WHITEWATER REGION — A public consultation will be scheduled with Haley Town Site residents on the detailed design of the park and staff will move forward with decommissioning plans for this year. It was recommended for one park space to be provided in Haley Town Site and the second property be surplussed for residential redevelopment in the future.
The manager of Parks and Recreation, Jordan Durocher, made a presentation to the Council of the Township of Whitewater Region. He suggested they receive the recommended redevelopment of park space in Haley Town Site. The cost would be subject to the annual budget deliberation and council approval. The project costing would be as follows: phase one at a cost of $205,000; phase two at a cost of $132,000; and phase three at a cost of $50,000 for the total cost of the project at $387,000.
Mayor Mike Moore asked how much of the project “was grantable” and Mr. Durocher said there was no anticipation of a grant and currently unsure how to get the money. It would be based on the yearly budget. Chief Administrative Officer, Robert Tremblay, anticipates this level of funding will be unavailable. He said this will allow for an investment in the community and it would be beneficial to have “one great park versus two derelict parks”. Reeve Cathy Regier agreed with the CAO.
Reeve Regier said while the site is currently in a bad way, she is hopeful to have full cooperation from residents and hopes to hear input at the public consultation. Thus, staff were directed to proceed with a public consultation of nearby residents on the proposed amenities and phasing. Staff were also directed to decommission the derelict tennis courts and basketball court for safety and risk mitigation this year. The motion was carried after being moved by Reeve Regier and seconded by Councillor Chris Olmstead.
“The amenities at the current park are nearing their end of life cycle,” said Mr. Durocher with agreement from Council. “The tennis courts are in very poor condition with grass filled cracks in the asphalt; residents did not indicate a tennis court as a preferred amenity.”
Mr. Durocher noted the park offers potential for a residential lot and could be considered in future planning and development. “The open green space, located on Tammy Trail is a crest shape green space, maintained by Parks and Recreation, and offers no constraints to development of a new park,” he said. “It would be a suitable location for a new park and offers a desirable location, central to the residents of Haley Town Site. It has no potential for redevelopment for residential uses.”
It was explained the project would be phased over a period of six years with multiple phases. Decommissioning of the park on Heather Place will include decommission the existing tennis courts and basketball post this year; removing and re-locating the four-seater swing set to a new location on Tammy Trail in 2021; and decommissioning the existing play structure at Heather’s Place in 2025 at the end of it’s useful life. Council agreed the Township will then proceed to sell the lot for residential redevelopment.
“Park development on Tammy Trail will have three phases,” said Mr. Durocher. “Phase one in 2021 will include landscaping, pathways and preparation of site to accommodate 4-seater swing set; phase two in 2024 will include site prep for play equipment, including excavating, granular, wood fibres, dry well for drainage and installation of park equipment; and phase three in 2026 will include installing a Township standard prefabricated washroom building.”
Councillor Charlene Jackson asked about decommissioning costs for 2020 and 2021. “The tennis court would be done in-house and the first part of phase one is moving the swing set,” said Mr. Tremblay in response. Councillor Dave Mackay had the opinion that roughly $6,000 per house to put in is “a little expensive and I would like to see the cost a little lower”.
Haley Town Site is a multipurpose park located at Heather Place with amenities and features a green space in the centre of the site. This is next to Tammy Trail which formerly housed a wooden play structure. In 2017, the wooden play structure did not pass a playground inspection or meet the required CSA requirements for playground safety. Council directed staff to remove the wooden structure from the site.
In 2018, a household survey was sent to residents of the Haley Town Site to determine community input for park amenities. There were a total of 33 survey mailed and approximately 45 per cent of the surveys were returned and completed. The report was prepared by Mr. Durocher and was both reviewed and approved by the CAO.
