Silverview Park Improvements

The City is undertaking a study to help determine improvements at Silverview Park. The outcomes of the study will help determine the project scope, budget and next steps. Community input collected will inform the development of the design for the park improvements.

  • Summer to Fall 2023: Community Engagement Phase 1, Towards a Vision
  • Winter to Spring 2024: Hire a design team
  • Summer to Fall 2024: Community Engagement Phase 2, Exploring Design Options
  • Fall 2024 to Winter 2025: Detailed design
  • Winter to Spring 2025: Hire a construction team
  • Summer 2025: Construction starts

The timeline is subject to change.

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Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as an Involve project based on the International Association of Public Participation Spectrum. This means we work directly with the public, stakeholders and rightsholders throughout the design process to ensure that ideas and aspirations are understood and considered in the design process.

In this phase, the project team gathered community feedback to develop a vision, guiding principles and key features and amenities for the park improvements.

Vision Statement

The new park will be a safe, inclusive, family-friendly green space for the community to gather. The park will contribute to supporting a healthy and active lifestyle for all ages and abilities.

Guiding Principles

  1. Keep the park natural and green: protect, enhance and improve green space and plantings.
  2. Welcome all people: support community safety, comfort and accessibility for all ages and abilities as a top priority.
  3. Support a healthy and active lifestyle for all ages: include sport, play and recreation amenities.
  4. Balance space for socializing and relaxation: enhance amenity options while balancing space for socializing and relaxation.

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

October 2023

Online Survey

From October 2 to October 30, an online survey collected feedback from over 143 community members on the proposed features and amenities for the park improvements. The survey was available in English, Korean, Farsi and Chinese (simplified and traditional).

Key Feedback

When asked what respondents liked about the current park:

  • 85 per cent liked the open green space
  • 45 per cent liked the sightlines and visibility from the street
  • 32 per cent liked the location of the playground
  • 31 per cent liked the baseball diamond
  • 30 per cent liked the playground

Ten per cent did not like any of the above. Twelve per cent provided other comments, with the most common being that the park is quiet and peaceful.

When asked what respondents disliked about the current park:

  • 24 per cent disliked the playground
  • 18 per cent disliked the location of the playground
  • 17 per cent disliked the baseball diamond
  • 10 per cent disliked the sightlines and visibility from the street
  • Six per cent disliked the open green space
  • 33 per cent selected none of the options listed
  • 25 per cent provided other comments, with the most common being concerns with noise and safety at night, lack of maintenance (old playground, garbage, broken water fountain, dog waste), lack of useful or accessible features, lack of seating and problems with off-leash dogs

Seventy-nine per cent of respondents liked the draft vision statement and guiding principles proposed in the survey.

Over 85 per cent of respondents felt that each of the proposed guiding principles reflected what is most important.

Over 75 per cent of respondents felt the following features are priorities for the park:

  • Open green spaces
  • Children’s play area
  • Accessible paths and walkways
  • Lighting
  • Places to sit or eat

Other suggestions included water fountains/bottle filling stations, an off-leash area and recreation/fitness features. Some suggested replacing the baseball diamond with sports courts (suggestions included basketball, tennis, ping pong, handball, volleyball and an outdoor track).

Respondents were divided on the theme of the new playground with 34 per cent preferring natural, 27 per cent geometric, 22 per cent traditional and 17 per cent having no preference.

The most popular play features were climbing structures, play structures suitable for both younger and older children, a spiral slide and various types of swings.

September 2023

Community Pop-Up Event

On September 16, the local Councillor hosted an event at the park with approximately 60 community members where the project team collected ideas for the improved park design. Community members provided feedback on six themes that emerged from the thought exchange activity in August.

  1. Family and child-friendly
  2. Ample green space
  3. Safety
  4. Promote active and healthy living
  5. Gathering space for the community
  6. Accessible and inclusive

Ideas on these themes included:

  • Focus on creating a safe environment for residents by including more lighting at night, a separate space for pets or signage prohibiting dog training
  • Create a park with ample green spaces and pollinator-friendly spaces
  • Incorporate land acknowledgement and a plaque detailing Indigenous connection

Key feedback about the most important features of the park included:

  • Children’s play area
  • Places to sit/eat
  • Ample green spaces
  • Ample lighting for evening use

When asked about preferred playground theme and equipment, a majority of participants expressed preference for a geometric playground theme and:

  • Senior play structure
  • Climbing structure
  • Accessible swings
  • Play panels

Other ideas suggested by participants included:

  • Picnic table and group seating with shade, closer to the play area
  • Maintenance during winter months to ensure park usage all year round
  • An accessible multi-use pathway circling the park, which can be used for walking, running, strollers and easy access to the play area
  • Include more sports and games for children and space for fitness activities

August 2023

Online Thought Exchange Activity

From July 17 to August 13, 2023, feedback on preferred park amenities was collected from the community through an online thought exchange activity. The thought exchange received a total of 110 responses, 114 ideas and, over 3,000 idea ratings.

