Waterloo Park improvements (Silver Lake)

I appreciate what Charlotte said. Many people, like me, love this park deeply. I swam in the pool. I grew up in the park. I have lived Uptown for 25 years and walk to the park. I walk to the park with my daughters. Their favourite place is the splash pad. My favourite thing to do is walk along the boardwalk and see the ducklings and goslings. We set up picnics in the shade. The splash pad keeps us cool. They can move from the splash pad to the playground.
Now I feel that my heart is being broken. My favourite spot, the jewel of Waterloo, is being changed drastically. I feel no longer welcome in my own local park. While the terrace looks nice it is sterile. The natural beauty is being converted to a manicured lawn. That will be covered in goose poo. It’s like a goose buffet.
And the splash pad. Used by so many kids and families. One of the busiest areas of the park, a draw to the park, Is being halved and moved from its beautiful relaxing location to something that feels like an activity hub. How much did I love to decompress in the beautiful park while my kids could run and burn off energy? Now the splash pad is too small for them to run around. When I asked about all the day camps that use the splash pad, probably around 60+kids daily, I was told they will have to go somewhere else. Aren’t we supposed to be bringing people to the park?
This has gutted me. I was so excited...

All I see is more concrete where the beach area is planned. I agree with another comment that the beach area is a terrible idea. Love the current boardwalk and gazebo. It’s a park and we should keep the green and increase the tree canopy not cover the area with concrete. Please go back to the drawing board and give us a climate friendly design not concrete. As someone else said, more park like and less like an open plaza.

(also emailed) 1. Consider not removing the tall tree line between the playground and the labyrinth garden. Beside it being ill advised to remove mature trees under any circumstances, these trees provide an important sound and space buffer between the "loud, active" park and the "contemplative" labyrinth.
2. The Plaza area is a good concept, but needs far more trees than currently rendered in the plan. It's way to wide open and sunny, needs more quiet/shad space as well as aesthetically, more defined character which could be achieved through grouping of trees (more park like, less plaza like - we have have a plaza uptown already, and given climate change considerations, we need to move away from these types of open spaces and towards more treed areas).
3. I'm very hesitant about the "beach" idea. I see how it's neat, but I strongly visualize this becoming a collecting area for urine and feces and garbage. And I cannot imagine how you can keep people from wanting to swim - although Silver Lake is pretty gross, so probably no one would want to - but when you see a beach, you want to swim, so why make people feel that way if they can't? I think the boardwalk has had a wonderful function currently and is absolutely appropriate for the space. I highly recommend you stick with it, or at very least, put lawn in that space. Also, those beaches continue the lack of shade of the plaza. More shade, please.
4. I really like the boardwalks on the other wide of the lack. Awesome! I really miss the old bridge on the South side (that enclosed the small pool) and it's nice to have something like that back
5. I think folks are really going to miss the Dock by the Grist Mill. Please don't get rid of it! Many people don't have access to a cottage and this is an important space for those people to enjoy the park.
I think the most important thing to remember is that people usually not only like what is already there, but love it, deeply, with a lot of memory and attachment. Things change, but vast and total changes are not usually appreciated by the people who most love something. People who don't care about changes won't care one way or the other, but people who love something that is already there will feel pain at the loss. Even though we know things have to change, you can do it gently and kindly by building on what is already working rather than just starting fresh with something completely new.
Overall I think this is a good initiative, just plant way more trees and keep things cozy rather than spectacular. Build on what is already working. This isn't a blank canvas, this is our home and our history.

Generally, I like the proposed design. I would encourage some type of separation between the splashpad and the skateboard park - e.g. shrubbery.

I just want to say I fully support these projects and would love to see an improvement to this beloved lake near where I live. The water feels so stagnant and unsanitary to me and it brings down the energy of the park. Anything to help make this area greener, more healthy, and cleaner, would be welcome! I'd love to see the water flowing better with less pollution and goose poo. Also I'd love to stop seeing fireworks at this park! It is so jarring for the animals and the people always leave their fireworks stuff behind on the dock area by the lake which is totally polluting! One more idea is to turn the old Lions Lagoon area into a bandshell or small amphitheatre area. It's already on a slope where the seats could be. It could also be turned into a giant gazebo area. I totally agree with moving the splash pad to the other side of the park where the skateboarding is - there's more room there for them. Another idea is to move that entire parking lot by the Park Inn to another spot closer to the park perimeter (e.g. Seagram's) and turn that area into something amazing that is part of the park (like maybe a dog park!). Less cars within the park space would be so great to see. I agree with one other commenter that the Park Inn could be turned into a year-round option, maybe into a community hub in a way (not just for food). Thank you for your efforts!

Love the idea! I would highly suggest doing something with the bandshell that is currently in Waterloo park and rarely used! Would love to revamp it and get it back up and running! Bring in different acts throughout the summer. Many towns and cities do “Sunday Evening Music”, and I believe it could draw good crowds as the area has nothing of the sorts.

How about turning the old splash pad into an outdoor roller skating rink ?

