Elie Wiesel Park Improvements

Project Timeline

• Summer/Fall 2023: Community Engagement Phase 1
• Winter 2023/2024: Hire a design team
• Fall 2024: Community Engagement Phase 2
• Winter 2024: Design development
• Spring 2025: Hire a construction team
• Summer/Fall 2025: Construction starts, park closes
• Winter 2025: Construction complete, park reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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Community Engagement Phase 1: Towards a Vision

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City worked with local community members to define a renewed overall vision for the park, which will guide the development of two design options in Community Engagement Phase 2.

August 2023

Online Thought Exchange Activity

From June 30 to August 27, 2023, over 430 people participated in an online interactive thought exchange activity where they provided 370 ideas and over 7,200 idea ratings.

Using this feedback, a vision for the improved park was developed.

Vision

A relaxing lush green park that is family-friendly, inclusive, accessible, and encourages a healthier lifestyle through access to sports fields and fitness equipment for all ages. The park and playground should have a variety of features for children of all ages and abilities, and should focus on creating a safe environment for children and youth, especially in sports courts and play areas. The park should be a space for local families to gather and socialize and should be maintained regularly.

Online Thought Exchange Activity Summary

Review a full summary of the results in an interactive report.

The most popular park uses included:

• Playground (66 per cent)
• Baseball diamond (38 per cent)
• Tennis courts (37 per cent)

The least popular park amenities included:

• Ball hockey court (43 per cent)
• Pickleball (41 per cent)
• Baseball diamond (34 per cent)

The most popular activities to do in the improved park included:

• Use children’s play area (62 per cent)
• Relax in open green spaces (59 per cent)
• Gather with friends and family (53 per cent)
• Exercise using outdoor fitness equipment (48 per cent)
• Sit and/or eat (45 per cent)

The most popular amenities were:

• a shade structure (77 per cent)
• fitness equipment (46 per cent).

Preferred seating options were:

• Benches (65 per cent)
• Seating with shade (58 per cent)
• Picnic tables (57 per cent)

Preferred features to ensure safety were:

• Lighting (89 per cent)
• Wide pathways (57 per cent)
• Visibility and sight lines (54 per cent)

Other popular thoughts included:

• Incorporate space for sports throughout the day such as pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts for younger children
• Incorporate lots of open greenspace, flowers, pollinators, and natural shade to create a lush and relaxing space
• Ensure the park is accessible to people of all abilities (including those with mobility devices, sensory, and other needs)
• Provide a path around the park for easier access and allowing for residents to take a stroll
• Include entertainment features that are not available at nearby parks, such as a gathering space (e.g. gazebo) and a community garden
• Ensure park maintenance and cleanliness
• Ensure safety by including:
  • Lighting to allow for more evening uses, especially in courts and playground
  • Active edge, especially for playgrounds and sports fields
  • Buffers from adjacent roadways

Community Engagement Phase 2: Exploring Design Options

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City and its design consultant will prepare and present design options to the community for feedback, which will be used to develop a preferred design for the park improvements.

The community engagement activities in this phase include:

• an online survey
• a community pop-up event

Park Layout Option A

1. New basketball half-court
2. Bioswale (Drainage)
3. Existing basketball half-court
4. Existing washroom facility
5. Existing baseball diamond
6. Existing tennis and pickleball courts
7. New outdoor fitness area
8. New seating area
9. Redesigned playground

Park Layout Option B

1. New basketball half-court
2. Bioswale (Drainage)
3. Existing basketball half-court
4. Existing washroom facility
5. Existing baseball diamond
6. Existing tennis and pickleball courts
7. New outdoor fitness area
8. New seating area
9. Redesigned playground

Playground Design Option A

Playground Design Option A includes:

• one junior play structure for ages two to five with:
  • one double slide
  • one double-curved slide
  • one play panel
• one senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
  • one curved slide
  • one double slide
  • one climbing tower
• one swing set with:
  • three belt swings
  • two bucket swings
  • one inclusive swing
• one crawl tunnel
• one springer
• one barrel spinner
• one seated spinner
• one saddle spinner
• one mini hammock

Playground Design Option B

Playground Design Option B includes:

• one junior play structure for ages two to five with:
  • one double slide
  • three elevated decks
  • two bridges
  • three sensory play panels
• one senior dome-shaped obstacle climber for ages five to 12
• two swing sets with:
  • two belt swings
  • one bucket swing
  • one multi-user swing
  • one inclusive swing
• two springers
• one standing spinner
• one circular spinner
• one bowl spinner
• one seesaw

Proposed Outdoor Fitness Area Design

The proposed outdoor fitness area design includes:

• two information panels
• parallel bars
• one long bench
• pull-up bars
• two step benches
• push-up bars

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

September 2024

Community Pop-up Event

On September 8, the project team held a pop-up event from 3 to 6 p.m. at Elie Wiesel Park, near the sports courts and washroom building. Approximately 25 community members stopped by to learn about the project and share their preferences for the park layouts and playground design options.

