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Waterloo Park Circuit

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Construction on the project has started! Details and more information are in our latest update.

The Waterloo Park Plan was approved in 2009 and is the guiding document to inform park improvements to meet the City’s evolving needs. The plan recommends implementation of an interior perimeter walkway around the park. In Waterloo Park East, a large portion of this trail already exists. The City of Waterloo has commenced the Park Circuit project in Waterloo Park West. The Park Circuit will form the other half of the plan’s interior perimeter walkway. This trail will provide a formalised, multi-use loop around Waterloo Park West that currently does not exist, and will reinforce the east-west connections through the park. It will offer park visitors of all ages and abilities an opportunity to be physically closer to Laurel Creek and to connect with the natural environment.

Waterloo Park provides an important connection to nature in the heart of the city for both residents and visitors. It's time to build upon recent improvements to the park to create an interior park walkway that improves the accessibility and amenities for park visitors.

The City of Waterloo is working on the Waterloo Park Circuit project to design and build an interior walkway, also called the Park Circuit, in the west side of the park. The Park Circuit will link the various activity areas of the park and create a strong connection to the surrounding communities and between the east and west sides of the Park. We're also reimaging how the Bauer Lot can be used. The video below shares our plans to date.


If you have additional comments please use our project page Comments section to let us know.

Construction on the project has started! Details and more information are in our latest update.

The Waterloo Park Plan was approved in 2009 and is the guiding document to inform park improvements to meet the City’s evolving needs. The plan recommends implementation of an interior perimeter walkway around the park. In Waterloo Park East, a large portion of this trail already exists. The City of Waterloo has commenced the Park Circuit project in Waterloo Park West. The Park Circuit will form the other half of the plan’s interior perimeter walkway. This trail will provide a formalised, multi-use loop around Waterloo Park West that currently does not exist, and will reinforce the east-west connections through the park. It will offer park visitors of all ages and abilities an opportunity to be physically closer to Laurel Creek and to connect with the natural environment.

Waterloo Park provides an important connection to nature in the heart of the city for both residents and visitors. It's time to build upon recent improvements to the park to create an interior park walkway that improves the accessibility and amenities for park visitors.

The City of Waterloo is working on the Waterloo Park Circuit project to design and build an interior walkway, also called the Park Circuit, in the west side of the park. The Park Circuit will link the various activity areas of the park and create a strong connection to the surrounding communities and between the east and west sides of the Park. We're also reimaging how the Bauer Lot can be used. The video below shares our plans to date.


If you have additional comments please use our project page Comments section to let us know.

  • Council approves Phase 1 construction

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    Construction on the project has started!

    City of Waterloo Council approved the funding to begin construction on Phase 1 of the Waterloo Park Circuit (report COM2023-001, report begins on page 6) on January 23.

    The portion of the Waterloo Park Circuit to be constructed in Phase 1 is located along the Father David Bauer Drive side of the park, and anchors one end of the overall circuit. It includes:

    • Upgrade of the Bauer Lot (including a new basketball court/multi-use area)
    • New pedestrian bridge over Laurel Creek
    • New trail connection between the ION crossing (east) and the Diamond Lot (west)
    • New pedestrian entry from Father David Bauer Drive
    • Lighting for these elements

    With this approval in place, we expect construction to begin in February 2023, with this phase to be mostly completed by the end of the year.

    Detailed design of the enhanced Bauer Lot, with enhanced vehicle entry from Father David Bauer Drive, two way travel and painted lines for parking, barrier-free parkin stalls near a raised pedestrian path with rollover curve which cuts through the lot to connect the edge of the play area with the trail and new pedestrian bridge over Laurel Creek. Also suggested are a shelter with bike parking, basketball court and event space with removable bollards between this area and the parking lot, and a bioswale (a vegetated or mulched area for directing stormwater runoff).


  • Open house information

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    For anyone who missed the June 9th Open House, we present the draft designs for the Park Circuit. The images on this page are also available for download as a PDF. Please share any comments you have with our project team.

