Clear Skies Neighbourhood Park Playground

Thank you for the opportunity to weigh in! All in all, this looks like a great concept. A couple of minor comments for your consideration.

1. Would it be possible to install a few very simple workout structures for youth? I'm thinking of pull-up and parallel bars. Growing up, I couldn't afford a gym membership, but these structures in my neighbourhood kept me busy and fit.

2. It might be worth considering creating a space for pollinators by planting low-maintenance native flowers and plants (e.g., purple coneflowers, Black eyed susan, etc.).

3. If possible, it would be nice to have an off-leash dog area, but I appreciate that it might be a stretch.

Can this park use the soft material underfoot?
Mulch is not ideal and so many parks around Waterdown have it.

Please give us a good bicycle parking area, with posts to lock up bicycles. Don't make it covered or people will use it as permanent parking or a camping area.

Please do *not* build things that will result in noise late in the night, such as a basketball area.

Having an area where food trucks could park would be good for local events.

Any areas for ball sports should be fenced, to keep kids from chasing balls onto the street.

Ensure any illumination eventually turns off in the evening, to avoid light pollution.

Please ensure we have some kind of seating, but not the kind that will encourage skateboarders to try to use them for stunts, etc.

The park design should generally discourage skateboarding.

Please provide trash cans.

Removed by moderator.

Hello,

Just a few proposed design ideas.....
-Move the multipurpose court to wear the open lawn is proposed
-Move the open lawn where the court is proposed
-Build a chain-link fence around the multipurpose court keep equipment within the parameters of the court
-Build benches on either side of the multipurpose court to allow spectators
-Move the pathway to allow the open lawn space to be larger
-Add more benches where the play ground area is
-Add benches away from the play area and near the path
-Add more lights to the overall plan
-Add garbage bins in four locations - South, East, North, West
-Add a recycling bin
-Add a splash pad
-Add a water fountain
-Connect the path way on the north west side to the proposed park on the North East Side
-Make the path way wide enough for movement in both directions

The benches should be more especially near the play ground area. Thanks

I'm truly excited about the potential of the Clear Skies Park and appreciate the effort to involve the community in its design.

One aspect I feel strongly about is the provision of shaded seating close to the playground and other main attractions of the park. In our area, the sun can be quite intense, and having shade available can make the park experience much more pleasant for parents, grandparents, or caregivers who are accompanying their young ones. It's crucial to consider the angle of the sun during peak usage hours to ensure that the shaded areas are effective.

Additionally, as our neighborhood is still blessed with some wildlife presence, I believe it would be beneficial to have low-lit lighting around the park. This would provide just enough illumination for safety without being overly bright to disturb the houses nearby or the natural ambiance of the park.

Lastly, an investment in trees now would be a great legacy for the park's future. Trees would not only provide natural shade but also contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the park, making it a lush, green space for everyone to enjoy. Over time, as the trees mature, they will undoubtedly become an integral part of the park's charm.

Thank you for considering my feedback. I look forward to seeing the park come to life!

Thank you for the park! The layout as it is is excellent in terms of location of elements (playground, courts, swings). The lower part of the field can get quite muddy after rain, so a surfaced area there works, but perhaps a public tennis court instead?

Echoing the concerns that the park be fully accessible in phase 1 of the planning.

Could we please have two or three more benches (one on the north end near the path to the swings, another two between the playground and green space)? When choosing bench location, and orientation, please consider that 1) people are often supervising two age
groups of playing children at once (e.g. green space and playground), and 2) we have beautiful sunsets in this neighbourhood.

Could we please have two garbage bins?

Any chance for a small pollinator garden on the north end away from play structures as we will be losing a lot of meadow when the community is complete?

Could you please put elements to discourage skateboarding on the armorstone seating, and clear signage to indicate that fireworks and motorized vehicles, aside from wheelchairs, are not prohibited? This would help make the park accessible and safe for all in the park and the houses near the park.

With all these requests, please leave enough open green space for a pickup game of soccer or ultimate frisbee or catch, as that is how the space is being enjoyed now.

Thank you so much for your work on this. Our family also loves the amount of trees that will be there!

I am so happy the city is putting in a multi-use court with basketball nets. Thank you!

Is it possible to add some more lighting to the park? I only see one light and would like to see a bit more along the path as well as some around the multi-use court. I understand that it runs along some streets that have lighting but the street lights are on the far side of the road from the park so in the evening and at night the park could have some pretty dark corners. I understand it is a balance of safety and not being so bright it annoys the neighbours around the park, but a couple more light would be welcome.
Will the swings be a set of three in each of the bars? I.e., three big kid swings, two baby swings, and a red bucket swing? There are so many kids in the neighbourhood that I think that many swings will be necessary at a minimum.
Also, I know Waterdown already has a splash pad, but if there is room to fit a small water feature/spray spot, that would be so fun. (But not at the expense of the multi-use court please.)
Thank you for being open to feedback. Looking forward to seeing what the city builds for this neighbourhood.

Hello,

We love this proposal, we just would add a splash pad. Picnic tables and shaded benches would be great as well.

Regards.

Picnic tables would be great as well. Shaded benches near play structure and court.

Bocce court for us older folk.

A splash pad would be wonderful here. Our neighbourhood has so many kids and more on the way, it would be a great addition.

Would love to see a section for an off leash area. This neighborhood has an abundance of dogs, who would love to play together in a safe space.

Resident of 11 years.

More lighting and more benches around the sports court would be great!

Some of the families that bought here 10+ years ago have been waiting for a decade for the park because they had small children. Although we still have lots of young families who live here, it would be really great if there was a space for older kids too - ie: basketball court; skateboard park; or other options for older kids.
Thanks so much

I'm deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of our community, especially the residents living near the proposed park. I urge you to reconsider the placement of the basketball court. Positioning it centrally in the park would:
Minimize Noise Disruption: Central placement would distribute noise evenly, preventing undue disturbance to Gunby's park-facing homes.
Enhance Safety: A central location reduces the risk of balls rolling onto roads or damaging parked cars, especially on Gunby BLVD.
Reduce Foot Traffic Risks: This would decrease foot traffic on the “access road” without sidewalks, ensuring pedestrian safety.
Address Parking Concerns: Given the limited parking around Gunby BLVD, a central court location lessens the chance of parked cars being hit by stray balls.
Improve Accessibility: A central court ensures easy access for all visitors.
Boost Visibility: Central placement ensures better visibility, promoting safety and deterring unwanted activities.
Facilitate Integration: It allows for smooth transitions between the court and other park amenities.
Given the potential disturbances and safety risks for Gunby BLVD residents and vehicles, a central court location seems the wisest choice. I trust you'll prioritize our community's safety in your decision-making.
Warm regards,
Tara Johnson (taralaurajjohnson@gmail.com)

Waterdown definitely needs a Tennis court, we only have 1 in the area, multi-use courts do not serve much purpose. We could add basketball posts on the tennis court as well with pads which could serve two sports.

A small soccer goalpost for little kids would be great too.

Please make sure that there are play structures for differently abled children.

- ensure that access to these swings etc is easy for wheelchairs, via a hard surfaced/smooth pathway.

- AND this should be in phase 1 of the development.

It seems to me that the colour of the plastic used is minimally important.

I note that you claim that accessible pathways are integral to the design of a typical neighbourhood park - but that has not been the case in the past so I think it bears repeating.

We need splash pad for the kids with majority of the families in the neighborhood with young children