Syd Cole Park Expansion

Project Timeline

• February 2023: Hire a design team
• Summer 2023 to Early Winter 2024: Community engagement
• Fall 2023 to Early Winter 2024: Design development
• Early Winter to Spring 2025: Detailed design
• Mid 2026: Construction starts
• Mid 2027: Construction complete

The timeline is subject to change.

Get Involved

Sign Up for Updates

Sign Up Now

Sign up for updates related to the Syd Cole Park Expansion or unsubscribe from the mailing list.

Level of Engagement

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

Community Engagement Phase 1: Exploring Design Options

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City and its design consultant worked with residents and stakeholders to define an overall vision for the park, and presented two draft design options to the community for feedback, with the input collected used to develop a preferred design for the park expansion.

Community engagement activities in this phase included an online survey.

Design Options

An off-leash area was not included in either design option due to the limited size of the expanded park area and the close proximity of existing and proposed residential properties.

Design Option A

1. Multi-use open space with metal fence along eastern edge (to match existing park fence)
2. Light (to match existing)
3. Shade trees with low growing shrubs and flowers
4. Blue concrete paving (to match existing)
5. Shade structure with café tables and seating beneath and adjacent
6. Splash pad
7. Curved trellis with game tables on unit paving
8. Shade trees in tree grates on unit paving
9. Swing sets on rubberized surface
10. Fitness area
11. Concrete sidewalk
12. Park bench (to match existing)

This design option presents a large splash pad with a shade structure between the playground and splash pad, allowing parents to observe the two areas. To the east of the splash pad there is an additional shade structure with seating below, and game tables to the east of the shade structure. To the north of the splash pad are two swing sets to complement the existing playground amenities. North of this area is a small fitness station for teens and adults. East of these amenities is a large, open, and flexible green space that could be used as a natural skating area in the winter if a community group is interested in leading this initiative.

Design Option B

1. Multi-use open space with metal fence along eastern edge (to match existing park fence)
2. Light (to match existing)
3. Shade structure with trellis and fixed café tables with seating beneath
4. Shade trees in concrete with tree grate
5. Splash pad
6. Blue concrete paving (to match existing)
7. Shade trees in sod with retaining wall
8. Swing sets on rubberized surface
9. Open lawn area with shade trees and low shrubs and flowers
10. Concrete sidewalk
11. Park bench (to match existing)
12. Fitness area with metal fence along street and eastern edges (to match existing park fence)

This design option presents a large splash pad with sodding, trees, and a seatwall between the playground and splash pad. To the east of the splash pad there is a shade structure and trellis with seating and game tables below. To the north of the splash pad are two swing sets to complement the existing playground amenities. East of these amenities is a large, open, and flexible green space that could be used as a natural skating area in the winter if a community group is interested in leading this initiative. North of the flexible green space is a large fitness area for teens and adults.

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

July 2023

Online Survey

From June 19 to July 3, an online survey collected feedback from the local community on two draft design options for the expanded park area in order to develop a shared vision for the park. In total, the survey received 364 responses from 581 participants of various ages and backgrounds.

• The following vision for the park was developed based on comments provided by survey respondents: “After the existing park is expanded, Syd Cole Park will be a place to meet and hang out with family, friends, neighbours, and pets. The park will be a place to play games and have fun, to enjoy nature and the outdoors, and to rest and relax. It will be a place that everyone can enjoy, including people of all ages and abilities.”
• Of the two design options presented, respondents prefer Design Option A (48 per cent) over Design Option B (39 per cent)
• The top three activities that respondents would like to do in the expanded park area are use the splash pad in the summer (63 per cent), spend time sitting under a shade structure (57 per cent), and sit and/or eat (50 per cent)
• The top three features or amenities that respondents would like to see in the expanded park area are a flexible green space with trees (23 per cent), a splash pad (22 per cent), and a swing set (17 per cent)
• The three statements about Design Option A that respondents agree with most are “There is enough flexible space, like the open lawn, to relax, play, and gather in small groups” (81 per cent), “I like the shade structure between the playground and splash pad to observe these spaces” (77 per cent), and “I like the inclusion of a splash pad” (76 per cent)
• The three statements about Design Option B that respondents agree with most are “I like the inclusion of a splash pad” (78 per cent), “I like the inclusion of swing sets” (75 per cent), and “There are enough new trees and plantings that provide shade and spatial definition” (72 per cent)
• Respondents prefer the area between the playground and splash pad in Design Option A (60 per cent) over Design Option B (37 per cent)
• Respondents prefer the shade structure in Design Option B (56 per cent) over Design Option A (43 per cent)
• Respondents prefer a traditional belt swing for ages three to 12 (68 per cent) over a traditional baby bucket swing for ages 18 months to three years (21 per cent)
• Respondents prefer an accessible nest swing for ages three to 12 (60 per cent) over an accessible swing for ages 18 months to 12 years (26 per cent)
• Features or amenities that weren’t included in either design option that respondents most frequently commented they would like to see are washrooms (11), an off-leash area (11), a basketball court (10), and more trees and plants (seven)
• Elements that respondents most frequently commented aren’t working well or they don’t like about Syd Cole Park are a lack of shaded areas (15), a lack of trees (nine), a lack of maintenance (five), and a lack of seating (four)

