$3 million earmarked for Victoria Park

The City of Kitchener is giving some special attention to its major green spaces as it hammers out its budget.

As part of its 2020 capital forecast, the city is setting aside $3 million for Victoria Park to create and implement a master plan from 2021 to 2023. Further reviews of Kitchener's other major parks are planned for the future.

Niall Lobley, the city's Director of Parks and Cemeteries, says he is “really excited by the opportunity that level of reinvestment could bring to all of our major parks.”

“It's great to have that written down into the budget; it's not something that's been in the budget before.”

He says there's nothing major planned for the 19-hectare park, but a general renewal of the existing facilities and amenities. Although, they could be looking at new facilities if the master plan calls for it.

“I don't imagine that we will see the landscape of Victoria Park change significantly through the master plan process.”

Lobley says they do want to review how they can better serve downtown Kitchener as a major event space. They also want to introduce a tree planting program of sorts. He says the city has been removing more trees than they have been replacing, in recent memory.

Kitchener's final budget day is set for January 20.