Save Kiwanis Park

[dunkalunk]

Not entirely.

[myfaceisonfire]

I'd rather see Kiwanis stay as is. If we want to expand we should be expanding up, not out. Every successful metropolis needs to have parkland. Are they going to develop Victoria Park as well? We can't just go around developing every piece of parkland in the region in the name of suburbia.

[Duke-Of-Waterloo]

I thought it would be interesting to point this out, quoted from the City of Kitchener's website on the development of McLennan Park (Mount Trashmore):

"Residents have told us that park space and the environment are important to them and we're developing additional park space for residents to enjoy."


Whoooops...I wonder if the same people at City Hall who put this together on Mount Trashmore are responsible for the sale of surplus park land?

[jcollins]

Plan to sell part of Kiwanis Park meets with vociferous protests

April 30, 2009
Brent Davis
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER

A standing-room-only crowd voiced its displeasure last night over a proposal to sell off part of Kiwanis Park.

The meeting, held at the Bridgeport Community Centre, was the last of four public information sessions hosted by the city as it determines whether to declare several properties across Kitchener as surplus.

Of those, five have been deemed priorities. The parcel of land in Kiwanis Park -- up to 9.6 hectares (23.7 acres), or roughly a fifth of the park's total size -- is the largest.

"I have faith in our councillors, that they are going to make the right decision, that they are going to listen to us," area resident Nelson Cordeiro said in an interview.

"I just find it unacceptable . . . This park plays a very important part in our daily lives. It's been here for generations."

In the six weeks or so since the proposal came to light, park users and neighbours have mobilized to form the group Friends of Kiwanis Park. An online petition opposing the plan had been signed by more than 1,700 as of yesterday afternoon.

As dozens of people continued to file into the community centre last night, many clutching handmade signs with the words Not For Sale, the group's chair, Catherine Drown, said the turnout "speaks volumes.''

"I think the public is letting (council) know loud and clear," she said.

The decision on Kiwanis Park comes down to dollars and cents, said Jeff Willmer, the city's general manager of development and technical services.

"This is about resource management and the wise use of assets," he told those gathered.

City staff maintain the swath of land in question is underutilized and could better serve the public if it was redeveloped.

The bulk of the park is in a flood plain, and would not be sold.

Part of the Kiwanis land up for debate could be used to complete a planned transit loop -- essentially, extending Falconridge Drive from where it currently dead-ends at the park. The rest could be rezoned for residential development.

Willmer acknowledged developers have already expressed interest.

The city could earn between $5.4 and $7.3 million on the parcel's sale. It could generate more than $300,000 in annual property tax revenue (the city's share would be about $100,000). Right now, it costs an estimated $8,000 a year to maintain that portion of Kiwanis Park.

But where the city sees tax revenue from a new neighbourhood, area residents and park users see trees and grass, bald eagles and red foxes.

"These people are appalled," Drown said. "This shouldn't even be on the table."

Flanking the Grand River in the city's north end, Kiwanis Park has served the city for about half a century. Drown has enlisted one of its staunchest supporters, 93-year-old J.E. Kaufman, in the fight.

Kaufman's uncle, A.R. Kaufman, was instrumental in the park's development.

Kaufman earned a round of applause last night as he denounced the plan.

"The city has no right to give that land to some developer and collect some money for it. It should be kept as it is.

"Once that land's gone, you don't get it back."

Willmer's argument that the city could use funds raised through the sale of Kiwanis Park land to potentially purchase much more (cheaper) parkland elsewhere largely fell on deaf ears.

"It doesn't make any sense for the city to sell parkland to buy parkland," said Bridgeport resident Larry Crandell.

He wanted to know how already-stressed area roads and infrastructure could support an influx of new residents, and questioned the logic of replacing pollution-fighting parkland with urban development.

"We need that green space," he said. "It's not a case of even wanting it. We need it."

Residents have until May 4 to register their comments and concerns about the city's proposals.

Comments are being accepted on the city's website -- go to www.kitchener.ca and click on the link for Strategic Disposition of Lands.

Comments can also be emailed to [email protected] or left in a telephone message at 519-741-2602.

Council is expected to make its decision in June.

[email protected]

[Duke-Of-Waterloo]

Parklands in jeopardy




By Terry Pender, THE RECORD June 03, 2009


KITCHENER

The controversy begins where Homer Watson Boulevard ends.

Near the intersection of Homer Watson and Stirling Avenue is a woodlot covering 1.4 hectares (3.4 acres) immediately adjacent to Lake Side Park.

At a committee meeting on June 22 city councillors will decide whether to declare this land surplus and sell it for development.

Another four city-owned parcels are also up for consideration--the Table Lands in Kiwanis Park, the lots on both sides of McLennan Park Gate and a tree-covered lot on Kehl Street.