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

The most popular park uses included:

  • Relax in open green spaces (66 per cent)
  • Exercise using outdoor fitness equipment (52 per cent)
  • A children’s play area (46 per cent) and gathering with family and friends (46 per cent)
  • Sit and/or eat (45 per cent)
  • A children’s play area (46 per cent)
  • Play with game tables (38 per cent)
  • Enjoy and observe planting areas (34 per cent)

The most popular park amenities were a shade structure (70 per cent) and fitness equipment (50 per cent). Other feedback included a need for more sports fields (for cricket, tennis, basketball and softball), more lighting and a community garden.

  • Preferred seating in the park included:
    • Benches (66 per cent)
    • Picnic tables (62 per cent)
  • Build a park that encourages community building and allows residents to socialize and relax
  • A mixture of youth-friendly and adult fitness equipment would be inviting
  • Incorporate lots of open greenspace, plantings and trees to create a lush and relaxing space
  • Inclusive features and spaces that appeal to children, teens, adults and older adults
  • Ensure the park is accessible to people of all abilities (including those with mobility devices, sensory and other needs)
  • Provide a variety of seating options, with a preference for picnic tables and benches
  • Provide natural shade throughout the park
  • Upgrade the playground and existing ball diamond
  • Ensure safety by including:
    • Lighting to allow for more evening uses
    • Active edge, especially for playgrounds and sports fields
    • Wide pathways
    • Buffers from adjacent roadways
  • Keep the park clean and well-maintained with proper drainage
  • Include fitness and entertainment features that are not available at nearby parks Consider including activities like exercise/fitness equipment and basketball
  • Include exciting playground features for all ages and abilities
  • Build a park that is family-friendly, social and encourages community gathering

In this phase, draft park designs will be presented to the community for feedback and revision. The design options will be based on the outcomes of Community Engagement Phase 1.

Anticipated community engagement activities in this phase include:

  • Park pop-up event
  • Online survey

The vision statement and guiding principles from Phase 1 guided the development of the two park design options. These design options generally include the same amenities, but present different layouts and design themes.

Features in both designs include:

  • A pollinator garden under the relocated park sign.
  • A new gathering space with benches and a shade structure.
  • A new sport area
  • An off-leash area for dogs, pending the completion of citywide guidelines and a feasibility study. Final decisions will be based on these results and public feedback.
  • A playground with updated equipment.
  • More seating for rest and socialization.
  • Pathway lighting
  • Shade trees
  • Bicycle racks

Key differences between the designs include:

  • The location of features (e.g., playground, adult exercise equipment etc.)
  • The pathway layout

Design Option 1: Circuit Path

erial view of Design Option 1 shows a new nature-themed playground in the northwest corner of the park, a sport area in the north end - east of the playground - a proposed off-leash area in the centre - south of the sport area - and open lawn areas to the west and south of the proposed off-leash area. Adult fitness equipment are spread out along the pathway surrounding the proposed off-leash area. A gathering area is located next to the playground with additional seating located along a pathway between the sports area and the proposed off-leash area. Pathways connect to northwest, northeast, east, and southwest entrances of the park, with the pollinator garden located at the northwest entrance. Trees of various sizes are located along the perimeter of the park. A potential sidewalk connection at Silverview Drive is located northwest of the park.

  1. Potential sidewalk connection
  2. Pollinator garden and park entrance sign
  3. Gathering space with shade structure
  4. New nature-themed playground
  5. Sport area
  6. Open lawn
  7. Off-leash dog area
  8. Adult fitness equipment

Design Option 2: Park Spine

Aerial view of Design Option 2 shows a new geometric-themed playground in the north end of the park, a sport area toward the centre - immediately south of the playground - a proposed off-leash area along the northwestern side of the park - to the west of the playground and sport area - and a large open lawn area in the south end. Adult fitness equipment is located toward the southwest corner along a pathway. A gathering area is located between the playground, sport area and off-leash area, with additional seating located along pathways connecting to northwest, northeast, east, and southwest entrances of the park. A pollinator garden located at the northwest entrance. Trees of various sizes are located along the perimeter of the park. A potential sidewalk connection at Silverview Drive is located northwest of the park.

