Mountainside Park - Questions and Answers
- What is the Mountainside Park and Facilities Feasibility Study?
- What is the status of the Mountainside Park and Facilities Feasibility Study?
- What options are being proposed for Mountainside Park? How have these options changed since they were presented to the public in July 2009?
- Will the woodlot be removed? Will there be a road or driveway built through the woodlot?
- What is the timeline or sequence of events that have been followed regarding the Mountainside Park and Facilities Feasibility Study?
- When is the next chance for public input and feedback on the proposed options? A public open house will be held on November 3, 2009, Tyandaga Club House, 7 to 8:30 p.m. to share the park concepts with the community and to get public input.
- What is the proposed budget for this project?
- What are the next steps in the study process?
Mountainside Park is a 10.52 hectare community park located on Mount Forest Drive in Central Burlington. The Mountainside Park and Facilities Feasibility Study will determine the preferred use, programming and development plan for Mountainside Park and its recreational facilities.
Currently, the facilities at Mountainside include an arena and an outdoor swimming pool that were built in the 1970s.
Three options for Mountainside Park were presented at a July 2009 public open house and were posted to the city’s website, www.burlington.ca. Between July and October 2009, further review and research was undertaken, taking into consideration comments received from the public and further site review. Revised options for Mountainside Park were presented to the city’s Community and Corporate Services Committee on October 22, 2009 and the committee approved 2 options for further public consultation.
The options presented in July have been replaced with 2 new options that are significantly different from those options presented at the July 2009 open house. These changes have been made as a result of public input, further site review, and the recent announcement of federal infrastructure stimulus funding for park development.
The park plan will look at re-development options for the open area east of the woodlot to include parking (maximum six), seating areas, playground and access to the trails. Trail management will also be reviewed to determine appropriate trails and treatments to maintain the long-term health of the woodlot. Some areas for planting new trees and other plants will also be reviewed.
The facilities plan will look at two options that will consider an enhanced water play and pool area and the potential future use of the arena.
Park design plans are focusing on the open space area east of the woodlot, the woodlot and trails and woodlot management. The city intends to maintain and protect the woodlot, which is a significant feature of Mountainside Park.
June 2006:
Council approved the undertaking of a renewal plan for Mountainside Park. (PR- 27/06)June 2008
: Council approved proceeding with a consolidated strategy for the development of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Assets Master Plan that included Mountainside as a site-specific study. (PR-28/08)September 2008:
Council approved hiring Fred J. Galloway & Associates to do the Master Plan and site-specific study for Mountainside.(PR-38/08)March 2009:
Council approved the situational analysis for the Master Plan and received options on Mountainside for further development and review following public consultation.July 2009:
The city held a public open house with the Mountainside community to review the options and to get feedback from the community.July 2009:
The federal government announced Recreational Infrastructure Canada funding to begin park re-development at Mountainside Park.October 2009: Two options were approved by Council for further public consultation.
The park re-development is being undertaken with the support of the federal government’s Recreational Infrastructure Canada funding. The total budget for the park re-development project is $2.5 million. The costs for the proposed facilities plan range from $5 million to $8 million depending on which option is undertaken.
Burlington City Council will consider a final plan for Mountainside in December 2009.