This fall, community members will be invited to help the City of Guelph develop a master plan for Jubilee Park, located at 11 Sweeney Drive
in the city’s south end.
Using online and in-person engagement opportunities, the City hopes to collaborate with future park users on a design that best reflects the community’s outdoor recreational needs and aspirations.
“We are excited to work closely with residents, in person and online, to create a unified vision for Jubilee Park,” says Karen Sabzali, the City’s manager of Parks and Open Space.
Sabzali goes on to explain that in the past the City’s approach to community consultation for park planning meant mailing a survey to residents for feedback on a proposed park concept already developed by staff.
“Our park planning process has always met legislative requirements for community consultation, however this didn’t include face-to-face discussion with future park users, nor did it offer an opportunity for input into the development of park concepts. We are changing our process and demonstrating our commitment to community engagement—a principle of open government—by asking residents to help us identify park features they would like to see in Jubilee Park.”
Residents living in the Kortright East community, as well as anyone interested in park planning, will have an opportunity to share, learn, and discuss their ideas at a visioning workshop on Tuesday, September 24 from 10 a.m. until noon and from 7 to 9 p.m.
At the second workshop—concept selection—residents will review a draft park concept based on feedback received from the first workshop and online discussion. The concept selection workshop will be held on Tuesday, November 19 from 10 a.m. until noon and from 7 to 9 p.m.
Both workshops will be held at the Best Western Plus Royal Brock Hotel and Conference Centre in Guelph. Childcare is available with advance registration by calling 519-837-5618 or emailing [email protected].
For those who are unable to attend the community workshops or would like to participate in the discussion now, an
online forum
is open until October 1 and again from November 4 to 29.
Community feedback from the workshops and online forum will directly influence park design and impact operations and maintenance of the park. Parks and Open Space staff will bring forward a proposed park master plan with recommendations to the Community and Social Services Committee and City Council in early 2014.
The park is expected to open in October 2015.
About Jubilee Park
Named in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee year,
Jubilee Park
is situated on 4.9 acres of parkland. The area is zoned as a community park (P.3 zone) which allows for specialized recreational facilities if used by a wide segment of the population. A community park may also serve in a dual role as a neighbourhood space, serving the immediate residential area.
The City’s zoning bylaw permits a conservation area, informal play area, outdoor skating rink, picnic areas, play equipment, public washroom, sports fields, trails, water spray area, concession stands, historic sites, outdoor theatre, parking, swimming pool, and wildlife management area in P.3 zones.