    Map of Waterloo Park West boundary, indicating Laurel Creek, Band Shell, Park Access Road from Westmount Road, Servery Picnic Area, Diamond parking lot, Baseball Diamonds 1 and 2, Play Area on Father David Bauer Drive, Bauer parking lot, ION corridor and park promenade, Eby Farm, and Waterloo Memorial Recreation Centre for reference. Four spots are also indicated as photo viewpoints A, B, C and D as described in the next series of images.Existing Conditions of Waterloo ParkPhotos taken from photo viewpoints A, B, C, and D are depicted here:

    Image A is an aerial photo of the Band Shell area, facing north. It shows the Band Shell and surrounding green space, with Laurel Creek running behind the Band Shell, with a treeline and the University of Waterloo parking lot in the distance. A a pedestrian bridge over the creek connects trails near the Band Shell with the University of Waterloo parking lot. Image B is an aerial photo from above Father David Bauer Drive across from Lutherwood, facing north. It shows the park access road off of Westmount Road, past the Servery Picnic Area and building to the Diamond parking lot and Baseball Diamonds 1 and 2. In this view you can also see the treeline separating the access road from Father David Bauer and the sidewalk running along the park side of the roadway as the park boundary. Image C is an aerial photo above Ball Diamonds 1 and 2, facing west. It shows the ball diamonds and parking lot, with the Servery Picnic Area in the distance. Image D is an aerial photo above the skatepark and Bauer parking lot, facing east. It shows the skatepark in the foreground, then the Bauer lot (and current storage area), with the Laurel Creek stormwater pond in the middle, with the ION corridor and Silver Lake in the background. Drone photos overlooking Waterloo Park Bandshell, Westmount Access Road, Baseball Diamonds 1 and 2, and the Bauer Lot

    Map of conceptual plan for the park. Stage 1 construction for 2022 proposes a 3 metre wide asphalt trail leading from the ION Crossing near the Silver Lake bridge to a new pedestrian bridge over Laurel Creek and around an enhanced Bauer Lot, connecting with a 3 metre wide concrete trail around Diamond 1 to the Diamond parking lot, and a 4 metre wide concrete trail between the Bauer Lot and skatepark. Also shown is a new University Avenue pedestrian entry near Westmount Road, with a 1.5 metre wide limestone screening trail connecting to a new pedestrian bridge in the woods and leading to the 3 metre wide asphalt trail along the Westmount access road. The limestone screening trail continues north and east along Laurel Creek, connecting with another 3 metre wide asphalt trail that runs approximately north-south from the existing ION crossing at the Laurier-Waterloo Park ION station to the Diamonds parking lot. Included are an enhanced Westmount entry feature, and enhanced Bauer parking lot.Concept Plan for Waterloo Park Circuit

    Proposed trail cross sections for elevations A, B, C and D are depicted here:


    Section A is the elevation cross section for the 3 m wide asphalt trail in the section from the ION Crossing near the Silver Lake bridge to the new pedestrian bridge over Laurel Creek at the Bauer Lot, beside the stormwater pond. The trail will be at a 2% slope towards the pond, with a buffer zone and 3:1 slope edging both sides of the trail. Section B is the elevation cross section for the 3 m wide concrete trail around Diamond 1 along the first and third base lines. Behind the bleachers there will be a curb and a 0.5 m buffer, and then the 3 m wide trail will be at a 2% slope towards the bleachers. Another 0.5 metre buffer and another curb will separate the trail from a 6 m drive aisle for use by park operations vehicles only.Park Circuit cross sections A and B



    Section C is the elevation cross section for the 3 m wide asphalt trail parallel to the current just the Westmount access road. The trail will be at a 2% slope towards the existing road, separated from the trail by trees, with a buffer zone and 3:1 slope edging both sides of the trail. Section D is the elevation cross section for the 1.5 m wide limestone screening trail following Laurel Creek between the creek and the University parking lot. The trail will be at a 2% slope towards the creek, with a buffer zone and 3:1 slope edging both sides of the trail.Park Circuit cross sections C and D


    Detailed design of the enhanced Bauer Lot, with enhanced vehicle entry from Father David Bauer Drive, two way travel and painted lines for parking, barrier-free parkin stalls near a raised pedestrian path with rollover curve which cuts through the lot to connect the edge of the play area with the trail and new pedestrian bridge over Laurel Creek. Also suggested are a shelter with bike parking, basketball court and event space with removable bollards between this area and the parking lot, and a bioswale (a vegetated or mulched area for directing stormwater runoff).Detailed design, Bauer Lot



  • Join the conversation

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    We want to know what you think!

    Please join us for an Open House on Thursday June 9th between 4 and 8 p.m. (drop-in) at the Harvest Tables in Waterloo Park to view the draft designs for the Park Circuit, learn more about the project and ask questions.

    Details

    The Harvest Tables are located on the west side of the park near the Waterloo Skate Park at 100 Father David Bauer Drive. Parking is available on Father David Bauer Drive and in the Bauer Lot (after 5 p.m.). In case of rain, the Open House will be relocated to the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex (Room 200) on the same date and time. No pre-registration is required.

Page last updated: 02 Apr 2024, 12:49 PM