New Park at 55B Brock Avenue

A new 330 m2 park is coming to 55B Brock Ave. as a result of residential development project near Brock Avenue and Queen Street West in the Parkdale neighbourhood.

  • November 2024: Hire a design team
  • April 2025: Community Engagement Phase 1
  • May to July 2025: Community Engagement Phase 2 and Detail design
  • July to August 2025: Hire a construction team
  • Summer 2025: Construction starts
  • Fall 2025: Construction complete

The timeline is subject to change.

Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as a Consult project based on the International Association of Public Participation‘s Spectrum. This means we obtain public feedback on existing analysis, alternatives, and/or proposals.

In this phase, the City and its design consultant will present two design options for the new park to the community for feedback. This feedback will be used to develop components and a preferred design for the park.

The community engagement activity in this phase is an online survey.

The anticipated outcome of this phase is the selection of a preferred design.

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

April 2025

Online Survey

From April 15 to April 29, an online survey collected 334 responses with feedback on the draft design options for the new park.

Feedback Summary

47 per cent of respondents preferred Design Option A and 42 per cent preferred Design Option B.

For Design Option A:

  • 87 per cent liked the inclusion of a drinking fountain and bottle filler
  • 77 per cent agreed the single pathway adequately connects with park features and surrounding sidewalks and laneways
  • 70 per cent liked the inclusion of permeable pavers
  • 68 per cent agreed there is enough variation of plants
  • 68 per cent agreed there are enough new trees and planting beds
  • 61 per cent liked the inclusion of a games table (for chess, checkers, etc.)
  • 61 per cent agreed there is enough shade throughout
  • 53 per cent agreed there is enough flexible space, such as the berm (small hill)
  • 34 per cent agreed there are enough seating options throughout and 50 per cent disagreed

For Design Option B:

  • 68 per cent agreed the looped pathway adequately connects with park features and surrounding sidewalks and laneways
  • 63 per cent liked the inclusion of a “stepping stone” pathway design
  • 59 per cent liked the inclusion of a central “rockstep garden” area
  • 58 per cent agreed there is enough flexible space, such as open lawn
  • 58 per cent liked the inclusion of a games table (for chess, checkers, etc.)
  • 61 per cent agreed there is enough variation of plants
  • 61 per cent agreed there are enough new trees and planting beds
  • 57 per cent agreed there is enough shade throughout
  • 37 per cent agreed there are enough seating options throughout and 44 per cent disagreed

The three most important features to include in the new park were benches (73 per cent), shade trees (61 per cent) and a drinking fountain and bottle filler (57 per cent).

The three least important features to include in the new park were a secondary pathway loop (52 per cent), a games table (43 per cent) and a mounded lawn or berm (39 per cent).

71 per cent were very or somewhat satisfied with the design options overall.

68 respondents provided written feedback. The most common feedback included:

  • 16 responses calling for additional seating, including more benches and accessible seating options
  • 16 responses expressing concern that dogs may damage the lawn or planting areas, with some calling for a designated dog relief zone, fencing to protect plantings and a dog waste bag dispenser
  • five responses expressing concern that unhoused people may camp, loiter or sleep in the new park
  • four responses calling for the inclusion of native plant and tree species
  • four responses calling for the inclusion of a drinking fountain with water access for dogs
  • four responses calling for the inclusion of a dog off-leash area
  • three responses calling for additional types of seating, including picnic tables, rock seating and movable furniture
  • three responses calling for the inclusion of fitness equipment, such as pull-up bars, or an area for exercise, such as yoga
  • three responses calling for the inclusion of table tennis or ping pong
Design Option A: Inner Peace PathwayPlan view of design option 1 illustrates a compact urban park layout located east of Brock Avenue. The park is organized with a meandering concrete pathway that leads visitors through a thoughtfully landscaped area with a mix of natural and recreational elements.
  1. Existing Concrete Sidewalk
  2. Armour Stones
  3. Double P-Gates
  4. Park sign
  5. Light pole
  6. Concrete pathway
  7. Waste/recycling bins
  8. Flat lawn area
  9. Permeable pavers
  10. Drinking fountain and bottle filler
  11. Games table (for chess, checkers, etc.)
  12. Planting beds and ornamental trees or shrubs
  13. Bench
  14. Shade trees
  15. Existing trees on adjacent properties
  16. Lawn berm (small hill)
  17. Single P-gate
  18. Existing asphalt laneway
  19. Existing residential building
  20. Existing fence
Design Option B: Rockstep Garden

Plan view of design option B illustrates a small, rectangular urban park located beside Brock Avenue. The park is bordered by existing residential buildings on the north and south sides, with an asphalt laneway along the southeast edge.