Community Engagement Phase 2: Setting the Direction

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City presented the preferred design option to the community for feedback. Once 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 drawings for the construction contractor.

Preferred Design

1. Multi-use open space with metal fence along the eastern edge (to match existing park fence)
2. Light posts (to match existing)
3. Shade trees with low-growing shrubs and flowers
4. Blue concrete paving (to match existing)
5. Shade structure with fixed tables and seating beneath
6. Splash pad
7. Shade trees in tree grates on unit paving with fixed tables and umbrellas
8. Shade trees with low-growing shrubs and flowers with park bench
9. Swing sets on rubber surface
10. Fitness area on rubber surface with metal fence along northern and western edges (to match existing park fence)
11. Concrete sidewalk
12. Park benches (to match existing benches)

Community Engagement Activities

January 2024

Online Survey

From December 6, 2023, to January 7, 2024, an online survey collected feedback from the local community on the preferred design for the expanded park area. In total, the survey received 155 responses from 333 participants of various ages and backgrounds.

The survey results are summarized below:

• When asked if they liked or disliked the preferred design for the expanded park area overall, 53 per cent of respondents liked it a lot, 34 per cent liked it a little, five per cent were neutral, five per cent disliked it a little, and three per cent disliked it a lot
• When asked if they liked or disliked the splash pad area, 47 per cent of respondents liked it a lot, 32 per cent liked it a little, 14 per cent were neutral, five per cent disliked it a little, and three per cent disliked it a lot
• When asked if they liked or disliked the play seating area, 48 per cent of respondents liked it a lot, 30 per cent liked it a little, 14 per cent were neutral, four per cent disliked it a little, and three per cent disliked it a lot
• When asked if they liked or disliked the shade structure seating area, 48 per cent of respondents liked it a lot, 32 per cent liked it a little, 10 per cent were neutral, seven per cent disliked it a little, and three per cent disliked it a lot
• When asked if they liked or disliked the amount of shade in the two main seating areas, 46 per cent of respondents liked it a lot, 33 per cent liked it a little, 10 per cent were neutral, eight per cent disliked it a little, and three per cent disliked it a lot
• When asked if they liked or disliked the swing set, 69 per cent of respondents liked it a lot, 15 per cent liked it a little, 11 per cent were neutral, two per cent disliked it a little, and three per cent disliked it a lot
• When asked if they liked or disliked the fitness area, 44 per cent of respondents liked it a lot, 21 per cent liked it a little, 18 per cent were neutral, seven per cent disliked it a little, and ten per cent disliked it a lot
• When asked if they had any additional feedback, including how to make the expanded park area more welcoming and accessible to community members, respondents commented that all areas should be wheelchair accessible, textured guide tiles should be incorporated into walking surfaces, and there should be more fencing along the roads and clear sightlines through the park

Background

Syd Cole Park opened to the public in 2017. The park currently includes:

• A water and ship-themed playground with junior (ages two to five) and senior (ages five and up) play elements
• Pathways with trees
• Seating areas with benches
• Water bottler filler
• Bike racks

The existing park is being expanded as a result of a new townhouse development project at 3526 Lake Shore Blvd. W. The project is funded by the developer and the City is coordinating and overseeing the design and construction.