City eyes park development
Posted Feb 4, 2011 02:26:46 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Kitchener city councillors are going through the city’s capital budget for the next ten years and it appears developing parks will be a priority.
This year’s budget is worth $120 million and includes a recommendation to start buying land that would give people public access to the Grand River and Walter Bean Trail.
The plan is to spend $1.5 million on park development in those areas over the next ten years.
Councillor Berry Vrbanovic says the proposal came out of the city’s parks master plan.
“We know that our residents value parks-based trails and one of the recommendations included the acquisition of lands and development of riverfront park or parks, so the dollar figures start addressing some of that.”
City staff are also recommending spending $2 million to develop two synthetic sports fields, likely destined for Woodside Park, off Highland near Queen Street.
Vrbanovic says right now there is a shortage of soccer fields and the synthetic turf would allow for more hours of play for a much longer duration during the year.
Major projects still on the go that will require millions more in funding this year include the expansion and renovation of the Kitchener Public Library’s main branch, as well as the Centre Block development.
Vrbanovic says those projects must continue on, but adds that the city may consider deferring other projects, which could have an impact on the tax rate increase to be approved on March 1st.
