Gellert Community Park Expansion

Town Council has approved the Final Concept Design for this Park.

We've concluded two rounds of public consultation and have developed a final park concept:

Round 1: Providing feedback on 3 park concepts in order to develop a preferred concept.

Round 2: Providing feedback on a preferred concept, plus public art and programming suggestions for the park.

The Gellert Park Expansion - Final Concept was presented and approved by Council on October 30, 2023. It will be ratified at the November 20 Council meeting.

To see the presentation to council including detailed explanation of the final concept, please click this link:

Gellert Park Final Concept Council Meeting Presentation

FINAL CONCEPT DESIGN

The final concept design was developed using public feedback from both rounds of public consultation, technical committee input and using the overall design principles.

The final concept is centered on a primary pathway connecting from Danby Road to the Gellert Community Centre. The existing full size soccer field is being relocated, to provide space for parking for the new park amenities and future community centre expansion. The relocated natural turf major soccer field (lit/irrigated) is proposed to be constructed centrally within the park expansion lands, and is a primary factor in the rest of the layout of the park.

Additional active sport features include: 6 dedicated lit public pickleball courts, lit multi-purpose courts located within the park and also in a new plaza space beside the community centre, 2 lit public tennis courts adjacent to the existing tennis courts, 2 beach volleyball courts and an asphalt pump track in the existing park area.

The plaza space by the existing main building entrance will provide opportunities for socializing, drop/off pickup and includes a basketball court to complement the existing skatepark. The multi-court within the plaza can also offer a variety of programming opportunities and pairing with the community centre.

To connect the new park features, new looped lit pathways surround an open lawn/event green and will connect to the existing pathway network and neighbouring communities. Additional parking is included in a parking lot off Danby Road.

Located along the pathway network will be additional amenities for individual or general public use including: 2 areas with fitness equipment , a main pavilion/performance node a new playground area including natural elements, and an allotment garden along the Danby Road frontage.

Throughout the new and existing park, additional seating and shade features are proposed: 3 picnic shelters paired with park features and shade sails around the existing splashpad.

In the open lawn/event green area a refrigerated skating loop and washroom/mechanical building create a vibrant activity area for all seasons.

Generous berming and buffer planting is provided along neighbouring residential properties to ensure minimal impacts of new park features.

Other park amenities (benches, drinking fountains, bike racks, etc.) would be incorporated into the detailed design.

A zone has been identified for a potential seasonal air supported structure (dome) over the hard court uses to allow for year round play. Refer to the document library for the Final Concept Phasing Plan.

The park design provides a mix of active sport activities, passive and active green spaces, and a wide variety of new park amenities for use by the public. The park development will support many of the types of activities contemplated for the building expansion in the future, and provide the community with expanded recreation opportunities at the park.

Once the final concept is approved, staff will proceed with detailed design and construction tender drawings for the Park Expansion Phase (Refer to high resolution image in document library).

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Inclusive & Vibrant

Parks are for everyone! Ensure that there are opportunities for all to feel comfortable spending time in the park and have diverse activities to support physical and mental wellness.

Sensitive to Context

The park is surrounded by residential, institutional, and future residential development, as well as open spaces and major arterial roads. Ensure pathway connections, walkability, enhanced buffering and compatibility of uses. Maintains and enhances existing park uses and social well-being.

Responds to Established Needs

Include uses identified from previous studies (Recreation & Parks Strategic Action Plan, Georgetown Action Sports Needs Assessment, Court Sports Strategy). Includes consideration for features currently being reviewed (Outdoor Ice Strategy).

Sustainable & Resilient

Utilize best practices and methods to limit environmental impacts, manage stormwater, and optimize buildings and parks.

Adaptable

Respond to current trends and future needs. Look for opportunities for enhancement within existing park and expansion lands. Campus approach to connect to existing park and future community centre building as well as phasing of features during initial park development.

Maintainable

Ensure park functions well for years to come! Design park to be maintainable by Town staff to appropriate level of service throughout four seasons with sustainable ongoing operating budgets.

PARK FUNDING & CONSTRUCTION

Funding for the Park Expansion Phase has been identified in the 2025 Capital Forecast, subject to detailed design being evaluated for capital and ongoing annual operating costs. Overall budgetary pressure and impacts of Bill 23 will be reviewed as part of the Town’s Long Range Financial Plan and Council’s Strategic Plan, and may affect the final timing of implementation.

GELLERT COMMUNITY CENTRE BUILDING EXPANSION

This project is focused on the park development, but also shows the future community centre expansion for context. The Town carried out a feasibility study for the expansion in 2019 with CS&P Architects. The building design was based on the Recreation & Parks Strategic Action Plan (2007) and public input and contains a triple gym, walking track, seniors and youth space, multi-purpose rooms, changerooms and washrooms. The feasibility study preliminary design was confirmed as part of the Town's 2020 Recreation and Parks Strategic Plan, which included public consultation.

The Town's Capital Budget Forecast contemplates design of the facility starting in 2026 and construction in 2028. Portions of the park expansion and parking lot will be phased to avoid features being constructed that would impede or conflict with the future building expansion. Funding remains subject to the Town's Long Range Financial Plan and timing may be updated in the future.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Gellert Community Park was constructed in 1999 and the Town purchased land to the south, fronting Danby Road in 2016.

Located between Danby Road, Norval United Church and the existing Gellert Community Park, the Town will be developing the area into high quality community parkland. The expanded park land is needed to serve the existing population in the surrounding community which has grown significantly in recent years, and will also be important to serve new residents in the Vision Georgetown Secondary Plan area.