City council moves ahead with $1.8 million in upgrades to three parks

The City council is moving ahead with more than $1.8 million in upgrades to three parks on Windsor’s east side.

The projects include a new splash pad at Fontainebleau Park, washrooms at Elizabeth Kishkon Park and new pickleball and tennis courts at Forest Glade Optimist Park.

“These are all the types of park amenities, lifestyle improvements that are identified within the parks master plan, the recreation master plan that we continue to receive feedback from the public about,” said James Chacko, the city’s senior parks manager. “And certainly during the 16 months of COVID, these sort of park amenities have become that much more important. We’re seeing tremendous increases in the number of park users. These parks were all very popular prior to this. But certainly, these will be welcome additions within the overall parks amenity inventory.”

Council voted Monday to pre-commit funding for the projects, which were previously approved in the 10-year capital budget.

It’s an area that doesn’t have a whole lot

Councilors endorsed spending $350,000 to start the process of revamping the worn-out tennis courts at Forest Glade park.

“During its life span, the courts have undergone routine maintenance focused repairs to the asphalt surface, lighting and fencing,” according to a city staff report. “This amenity is now approaching the end of its service life and the time has come to replace it.”

The park, which also boasts an arena, community centre, library, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, two playgrounds, a newly added splash pad, and washroom, currently has nine tennis courts.

The plan calls for a new complex with six upgraded tennis courts and 10 pickleball courts. The total cost of the project will be $850,000.

Councilors also agreed Monday to spend another $200,000 to build accessible washrooms at Elizabeth Kishkon Park. The total cost of that project is estimated at $600,000. The park, which the city acquired in 1997, currently does not have washroom facilities.

Council initially agreed to spend $400,000 on the washroom facilities as part of the Enhanced 2018 Capital Budget. Staff brought a report to the council this week to outline the project and request the use of another $200,000 identified in the 2021 Capital Budget so the work would be started and completed this year. Chacko said the project will likely be finished before the end of the season.

The staff report notes that the construction of an asphalt parking lot at the park will also begin later this year. That project, which is funded separately from the washrooms, will likely be completed in late 2021 or early 2022.