The Guelph City Council has voted to ratify the choice of a 10-hectare area as the site for a new community park, which is to be developed in the years to come.
The new site is currently the home of the Springfield Golf and Country Club. The park was originally scheduled to be built on property owned by the Foundation for the Support of International Medical Training, but in March, councillors voted to move to a more northern location. The Springfield site offers a better view of Hall’s Pond and central access to the waterfront.
The new park is part of the Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan, an extended effort to redevelop the southern area of Guelph, described as the last unplanned area in the city. The project aims to develop a largely residential community with multiple housing types and plenty of access to green space.
The planning began in May 2016 and looks to have a completed blueprint by the end of this year, which the new park will be a big part of. Urban planning like this is an intricate process, often using graphic design as well as brochure printing campaigns to alert residents to upcoming changes or opportunities to have their voice heard.
The decision, originally made in March, was ratified at the virtual city council meeting by a 10-3 vote on May 25. Coming months will see more planning on the purchasing of the land and the design and construction of the park.