Regarding parking and the master plan: compared to other street bordering Waterloo Park (Seagram's Drive, Westmount and University Avenue), it doesn't seem appropriate a residential street like Young would be a preferred place for parking or primary park access. Albert Street access from Young is difficult; Albert Street is highly congested. I also understand there is provincial funding becoming available to add some bike lanes along Albert (and other parts of the corridors serving the universities). It would make sense to continue to encourage this as a pedestrian/cyclist corridor, and not give a reason for more vehicle traffic along this street.

Re: Adam, I believe the 2009 master plan was developed before there was confirmation of LRT.

Placing the splashpad next to the skate park is terrible. 100% somebody will take a bike or skateboard through the splashpad and hit somebody. These are kids, they're not the most forward thinking people...nor should they be expected to be.

Just use the existing splash pad area at Waterloo park. This is dumb.

Exciting to see as we overlook the park.
We, and many in these apartments, have limited walking ability so would appreciate
More benches or tables along each path.

Rowena Martin

I feel that a new Victorian Style Bandshell is more important for the West Side of the Park

The proposed plan does not really reflect the master plan developed in 2009. Most obvious is that the parking is remaining generally where it is and not being relocated closer to Young St. Is the master plan no longer being followed?

I would like to see a structure for music performances. A full bandshell would be best (like the Seagram Bandshell that was there years ago), but since the space is limited, something suitable for solo to quintet performers seems appropriate. It would need to provide shelter from rain, sun and wind, so a roof and 3 walls are needed. A sloped roof and angled walls would also direct the sound towards an audience area, and thereby be effective acoustically. Music in the park has been an important part of Waterloo's history and efforts should be made to continue this tradition.

Keep parking areas along the perimeter of the park. Removal of all interior roads creates a space for people.

Great design! Please make sure to extend the sidewalk at the end of Young Street into the park, this is a highly needed and utilized route from Uptown into the Park (currently full of mud and trampled grass). Park Inn has so much more potential than just a seasonal fast food stand. It could become an all season "heart" of the park where you could stop and get a warm drink in the winter or just relax and sit on the patio in the summer. Selling alcohol is important (beer in summer, mulled wine in winter) and would make it more economically sustainable and active. Make sure all the renovated areas are well illuminated with decorative, modern lamp posts (no more fake historic please). The Grist Mill could be reimagined as an active use (makers space, coffee shop, art studio, etc) and increase its profile. Improve open space interaction with Perimeter Institute and Clay and Glass Gallery.

Ths is an exciting project and I am looking forward to the transformation over the next couple of years.

I would like to echo a few of Krista's comments. I am not sure about the beach, worried about the ducks/geese messing it up. More options for secure waste diposal would help keep park clean. Lots of dogs are being walked, compostable container options would be great.

Hopefully no more parking lot areas get added to the park and pedestrian, cycling and public transist options are the preferred and encouraged options for access.

Pleased with the plaza design, however, we're concerned about the beach. Although we like the concept, the reality of Silver Lake is that there is an abundant population of ducks and geese. A barrier-free, graded entry at Silver Lake Beach would quickly become Guano Beach.

We'd love to see better accommodations for waste disposal, recycling and compost sorting in this area as well. Open containers (like the barrels used throughout Waterloo Park) are easily accessed by critters. I actually don't think people litter as much as the state of the park would indicate... it's the squirrels hauling out waste that's been placed in open bins.

We echo Laura and Ian's comments regarding parking. It seems that there are ample paved surfaces at UW (Seagram/University lots). The peak parking hours for UW (M-F, with higher usage in the fall and winter terms) seem to fall perfectly off-peak from when Waterloo Park would maximize use (weekends, summer term). Is there some way to increase access and amenities to that side of Waterloo Park to continue to emphasize use for families?

We are happy to hear about the upgrades to Silver Lake. Can we not utilize this lake even more? Once the sediment is gone and the shoreline is re-constructed, can we not encourage people with canoes and perhaps paddle boats? How about a skating rink in the winter? Wouldn't it be nice for this area to bring the city together where families can have fun?

The FAKE grist mill is so disappointing! If someone were to be given the opportunity to operate it, and sell whole wheat flour to the park visitors, perhaps on weekends during the summer, the City would be advocating healthy eating in a visible way.
We just returned from Florida -- some of the businesses are providing free shuttle service for their patrons to and from the parking lots and resorts. They use "stretch" electric golf carts and the tips are sufficient to pay the operators. Waterloo Park could have a similar arrangement covering a circular route that connects the UW parking lots, the Granite Club lot, and the Father David Bauer lots. These vehicles can hold 6 people and their gear, and are licensed for public roads.
There is a great need for more picnic tables -- we shouldn't need to fight for a place to have family fun!

Hello,

Our home backs on to Waterloo Park between Young and Spring. I hope that the overall plan to clean up Silver Lake is a sustainable one. I like the ideas of promoting more pedestrian traffic.

Although there are many pedestrians generated by the Universities most foot traffic, there are a lot of visitors to the park that need to drive. Clearly there is a lack of parking. What are the ideas about that? Please ensure any additional parking is not placed near residential properties or site lines. Having said that, maybe other activity based features could be added to the unused fields behind Albert St where the now no car road is? I just want to be sure parking lots never go in that space.

We are away and cannot make it to the meeting.