  1. Existing concrete sidewalk
  2. Armour stones
  3. Park sign
  4. Double P-gates
  5. Waste/recycling bins
  6. Games table (for chess, checkers, etc.)
  7. Concrete pathway
  8. Light pole
  9. Flat lawn area
  10. Shade trees
  11. Planting beds and ornamental trees or shrubs
  12. Existing trees on adjacent properties
  13. Bench
  14. Open lawn area
  15. Single P-gate
  16. Existing asphalt laneway
  17. Existing residential building
  18. Existing fence

In this phase, the City will share the preferred design with the community for feedback. When the preferred design is confirmed, the project will move into the detailed design phase, where the design team will finalize the preferred design by working through the technical details and developing detailed plans and drawings for the construction contractor.

The community engagement activity in this phase is an online survey.

The anticipated outcome of this phase is a refined preferred design.

Preferred Design

The preferred design map with numbers that correspond to features described in the first list following the image. The main entrance to the park fronts Brock Avenue, which is on the left.
A central pathway curves through the rectangular park, with lawns, trees and plantings on either side. Two paved areas along the path provide a drinking fountain, a games table and benches.
  1. Existing sidewalk
  2. Armour stones
  3. Double P-gates
  4. Park sign
  5. Light pole
  6. Concrete pathway
  7. Waste/recycling bins
  8. Existing lawn area
  9. Permeable pavers
  10. Drinking fountain and bottle filler with pet fountain
  11. Games table (for chess, checkers, etc.)
  12. Planting bed with ornamental grasses and shrubs
  13. Park bench
  14. Shade trees
  15. Existing trees on adjacent properties
  16. Open lawn
  17. Single P-gate
  18. Existing laneway
  19. Existing residential building
  20. Existing fence

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

July 2025

Online Survey

From June 18 to July 2, an online survey collected 315 responses with feedback on the preferred design for the new park.

Feedback Summary
  • 81 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the preferred design overall
  • 90 per cent were satisfied with the proposed plantings
  • 88 per cent were satisfied with the inclusion of a drinking fountain for pets
  • 77 per cent were satisfied with the proposed seating and gathering areas
  • 72 per cent were satisfied with the proposed amount of planting and open lawn areas
  • 66 per cent were satisfied with the proposed pathway design
  • 55 per cent preferred keeping the games table and 31 per cent preferred replacing the games table with a bench
  • 54 per cent of respondents preferred a traditional light pole and 36 per cent preferred a modern light pole
  • 48 per cent preferred multi-size pavers for the pathway and 39 per cent preferred single-size pavers
  • 50 per cent preferred brown-coloured pavers for the pathway and 34 per cent preferred grey-coloured pavers

75 respondents provided written feedback. The most common feedback included:

  • 11 responses calling for the inclusion of native and pollinator plant species to the greatest extent possible
  • 10 responses calling for additional seating, including benches, picnic tables or games tables
  • 10 responses expressing concern that people will loiter, camp or consume drugs in the new park
  • seven responses expressing concern that dogs could damage the planting areas and/or be let off-leash
  • four responses calling for the inclusion of shaded areas
  • three responses calling for the inclusion of more permeable pavers to improve drainage
  • three responses calling for a play area or play features for children
  • three responses calling for the inclusion of a community garden
  • three responses calling for adequate maintenance of the park
  • three responses expressing concern that access to the rear laneway could attract unhoused individuals, drug use or unsafe behaviour

June 2025

In-Person Pop-Up Event

On June 24, the project team collected feedback on the preferred design at a pop-up event on the site of the future park. Approximately 30 community members attended the event to learn about the project and share their preferences with sticky dots and comments on sticky notes. Four members of the project team were available to provide information, answer questions and record additional feedback.

Feedback Summary
  • 22 respondents were satisfied with the preferred design overall, two were unsure and two were dissatisfied
  • 17 respondents were satisfied with the curved pathway connecting Brock Avenue to the rear laneway, two were unsure and two were dissatisfied
  • 18 respondents were satisfied with the amount of seating and gathering areas, two were unsure and one was dissatisfied
  • 20 respondents were satisfied with the mix of planting areas and open lawn areas, none were unsure and none were dissatisfied
  • 19 respondents were satisfied with the types of plants (e.g. ornamental, native and pollinator species), one was unsure and none were dissatisfied
  • 21 respondents were satisfied with the drinking fountain and bottle filler with a pet fountain, one was unsure and none were dissatisfied
  • 14 respondents preferred a traditional light pole, five preferred a modern light pole and two were unsure
  • 15 respondents preferred multi-size pavers for the pathway and seven preferred single-size pavers
  • 17 respondents preferred brown-coloured pavers for the pathway and two preferred grey-coloured pavers

Additional feedback included concerns about providing access to the rear lane (two comments) and calls for a community garden (one comment), wildflowers for bees (one comment) and a mahjong table (one comment).