Once councillors decide the fate of these properties, city staff have listed another nine for assessment and possible sale.

It appears the city has sparked an effective round of community organizing and lobbying that aims to scuttle any move to sell part of Kiwanis Park or land near Lake Side Park.

Councillors have responded to the pressure and a solid majority openly oppose selling any of Kiwanis Park. At least one other group hopes to repeat that success with the land near Lake Side Park.

More opposition is expected once people learn the open spaces near their homes could be sold off by the city and developed.

After the process started in February, the group called Friends of Kiwanis Park collected the names of nearly 2,000 people opposed to selling any part of the park.

More than 150 of them packed a public meeting on the issue and lobbied members of council to ensure no part of Kiwanis Park is sold for development. They have raised such a fuss that it is all but certain the Table Lands in Kiwanis Park will not be sold. More than half of city councillors have publicly stated they will not vote in favour of the move.

"I have not come to absolute, categorical decisions on all of them, except to say: 'I too would not be in a position to support any development on the Kiwanis Park lands,' " Mayor Carl Zehr said of the lands under review.

Catherine Drown of Friends of Kiwanis Park is leaving nothing to chance. Drown and the group will continue organizing against the move until city councillors vote to take the property off the list.

"We are after solid victory -- a victory that can't be challenged," Drown said.

Across the city another group hopes to copy Drown's success in protecting Kiwanis Park.

The Friends of Lake Side Park wants the city to retain ownership of a woodlot that borders the park. It is home to beavers, snapping turtles, deer, foxes, muskrats, geese and other birds.

Mary Ann Vanden Elzen, who is working with the group, always thought the woodlot was part of Lake Side Park. Vanden Elzen said she was shocked to learn otherwise and that the land could be declared surplus to the city's needs and sold.

"It is used extensively," Vanden Elzen said of the parcel of land. "There are a lot of walnut trees growing there."

Friends of Lake Side Park will collect signatures on a petition and lobby city councillors.

Joe Henhoeffer, who is also part of the Friends of Lake Side Park, wants that parcel of land made part of the park and forever protected.

"It's much more than the standard mowed lawn with a soccer field," Henhoeffer said. "It is an incredible place."

They don't have to lobby Coun. Kelly Galloway, who said she's opposed to selling the land adjacent to Lake Side Park and the Table Lands in Kiwanis Park.

"Basically I am hearing residents don't want to see parks and open spaces sold," Galloway said.

"We don't have enough as it is. Once it is sold and developed we will never get it back. They want a green city," Galloway said.

She doesn't like the idea of selling the city-owned lands on McLennan Park Gate either. Those properties could be developed as part of the park in the future, Galloway said. During the past three months a lot of people have told city councillors to keep and protect the green spaces now owned by the city.

"I got a lot of letters on this." Coun. John Gazzola said. "There is a lot of interest, a lot of concern."

City staff started looking at the inventory of publicly-owned lands in an attempt to reduce maintenance costs, eliminate liability, see high quality infill development and generate revenue from the sales and property tax revenue. City staff say they spend about $11,680 a year maintaining the vacant parcels of public land. If sold for development the city would make millions right away, and take in an estimated $318,201 a year in property taxes.


FOR SALE?

Public green spaces up for review and possible sale:

• The Table Lands in Kiwanis Park--about 24 acres.
  
• Lands on the east and west side of McLennan Park Gate--nearly two acres.
  
• A 3.3 acre woodlot near Homer Watson Boulevard and Stirling Avenue, adjacent to Lake Side Park.
  
• A triangle shaped lot at South Drive and Glenn Road--nearly one acre.
  
• The land between 184 and 196 Kehl St.
  
• Part of Rockway Golf Course next to 236 Carwood Ave.
  
• About 10 acres at Filsinger Park and Westmount Road.
  
• Up to one acre of land at Old Chicopee Drive and Boundbrook Court.
  
• About 1.5 acres off South Drive, Perth Lane and Burnside Avenue.
  
• More than half an acre off Union Lane Green.
  
• Lot fronting on Blackhorne Drive near McLennan Park.
  
• Land on Victoria Street South near Fischer Hallman.
  
• Land at General Drive and Lancaster Street.

http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/547006
Aerial Image by Matthew McCarthy
Map by Diane Shantz

[smably]

Huge turnout at City Hall last night for this issue. I didn't stay to the end, but apparently council voted unanimously against selling off any of Kiwanis Park, and even asked staff to prepare a report on how to finance the purchase of several other areas by the Grand River. (Staff had been recommending that the city sell part of Kiwanis park and use the money to help fund park land acquisition.)

Here is the story in the Record:
http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/557867