Participants used sticky dots to select their top choices and sticky notes to write additional comments on the display boards.

In summary,

• Participants rated Park Layout Option A and Option B equally in preference, with each at 50 per cent
• 67 per cent of participants were satisfied with the park layout options and 33 per cent were neutral
• 57 per cent of participants preferred Playground Design Option A and 43 per cent who preferred Option B
• 50 per cent of participants are satisfied with the playground design options and 50 per cent were neutral
• 33 per cent of participants were satisfied with the Proposed Outdoor Fitness Area Design and 66 per cent were neutral
• Some participants requested more shade and a basketball court in the park improvements. A few also provided out-of-scope feedback, such as adding a splash pad or water feature, a fenced off-leash dog area, ball courts for basketball, pickleball or other games and an additional water-filling station.

Online Survey

From September 6 to September 20, an online survey collected feedback on the draft design options for the park layout, playground and outdoor fitness area. 197 people completed the survey.

In summary,

• 43 per cent preferred Park Layout Option B, 35 per cent preferred Design A and 22 percent had no preference
• 52 per cent preferred Playground Design Option A, 39 per cent preferred Option B and nine per cent had no preference

The most important play features to include in Playground Design Option A were:

• swings (73 per cent)
• climbing tower (55 per cent)
• double slide (25 per cent)
• double curved slide (21 per cent)
• The most important play features to include in Playground Design Option B were:
  • swings (61 per cent)
  • obstacle climber (52 per cent)
  • double slide (32 per cent)
  • bridges (27 per cent)

When asked if there are any suggestions on how to make the playground more welcoming and accessible, many respondents emphasized the need of more seating area and seating options in the park. Some other common themes in the feedback include:

• having accessible design such as ramps
• more shaded area
• use soft surface materials
• more lighting
• more swings
• cleanliness of the park

25 per cent were very satisfied with the Proposed Outdoor Fitness Area Design, 38 per cent were satisfied, 24 percent were neutral, nine per cent were somewhat dissatisfied and five per cent were very dissatisfied

When asked what additional feature they would like to see in the outdoor fitness area if budget permits, the most preferred options among respondents were:

• climbing bars (37 per cent)
• leg lift and pull-up bars (34 per cent)
• dip bench (31 per cent)
• pull-up bars (26 per cent)

When asked if there are any suggestions on how to make the outdoor fitness area more welcoming and accessible, some common themes included:

• more seating options near the fitness area
• adding gym equipment that is all-age and all-fitness level friendly
• adding elliptical and cardiovascular fitness equipment
• more shaded area

The most preferred seating options for the park were:

• umbrella tables (56 per cent strongly liked, 23 per cent liked)
• benches (38 per cent strongly liked, 33 per cent liked)
• lounge chairs (38 per cent strongly liked, 21 per cent liked)
• picnic tables (24 per cent strongly liked, 43 per cent liked)

Additional comments from respondents included improving underused park space, adding more lighting and visibility for safety, and enhancing park maintenance and infrastructure.

About the Project

Elie Wiesel Park is located at 30 Palm Dr.

The park currently includes:

• tennis courts
• pickleball courts
• a baseball diamond
• a washroom facility
• a bottle filling station
• benches
• picnic tables
• a playground with:
  • a senior play structure
  • a curved slide structure
  • two climbing structures
  • one swing set with four swings
    • one accessible swing
    • one swing for ages two to five
    • two swings for ages five to 12
  • sand under all play areas

The playground and new outdoor fitness area will be designed using feedback from the community. The redesigned playground is proposed to include:

• play equipment for ages two to 12
• additional seating
• engineered wood fibre surfacing
• an accessible pathway to the playground area.

The play equipment and pathway connecting to the playground area will comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Learn more about how playgrounds are made accessible.

Park improvements are also planned to include a new half-court for basketball and an accessible pathway connecting to the half-court, new pathway lights, a new seating and gathering area and new benches. Improvements will not be made to other areas of the park.