Final design concept for Victoria Park redevelopment
Victoria Park is one of our city’s oldest and most appreciated parks, a striking green space within downtown Kingston. The park is enjoyed by countless neighbourhood residents, Queen’s students and Kingstonians from across the city. Victoria Park is definitely one of my family’s favourite spots in the summertime for a picnic and some outdoor fun at the playground.
This year Victoria Park will be completely revitalized, with new basketball and tennis courts, upgraded lighting and a new central plaza with more seating and gathering spaces for Kingstonians of all ages to enjoy the park.
This week I was also very excited by TD Bank Group’s announcement of a $500,000 grant towards this revitalization project. This private donation will further enhance the plans for the park, with a new splash pad, a water conservation garden and a diversification of the mature tree canopy. As part of this year’s sesquicentennial celebrations, TD’s Friends of the Environment Foundation is making seven donations of $500,000 across the country, and I am very proud of the fact that Kingston was selected as one of the winners. It is partnerships like this that allow us to do more with existing tax dollars and enhance the livability of our city.
As we pursue more residential development in the downtown, green spaces like Victoria Park will become ever more important in the years to come. Building a great city requires more than just new roads and sewer pipes, and it is exactly these sorts of investments in green infrastructure that will ensure Kingston continues to be an amazing place to live, work and play.
For more information on the redevelopment of Victoria Park visit the City’s website at www.cityofkingston.ca/city-hall/projects-construction/victoria-park
Current aerial view of Victoria Park