  1. Potential sidewalk connection
  2. Pollinator garden and park entrance sign
  3. New geometric-themed playground
  4. Gathering space with shade structure
  5. Off-leash dog area
  6. Sport area
  7. Open lawn
  8. Adult fitness equipment

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

September 2024

In-Person Pop-Up Event

On September 22, over 50 community members participated in a pop-up event at Silverview Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants shared their preferences for park design options and features on display boards, using dot stickers to select their top choices and sticky notes to write comments. The event was co-hosted by the local Councillor’s office and the Silverview Community Association.

Feedback Summary

When asked about preferred park features, a majority of respondents indicated that:

  • There is enough lighting in the design
  • There is enough shade in suitable areas
  • There is enough seating and places to eat
  • A fitness station is preferred
  • There should not be an off-leash dog area

If the proposed dog area is removed, more open green space or sports facilities can be added instead. When asked which of the options they preferred, the most popular responses were:

  • One sports facility and more open green space with no dog area (16 responses)
  • Two sports facilities and no dog area (No response)
  • One sports facility and keep the dog area (No response)

When asked which of the three options for sports facilities they preferred, the most popular responses were:

  • Baseball diamond (14 responses)
  • Half or full-court basketball (eight responses)
  • Pickleball (one response)
Additional Comments

There were 44 additional ideas shared on sticky notes, and some comments were shared with the project team verbally. The most common comments shared included:

  • Concern about an off-leash area for dogs (11 comments)
  • Ensure there is a good amount of shaded seating options including picnic tables (six comments)
  • Keep the baseball diamond (four comments)
  • Place fitness equipment closer together for socializing and adult supervision of play area (four comments)
  • Keep play area away from the street (three comments)
  • Consider adding a ping pong table
Online Survey

From August 26 to September 15, 199 community members provided feedback on the design options for the improvements at Silverview Park. The survey was available in English, Korean and Farsi. The feedback collected in this survey will be used to develop a final preferred design.

Design Option 1: Circuit Path

Overall, 40 per cent of respondents preferred this option.

Key feedback, with the total number of ‘agree’ responses in parentheses, follows:

  • The pathway guides visitors into the park and connects with park features (68 per cent)
  • The park layout prioritizes natural materials and green spaces (66 per cent)
  • The park supports a healthy and active lifestyle for all ages and abilities (66 per cent)
  • The park layout is safe, comfortable, and accessible for all (66 per cent)
  • The park offers enough space for relaxation (59 per cent)
  • The park offers enough options for meeting and socializing (57 per cent)
  • I like the location of the playground (59 per cent)

When asked whether this option aligns with the community’s vision and guiding principles, 57 per cent of respondents said yes, 22 per cent were unsure and 22 per cent said no.

For those who selected no, feedback was collected on how this design option could be improved to better align with the community’s vision and design principles. 26 respondents provided the following feedback:

  • Dog Park: The off-leash dog area should be removed, as it can be unsafe and dirty, particularly due to pet waste not being picked up by some owners. The proximity of the dog park to the playground is a major concern, as it could compromise the safety of children using the play area.
  • Location of Play Area: Preference for relocation to the centre of the park, with sufficient distance from neighbouring homes and streets, which would create a more balanced space that maximizes accessibility and safety for all users.
  • Baseball Diamond and Sports: Interest in installing safety measures to prevent stray balls from affecting other areas of the park. Preference for incorporating other sports facilities such as basketball and pickleball.
  • Green Space: Open layout with fewer hard surfaces to enhance the natural environment and allow for meeting space.
  • Seating and Shade: Additional seating and shade options along the park path.
Design Option 2: Park Spine

Overall, 42 per cent of respondents preferred this option.

Key feedback, with the total number of ‘agree’ responses in parentheses, follows:

  • The park layout prioritizes natural materials and green space (68 per cent)
  • The park supports a healthy and active lifestyle for all ages and abilities (66 per cent)
  • The park layout is safe, comfortable, and accessible for all (66 per cent)
  • The park offers enough space for relaxation (64 per cent)
  • The pathway layout guides visitors into the park and connects with park features (61 per cent)
  • I like the location of the playground (61 per cent)
  • The park offers enough options for meeting and socializing (60 per cent)
  • The park offers enough shade (56 per cent)
  • There are enough seating options and places to eat (55 per cent)

When asked whether this option aligns with the community’s vision and guiding principles, 54 per cent of respondents said yes, 22 per cent were unsure and 24 per cent said no.

