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.
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.
Please share any additional comments you may have with our project team.
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Why bother making comments or doing surveys when our council does not listen to public input
JoLogicCommonSense
over 2 years ago
The park is home on alot of animals/birds, when building the pathway be conscious about making sure the pathway is not close to the water or large spans of trees, where geese and other birds have they babies every year. We need to have the these animals still have their space, as you all know putting in pathways near these habitats, usually humans are not respective to these animals as we destroy their habitats, kids chase and do stuff against these animals. Secondly, you should not be taking down any trees to accommodate this pathway, make sure you work around in a smart manner, replanting trees takes years for those trees to come up to the level of a fully grown trees, so don't use the misconception you can cut down a tree and instantly replace it by planting more trees. I hope that you take in all the lessons of sustainability and protection of our wildlife and birds into consideration when making the changes you are planning. Let's not be selfish humans, building structures to satisfy our needs without looking at the needs of other animals/birds/creatures. Thank you. BTW: I am an avid cyclist and welcome more bike/multi use trails, but I don't accept it has to be done at the expanse of the wildlife/birds etc.
Tino
over 2 years ago
Festivals art markets are two things that might be interesting there. Parking when nothing is going on. but where do people park when those events might be happening???
Binder Donedat
almost 3 years ago
The question about additional uses for the Bauer Parking Lot was confusing. Do you mean it will not continue to be a parking lot? It's pretty hard to imagine playing tennis or pickleball around parked cars, or viewing a festival event -- would we be sitting on top of the parked cars? If there were lots of cars already parked there, would the event be cancelled or have to move elsewhere? I would really like to see the Bandshell restored, complete with its Canada Centennial marker, and opened up for concerts, both formal and informal (jamming, Irish sessions, etc). A shade covering would help, and I understand a design was submitted for this, once. The hill provides a natural amphitheatre, which used to be widely used in the Sounds of Summer festival.
kae
almost 3 years ago
Hello! It would be beneficial to include details on the pros/cons of each pathway type. Stating the options without providing engineering/usage details/limitations of each does not allow for a thoughtful consideration or selection. How will snowclearing work on each path type? Is it accessible for all mobilities/users? What is the longevity / ease of repair of each type? Please prepare questions in a way that allow for thoughtful consideration and response, otherwise these engage surveys are optics only with no valuable input.
Martha
almost 3 years ago
I am concerned that Waterloo park will have yet another paved system. Moreover, part of this trail loop goes right along the creek, severing woodland habitat from the water system, and destroying yet more trees. After the wanton destruction of trees and creek-side vegetation of this fall (The Silver Lake project), this promises to be yet another piece of environmentally insensitive design. As this will, no doubt, lead to installation of similarly components in other Waterloo parks, it is appropriate to push for a fundamental change in design culture!
Here is a way to begin: For every tree that is destroyed in this project, plant two more. For every square meter of trail that is paved, uninstall and re-vegetate an equivalent area of road, parking lot or trail elsewhere in Waterloo Park.
R Suffling
almost 3 years ago
I have long felt the Bandshell is an underutilized space. There is so much space in Waterloo Park for sports physical activity, but there isn't a community co-creation arts space, which I think is lacking. The Bandshell is functional if not very pretty, but that huge yard there I think has potential for community gathering for something of the sort. And why not with WLU being the first university in North America to have a community music program. Need to retain that kind of high skill, and showcase it in the jewel of our city, with dedicated space.
Updated following the summer 2022 public meeting
Why bother making comments or doing surveys when our council does not listen to public input
The park is home on alot of animals/birds, when building the pathway be conscious about making sure the pathway is not close to the water or large spans of trees, where geese and other birds have they babies every year. We need to have the these animals still have their space, as you all know putting in pathways near these habitats, usually humans are not respective to these animals as we destroy their habitats, kids chase and do stuff against these animals. Secondly, you should not be taking down any trees to accommodate this pathway, make sure you work around in a smart manner, replanting trees takes years for those trees to come up to the level of a fully grown trees, so don't use the misconception you can cut down a tree and instantly replace it by planting more trees. I hope that you take in all the lessons of sustainability and protection of our wildlife and birds into consideration when making the changes you are planning. Let's not be selfish humans, building structures to satisfy our needs without looking at the needs of other animals/birds/creatures. Thank you. BTW: I am an avid cyclist and welcome more bike/multi use trails, but I don't accept it has to be done at the expanse of the wildlife/birds etc.
Festivals art markets are two things that might be interesting there. Parking when nothing is going on. but where do people park when those events might be happening???
The question about additional uses for the Bauer Parking Lot was confusing. Do you mean it will not continue to be a parking lot? It's pretty hard to imagine playing tennis or pickleball around parked cars, or viewing a festival event -- would we be sitting on top of the parked cars? If there were lots of cars already parked there, would the event be cancelled or have to move elsewhere?
I would really like to see the Bandshell restored, complete with its Canada Centennial marker, and opened up for concerts, both formal and informal (jamming, Irish sessions, etc). A shade covering would help, and I understand a design was submitted for this, once. The hill provides a natural amphitheatre, which used to be widely used in the Sounds of Summer festival.
Hello! It would be beneficial to include details on the pros/cons of each pathway type. Stating the options without providing engineering/usage details/limitations of each does not allow for a thoughtful consideration or selection. How will snowclearing work on each path type? Is it accessible for all mobilities/users? What is the longevity / ease of repair of each type?
Please prepare questions in a way that allow for thoughtful consideration and response, otherwise these engage surveys are optics only with no valuable input.
I am concerned that Waterloo park will have yet another paved system. Moreover, part of this trail loop goes right along the creek, severing woodland habitat from the water system, and destroying yet more trees. After the wanton destruction of trees and creek-side vegetation of this fall (The Silver Lake project), this promises to be yet another piece of environmentally insensitive design. As this will, no doubt, lead to installation of similarly components in other Waterloo parks, it is appropriate to push for a fundamental change in design culture!
Here is a way to begin: For every tree that is destroyed in this project, plant two more. For every square meter of trail that is paved, uninstall and re-vegetate an equivalent area of road, parking lot or trail elsewhere in Waterloo Park.
I have long felt the Bandshell is an underutilized space. There is so much space in Waterloo Park for sports physical activity, but there isn't a community co-creation arts space, which I think is lacking. The Bandshell is functional if not very pretty, but that huge yard there I think has potential for community gathering for something of the sort. And why not with WLU being the first university in North America to have a community music program. Need to retain that kind of high skill, and showcase it in the jewel of our city, with dedicated space.