play equipment for older children.
• Trails: Residents would prefer better trail connections for walking and cycling.
• Park Atmosphere: Residents enjoy how quiet and protected the park is. This makes it a safe place to relax and enjoy nature.

Next steps

Your input is being used to inform concept designs. Watch for new opportunities to provide more feedback later this year.

If you have any questions, please contact the Project Manager, Chris Nechacov, at ProspectPark@kitchener.ca.

It has been some time since we were last in contact, so we wanted to reconnect and share a brief update.

Though we have not yet come up with a design to share, we will be re-engaging the public on this project later this year. Our timeline for the anticipated start of construction has also been pushed out. Please stay tuned for a full project update later this fall. If you haven't already, subscribe for email updates. Add your email to the 'Stay Informed' box and click 'Subscribe'.

Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please reach out any time to the project team.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer our survey this summer. We received lots of great questions through the survey, which we have now responded to in the FAQ on the right-hand side of the page. We've also listed all your questions and our answers below. Do you have any follow up questions? Please reach out to the project managers, Rebecca Roy and Samantha Brickman.

Questions about project construction

What changes to the park are being proposed? What amenities are being considered? How extensive will the reconstruction be? What is the budget for this project?

The City of Kitchener is excited to add new park amenities and stormwater management at Prospect Park. With public input, we will be exploring concepts that may include new play structures, areas to enjoy nature, improving existing trails and park features, exercise equipment, sports fields etc. We’re also improving the resilience of the park against the growing impacts of climate change. Stormwater management will allow the area to better collect stormwater runoff caused by events such as heavy rainfall and snow melt. This will help to reduce the risk of flooding and ensure safety of the community. The total budget for this project is $3.65M.

What area of the park is being reconstructed? Does it go up to the houses that border the park? Will those houses lose any privacy?

Reconstruction and park improvements will occur in the south end of the park. Setback limits will be followed to allow for appropriate space between the park and properties boarding the park. As we make park improvements, care and consideration for these properties will take place and should not cause any privacy issues.

What is the plan for stormwater management? Is any re-grading planned? What will it be (e.g., pond, pump house)? Where will it be located?

We will be exploring options for stormwater management in this park based on public input, our Stormwater Master Plan, and our consultant’s recommendations. This information will be public in the second stage of this engagement.

Will there be a danger of open water for those at-risk of drowning?

If a stormwater pond is constructed for stormwater management in this park, we will apply the same practices as city wide community stormwater facilities. These follow the highest provincial defense standards (fence, signage, and design systems) to protect residents and their safety.

Why is there a sudden need to reconstruct the park? Why can’t it stay the same?

The City of Kitchener is one the fastest-growing cities in Canada. With this growth, there is an essential need to improve the current services and facilities for its community. To improve the growing impacts of climate change and flooding, stormwater management is needed in key areas of the city.

This initiative is made possible by the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) in partnership with the Government of Canada.

How long will the construction take? How long will the park be unavailable during construction? When will the construction be finished?

The length of the construction period will be determined during design phase. It depends on how complicated the project is. There may be an opportunity to phase the work so that residents have access to certain parts of the park while construction is ongoing, but that is yet to be determined.

Please subscribe for project updates to stay informed about the project as it develops.

Questions about the impact of project on nature

Will you be removing any trees? If yes, will you plant more trees to replace those?

The project will involve new landscaping and plantings. Some mature trees will be removed, but more trees will be planted to restore this.

Will any wildlife in park be threatened by the reconstruction?

Construction may cause disturbances in the park area. When reconstruction is complete, the park will provide a larger natural habitat for wildlife to reside.

How will the natural areas in the park be impacted by the stormwater management facility?

Construction may impact natural areas in the park, some mature trees and bush may need to be removed or trimmed to accommodate the new facility. New plantings will be added to the park through the construction activities. We will provide a public planting plan in the future for review and input.

Questions about community engagement with the project

Who is being consulted?

Due to COVID 19, we have opened public participation through our online Engage platform and are consulting with the project’s stakeholders. This includes community members, community leaders, as well as other public participants.

How will we be informed about the proposed changes? Will we get to see the draft plans before construction starts?

Yes. By subscribing to this Engage page, you can stay up to date on the project plans and status of Prospect Park.

How are decisions being made? How much say do we have about the park? How do I get ___ added to the park?

The City of Kitchener believes Parks are part of the fabric of an inclusive and vibrant community. We want to know what residents do, and how they want to feel when they visit these parks.

Public input into our parks design is greatly considered in all stages of consultation. Decisions will be made based on majority of public opinion. However, due to regulations, budget, and resourcing limits, not all input can be implemented into the design.

Subscribe to this page to stay involved with public engagement of Prospect Park.

Why are we adding stormwater measures to the park?

Climate change will bring more intense storms and more frequent freeze-thaw cycles. Creating more spaces for stormwater to collect in neighbourhoods reduces flooding during storms.

Runoff from the neighbourhood flows through a stormwater pipe under Prospect Park to Montgomery Creek and the Grand River. This makes Prospect Park a good place to add a new stormwater facility to collect runoff. By adding stormwater storage to the neighbourhood, we would:

• Improve water quality in Montgomery Creek and the Grand River
• Reduce the risk of flooding
• Reduce erosion in Montgomery Creek
• Improve resilience against climate change
• Enhance community safety

Stormwater Master Plan

This project was approved by the Ministry of the Environment in 2016 as part of the Integrated Stormwater Management Master Plan (ISWM-MP). If community consultations lead to required project modifications, we will seek to amend the relevant planning tools—in this case, the Class Environmental Assessment, under which the ISWM-MP was completed.

In 2016, the City of Kitchener Council approved a stormwater master plan. This plan created a strategy to manage stormwater for the next 15 years. Through this plan, we learned that only 25 percent of runoff in the city is managed through stormwater facilities. This means that 75 percent of runoff from heavy rainfall and snow melt flows into storm sewers, contaminating local creeks.

The master plan identified initial concepts for the installation of projects across Kitchener. As we look at each project more closely, we will examine the technical feasibility of adjusting the designs to meet community needs.

The Government of Canada awarded us nearly $50 million through the Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund. Access to this funding means we can install needed stormwater measures at a reduced cost to the community. And we can do this much sooner than would have been possible without the funding. We need to comply with funding requirements, which places an extra constraint on these projects.

We consulted city-wide on the stormwater master plan. That consultation met the needs of the master plan. But as we look closer at specific projects, we need to consult further with the community.

Consultation for the Class Environmental Assessment

This project was approved by the Ministry of the Environment in 2016 as part of the Integrated Stormwater Management Master Plan (ISWM-MP). If community consultations lead to required project modifications, we will seek to amend the relevant planning tools -- in this case, the Class Environmental Assessment, under which the ISWM-MP was completed.