Every year, we update our parks, trails and natural areas. We’re also building new parks for you to enjoy. Subscribe to this page to get updates on our park projects.
On this page:
- Neighbourhood parks
- Raddatz Park
- Uniroyal Goodrich Park
- Elmsdale Park
- Upper Canada Park skatepark
- RBJ Schlegel Park
- Sportsfield improvements
- Prospect Park
- Trail improvements
- Mapping our trails
- Pedestrian bridge work
- Tell us what you think
Neighbourhood parks
This summer, we asked for your feedback on some of our neighbourhood parks. Thank you to everyone who took a survey, joined an in-person session or posted in our online forum!
Engagement for these parks is now closed, but you can visit each park's EngageKitchener page to follow the projects as they continue:
| Future improvements |
| Later in 2021, we will start looking for community feedback on the following parks that are scheduled for park redevelopment in 2022/23:
These parks are all located close to one another and form an important network of neighbourhood parks. We want to learn how the community uses these parks and what makes each space special. Engagement is planned for 2021 and 2022, with construction expected in 2023. |
Raddatz Park
The fitness equipment is ready for use! Thank you for your patience while we were finishing this one off and getting it ready for public use. Over the summer, staff will be doing landscape improvements at Raddatz Park. We do not expect any impacts to public use.
This project is supported by the Festival of Neighbourhoods program in partnership with the Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association.
Uniroyal Goodrich Park
Work at Uniroyal Goodrich park has been delayed unfortunately and the park remains closed. Staff are working with contractors to complete phase 1 as quickly as possible and hope to reopen the park for public use during August. Phase 2 work will work on installing play elements, seating and will also address vegetation across the site.
Expected completion: late summer 2021 (phase one), early 2022 (phase two)
Elmsdale Park
Elmsdale Park is a large neighbourhood park located in the Chandler Mowat community on Elmsdale Drive. The park was identified for improvement in 2016, but site challenges delayed the work for a number of years.
Significant landscape work is underway. The new park will include new play areas, enhanced landscaping and trails and new planting. Work started in 2020 but has been delayed due to COVID-19.
Expected completion: late summer/fall 2021
Upper Canada Park skatepark
Upper Canada skatepark is located at the corner of Homer Watson and Pioneer Drive. The surrounding Upper Canada Park and Southwest Optimist Sports fields have seen significant improvements over recent years, with new baseball diamonds, trails, a playground, and a basketball court.
Upper Canada skatepark completes this group of amenities, and opened to the public in 2021 following community engagement from 2016 to 2018. The skatepark was developed as a street-style course with a mix of vertical elements and rails for varying skill levels.
RBJ Schlegel Park
One of Kitchener’s newest parks, RBJ Schlegel was opened to the public in 2020 after many years of planning and construction. Phase 2 of the park works will see the former Cober Farmhouse restored and re-purposed as a three-season washroom and change facility and a wide range of court amenities (basketball, pickleball and tennis) constructed. In addition, a maintenance building will be built on site. Design and engagement is ongoing, with construction scheduled to start in spring. Existing amenities will be open during construction of Phase 2.
Check out a timelapse of construction below:
Expected completion: late spring 2022
Sportsfield improvements
We used a one-time funding opportunity under the Federal Gas Tax program to make sportsfields improvements in 2020. Here’s what we did:
- Woodside Park – critical artificial turf repair and new parking lot entry
- Breithaupt Park – new bleacher pads, covered dugouts, built-in bleacher seating and complete site trail access
- Wilson Park – new covered dugouts on Diamonds #1 and #2
- Peter Hallman Ballyard – new outfield fencing
- Bridgeport Sportsfields – new players benches and safety fencing
- 15 new aluminum bleachers
- 5 new portable soccer goal sets
Prospect Park
We're excited to add new park amenities and stormwater management at Prospect Park that meet the recreational needs of visitors and improve sustainability of the park. We expect that detailed design and tender work will take place in 2022 and construction will be in 2023.
Expected completion: 2023
Trail improvements
We're making trail enhancements and improvements in 2021, guided by the Cycling and Trails Master Plan. We expect to complete these trail projects in 2021:
- Wilson Avenue to Traynor Avenue and Courtland: This well used gravel trail running alongside the LRT tracks will be upgraded to an asphalt surfaced Multi Use Trail corridor. Work is anticipated to be completed in late summer and fall 2021, and finished before the end of the year.
- Iron Horse Trail: Following several years of investments, the finishing touches are being added to the Iron Horse Trail this summer. New benches and bike racks are being added and new signage along the route through Kitchener will help people to navigate the trail.
- Vanier to Kingsway: The gravel trail running from Vanier through Wilson Park to Kingsway will be upgraded to an asphalt Multi Use Trail. Work is anticipated to be completed in 2022. The section through Vanier Park to connect to Courtland will be completed alongside Park Improvements in Vanier Park.
- Fisher Hallman to Lawrence Avenue: The gravel trail running through the Henry Sturm Creek and through Filsinger Park will be upgraded to asphalt Multi Use Trail. Work is expected to late summer 2021 and completed before the end of the year.
Mapping our trails
We're working to compile high quality video and images along our trail network to add to Google Streetview in 2021! Watch out for our ‘digital trike’ as we hit the trails to capture these images in summer 2021.
Pedestrian bridge work
There are more than 70 pedestrian bridges in Kitchener connecting communities through our parks and trails. We're working to renew or replaces these bridges in 2021:
- Victoria Park Bridge: The bridge on the trail between the Pavillion and Jubilee Parking area is being replaced. The new bridge will be similar in style to the new bridge between the Island and Roland Street.
- Vanier Park Bridge: The bridge crossing the Montomery Creek off Courtland Avenue leading into Vanier Park will be replaced in 2021 in advance of future park and trail improvements.
- Rothsay Bridge: The bridge on the trail between Rothsay and Victoria will be replaced in 2021.
- Lynn Valley Park Bridges: Scheduled work on replacing and removing bridges in Lynn Valley Park will happen in 2022.
Tell us what you think
How important are Kitchener parks to you? Let us know how you use Kitchener parks to inform our parks and open spaces strategy.