New City Park
| Boardwalk Footings |
New City Park is a new park in the northwest portion of Burlington made up of 68 acres of naturalized park area and 82 acres of former farmer’s fields that will be restored to naturalized areas and converted to recreational uses. When completed this 165-acre Community Park will balance both active and passive park amenities including large naturalized areas, trails, as well as active features that will include artificial turf soccer fields and other sports fields. When completed this will be the city’s largest urban park.
New City Park will ultimately include:
- Five multi-use sports fields
- Two baseball diamonds
- Two open space areas
- A pavilion and playgrounds
- A pond/wetland, naturalization areas and
- A system of trails, including the Bruce Trail, which runs through the site.
- Construction of the first phase began on May 17, 2010.
Quick Facts
- Phase 1 (2010-11): Two full sized soccer fields with artificial turf, 284 space parking lot, bus parking, a playground, a pond/wetland and naturalization areas
- Phase 2: Construction of the main soccer field with permanent seating for 1,500 spectators. Completion is expected in 2013
- Future Phases: Will include baseball field construction, pavilion with washrooms/change rooms
- The design complies with the Park Management Plan approved by the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) and Ministry of Natural Resources.
New City Park - Construction update October 2011
The work is progressing well, on track for completion by the October 31 deadline.
| Main Parking Lot | South Parking Lots |
The status and proposed schedule is as follows:
Boardwalks
- installation of footings and abutments is complete (see attached photo)
- steel and decking is scheduled for installation week of October 17
Artificial Turf Fields
- fields have met all testing requirements and have received FIFA 1 certification
- installation of fencing is ongoing
Planting
- approximately 95 per cent complete
Playground
- complete, with exception of minor deficiencies determined by final inspection
Asphalt Paving
- main and south parking lots are complete (see attached photos)
- pathways and loop road scheduled week of October 10
Miscellaneous, to be completed in next 2-3 weeks
- completion of sodding and seeding
- installation of site furnishings
- parking lot line painting
- electrical connections.
New City Park - Construction update September 2011
The construction is progressing well. The installation of the artificial turf, site servicing, granular base materials and the majority of the shrub and tree planting is complete. Ongoing work includes installation of the concrete walkways, field fencing and the playground. Upcoming work will include construction of boardwalks across the pond, asphalt paving on the parking lots/road/pathways, parking lot lighting and completion of the shrub and tree planting.
New City Park - Updates April 2011
- Since 2002, the City of Burlington has bought and developed the 165-acre (67-hectare) property that now makes up New City Park at the corner of Dundas Street and Kerns Road. Once completed, this will be the largest park in the city, including sports fields, playgrounds, trails, a pond/wetland, a pavilion, open space areas, natural areas and supporting amenities.
- Construction-related activity began in New City Park in May 2010. The city had applied for and received a development permit from the Niagara Escarpment Commission to proceed with construction work, including site grading for the construction of sports fields, a storm water management pond and other amenities in the northwest part of the site. This work is now complete.
- The city finished further construction work that included planting and trails within a restoration zone that aligned the brow of the escarpment.
- The city applied for a second development permit to complete the sports fields—including artificial turf—a storm water management pond and other amenities. The permit was appealed in July 2010. On Oct. 5, 2010, a Niagara Escarpment Hearing Office hearing was held to consider the appeal, as well as submissions from the city and the NEC, and presentations by two residents.
- On Dec. 10, 2010, the Niagara Escarpment Hearing Office indicated that the hearing officer had finished his recommendation regarding the development permit. That recommendation, which is not available to any of the parties to the appeal at this time, is with the Minister of Natural Resources and will be attached to the eventual decision.
- In a decision dated April 7, 2011, Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey directed the NEC to issue a development permit allowing the city’s park development to resume. Full construction on site expected to resume in early May.
- Delays may have a financial impact on the overall project cost of New City Park. If the project is not completed on time it will not be eligible for the previously awarded Canada-Ontario Infrastructure stimulus funding.
| New City Park Fall 2010 |
New City Park – Questions & Answers
1. Where is New City Park located?
New City Park is located on Kerns Road at the corner of Kerns Road and Dundas Street.
2. When will construction start on New City Park?
Construction related activity has already begun on New City Park with grading and site preparation starting in June 2010. Restoration planting and construction of the first phase of sports fields, and other amenities is expected though the balance of 2010/2011. Complete development of the park will likely extend over several years subject to budget availability.
3. What are some of the naturalization and environmental protection features for New City Park?
Active recreational development (playfields and parking) is primarily limited to the northwest quadrant of the park with two natural grass playfields in the south west quadrant; this area was an actively ploughed agricultural field prior to park use. Throughout New City Park there will be naturalized areas with approximately $500,000 worth of native reforestation taking place along the brow of the escarpment.
4. What steps is the city taking to ensure that the reforestation and naturalization efforts are successful?
The reforestation and naturalization activities are a significant component of New City Park. The city will use herbicides to eliminate the weeds and other invasive plant species currently on the site. By doing this the newly planted native plants will be more successful. Signs will be placed in the park informing park users that spraying is occurring.
5. When did the city begin plans for New City Park?
The city purchased these lands in 2002 in partnership with the Bruce Trail Association to preserve and protect this unique access point to the Niagara Escarpment. Since 2002, the city has consulted widely on its parks master plan and tabled a Final Master Plan and Development Strategy Report on November 20, 2007. The report confirmed the city’s commitment to protect the naturalized area and to construct five soccer fields; two baseball diamonds; walking trails and extensive open space; parking for 650 vehicles; and a seated venue to accommodate up to 1,500 spectators.
6. What will happen if the Pan Am Games do not come to New City Park?
The plans to develop New City Park have been in development since 2002 with the Park management Plan being approved in September 2009, prior to the proposal to utilize this site for the Pan/Parapan Games. Hosting the Pan/Parapan games does not change any of the permanent development plans of the park.
7. What features will be built in New City Park?
New City Park will include five soccer fields; two baseball diamonds; walking trails; pavilion with washroom/changeroom facilities; playground equipment and extensive open space; parking for 650 vehicles; and a seated venue to accommodate up to 1,500 spectators.
Existing natural features including woodlots and hedgerows and will be protected. Carolinian and other native hardwood trees will be planted to enhance the site’s natural landscape in keeping with the Niagara Escarpment Plan.
8. How much will the development of New City Park cost?
The cost to fully develop and rehabilitate New City Park is estimated at $22 million (in 2010 dollars), with the park expected to be constructed over many years. In 2007, the city budgeted $500,000 to construct a parking lot on the site in close proximity to the Bruce Trail to improve public access for future users of the trail.
In May 2009, the city applied for funding under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program and succeeded in securing $4.6 million in senior government funding to construct the initial phase of the new park, including two artificial soccer fields; parking; access roads; and extensive re-naturalization of the open fields. This was matched by an additional $2.3 million in city funding.