City Cuts Ribbon on State-of-the-Art Greenhouse Complex

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Executive Director of Parks and Facilities James Chacko and Manager of Horticulture Wanda Letourneau cut the ribbon on the City’s new $7.5 million greenhouse complex at Jackson Park today.

The complex consists of multiple structures including: a 22,000-square-foot greenhouse that will supply the City’s future plant and flower needs, and a 3,500-square-foot multipurpose greenhouse that will allow for year-round gardening displays and educational programming.

The new complex replaces the 104-year-old Lanspeary Park facilities.

The new complex features the latest technology in greenhouse design, with computerized controls, automated venting systems and irrigation, and rooftop shading that will improve energy and operational efficiencies.

Thanks to this new greenhouse complex, staff will now be able to grow all of the annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, and planters used throughout the city, saving over $75,000 per year. This additional space also provides the City an opportunity to continue to over-winter and cultivate specialty plants, and to enter into partnerships to provide plants for other local municipalities.

The space at Lanspeary Park that is freed up from retiring the old greenhouse complex will be used for recreational green space in the future. The City is currently conducting multiple rounds of public consultation to help shape the updated Lanspeary Park Master Plan, and the next round of consultation will begin in early August.

Quotes:

“I’m very excited today to see the vision for the new Jackson Park greenhouses come to life. The addition of these new state-of-the-art facilities with upgraded technology is long overdue, will provide great benefit to our City horticultural services, and will also provide operational cost savings for taxpayers in the years ahead.” – Mayor Drew Dilkens

“Despite many wonderful memories accumulated over the decades at Lanspeary Park, the Parks team is incredibly excited to be moving into this new greenhouse complex at Jackson Park”. – James Chacko, Executive Director of Parks & Facilities

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