For those who selected no, feedback was collected on how this design option could be improved to better align with the community’s vision and design principles. 31 respondents provided the following feedback:

  • Dog Park: The off-leash dog area should be removed, as it can be unsafe and dirty, particularly due to pet waste not being picked up by some owners. The proximity of the dog park to the playground is a major concern, as it could compromise the safety of children using the play area.
  • Location of Play Area: Preference for relocation to the centre of the park, with sufficient distance from neighbouring homes and streets, which would create a more balanced space that maximizes accessibility and safety for all users.
  • Baseball Diamond and Sports: Interest in installing safety measures to prevent stray balls from affecting other areas of the park. Preference for incorporating other sports facilities such as basketball and pickleball.
  • Green Space: Open layout with fewer hard surfaces to enhance the natural environment and allow for meeting space.
  • Seating and Shade: Additional seating and shade options along the park path.
Feedback about Specific Features

When community members were asked what type of seating they preferred, the most popular responses were:

  • Bench (28 per cent)
  • Shade table (27 per cent)
  • Armourstone seat wall (19 per cent)
  • Picnic table (12 per cent)

When community members were asked what type of sports court/field they preferred, the most popular responses were:

  • Basketball (36 per cent)
  • Pickleball (23 per cent)
  • Baseball (21 per cent)
  • Tennis (20 per cent)

When community members were asked what type of shade structure they preferred, the most popular responses were:

  • Rectangular roof (44 per cent)
  • Peaked roof (28 per cent)
  • Pergola (16 per cent)
  • Cantilever roof (13 per cent)

When community members were asked what type of fitness equipment they preferred, the most popular responses were:

  • Multiple types of fitness equipment in a circuit (46 per cent)
  • Fitness station (41 per cent)
  • Multiple fitness benches along the main pathway (13 per cent)

Overall, when community members were asked how satisfied they were with the design options for the improved park:

  • Satisfied (70 per cent)
  • Neutral (11 per cent)
  • Dissatisfied (18 per cent)
Additional Comments

Respondents were asked if they had additional ideas for creating a park design that achieves the vision statement and design principles for the park. 73 respondents (37 per cent of all survey participants) provided additional feedback. The following major themes emerged in the responses:

  • Concern for an off-leash area for dogs: Many respondents voiced apprehensions about the inclusion of an off-leash dog area, primarily due to potential overcrowding and its impact on park users and nearby homes. While a portion of respondents were open to the idea, they suggested relocating the dog area to create more separation from the children’s play area (18 comments).
  • Seating, shade and trees: There was a strong preference for ample seating options with sufficient shade. Many respondents requested the inclusion of more trees and shade structures. (16 comments).
  • Critique of design elements: The layout of the park, particularly the reduction of open green space, received criticism. Respondents generally advocated for more distinct separation between park amenities to preserve flexibility and create a balanced environment (15 comments).
  • Safety and noise: Respondents highlighted the need for enhanced lighting throughout the park to address perceived safety concerns. Relocating certain park features away from residential areas was also suggested to reduce noise. A respondent proposed adding an emergency call button at the park’s center as a precautionary measure. (13 comments).
  • Baseball diamond and sports: The removal of the baseball diamond was met with concern. Some suggested expanding the park’s sports offerings to include a basketball court or pickleball. (10 comments).
  • Pathways and park access: A number of respondents expressed concerns about park access and the lack of sufficient parking options, especially in light of the anticipated population growth from nearby developments. There were calls for improved integration with cycling infrastructure and designated street parking areas (nine comments).
  • Location of play area: Many respondents recommended relocating the play area to a more central position within the park, citing concerns about noise and safety due to its current proximity to the street. Additionally, there was a request to increase the distance between the play area and the proposed dog park (nine comments).

In this phase of the community engagement process, the project team will share the preferred design with the community.

The community engagement activity anticipated in this phase is an online survey. The anticipated outcome of this phase is a refined preferred design.

The project will then move into the detail design phase, where the design team will work through the technical details and develop detailed plans and drawings to be used by the construction contractor.