Stay tuned...

Thank you for providing your input on the concept plans for these parks. Community comments are being reviewed by the working group and Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee who will then be providing recommendations to staff, Staff will present this to Council at an upcoming meeting. Updates on this project will be posted on this project page and at porthope.ca.

Background

Working groups for Parks, Recreation, and Culture Advisory Committee have reviewed the parklands at Welcome Park (County Rd 10 and Dale Road) and Lions Park (Thomas Street), alongside assessments of amenities in other parks and nearby areas. Through consultations with staff and examination of past community feedback, concept plans for both parks have been developed. These plans aim to maximize park utilization, capitalize on unique neighbourhood opportunities, and allocate investments in parks and amenities for implementation in the near, mid, and long term, considering the specific needs and potential of each location.

Lions Park

Mock-up of new park

Near-term
  • Installation of walking path and shelter (as part of the remediated area of the park and woodlot)
  • Upgrades to sidewalk as an accessible path, including addressing bank stabilization at old pool mechanical room and access to Gifford Street
  • Consideration for installation of a sensory garden and or stumpery, to improve drainage
  • Updates to fencing in the area
  • Removal of one baseball diamond, while maintaining one small community diamond with a grass surface (east diamond)
  • Install a playground with considerations for a naturalized play area
  • Additional park benches and upgrades to the park sign to include a history of the area

Mid-term

  • Improvements to parking surface
  • Review options for community use of Legion and Lions activities

Long-term

  • Old pool mechanical room removal
  • Determine operational best practices and review of tobogganing in the area, consider re-orientating the hill to the north

Welcome Park

Mock-up of new Welcome park

Near-term
  • Upgrades to playground structure (completed in 2023)
  • Decommissioning of well and removal of old well building (completed in 2023)
  • Removal of the small baseball diamonds, while maintaining one diamond with clay surface (north east diamond), consider netting barriers as required
  • Additional park benches and upgrades to the park sign to include a history of the area
  • Upgrades to tennis court
  • Creation of a mid-sized soccer pitch

Mid-term

  • Improvements to parking areas
  • A soft surface accessible loop path around the perimeter of the park for safe walking activities, with potential for solar lights
  • Monitor washroom facility for required repair and upgrades
  • Monitor and review building currently used as storage and ways to optimize use