Cambridge sets sights on Civic Legion Park, approves $4 million purchase
Posted Sep 11, 2025 09:44:36 AM.
Last Updated Sep 11, 2025 10:23:25 AM.
After a brief delay, Cambridge councillors have once again approved the $4 million purchase of Civic Legion Park in Preston, looking to lock down the two-acre property.
It comes after council initially looked to purchase the park located at 575 Margaret St. at the beginning of September, currently leasing the location from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 126.
It features a park, a baseball diamond and a parking lot.
During the meeting, Ward 3 Councillor Corey Kimpson requested council hold back on the decision, instead asking for additional environmental assessments to be done on the property before moving forward.
Since then, though, Kimpson has now said she’s had more discussions on the overall lack of need for further studies to be conducted.
“Staff have provided me with information to satisfy the request for environmental testing,” Kimpson said. “In addition to the Ministry of Environment clearance obtained to create the park, there were additional soil samples taken in 2004, and at that time, they’re indicated that there were not any environmental concerns.”
She said that continuing to hold off would only cost the city valuable time and money that it didn’t need to waste.
“Given that the use is not changing and that the testing has already been completed, I don’t feel it’s in the best interest of the public to add additional expenses and also risk the potential real estate deal falling through if we’re unable to complete the phase two environmental in time.”
In order to reverse course, council needed to approve the rescinding of the previous decision, then voted again to approve moving forward with the purchase of the property, which was unanimously approved by councillors.
Council has stated that it has no plans to change the dynamic of the park, simply wanting ownership of it to preserve it moving forward.
“I had the opportunity to speak at length with city staff, and I’ve been assured of a couple of things. First, that the property is being purchased solely to maintain its existing use as a park,” Kimpson stated. “There are no plans for any other use nor for any major upgrades to the park.”
With the approval now in hand, the city can continue its push to finalize the purchase of Preston’s Civic Legion Park.
