Two Pickering parks to get massive makeover

DurhamRegion.com
Sept. 6, 2017

Pickering’s executive committee approved the funds needed to reconstruct Frenchman's Bay Ratepayers Memorial Park and Glengrove Park on Tuesday night.

At the first meeting back after summer break, the committee approved the net project cost of $301,925 for Glengrove Park.

The project includes the replacement of basketball courts, upgrades to the playground area and structure, replacement and extension of the asphalt paths and pathway lighting to Brands Court, Rosefield Road and Fieldlight Boulevard, site furniture, and tree planting.

The park was constructed in the early 1970s and many of the structures have exceeded their life expectancy. The playground was built in 1995, and it is not compliant with today's accessibility standards. Many trees were lost to Emerald Ash Borer.

The net cost for Frenchman's Bay Ratepayers Memorial Park is $330,279.

Most of the cost will be covered by developer Madison Liverpool Limited.

This park, which included only a small soccer pitch and asphalt basketball court, was originally connected to the yard of the Holy Redeemer Catholic Elementary School and was mostly used by the students during school hours and local residents after hours. Due to the size and condition of the soccer pitch and shortage of parking in the area, the soccer pitch has not been programmed for a number of years. The park has no play equipment, furniture, pathways or trees.

The school site was sold to Madison Liverpool Limited in December 2015 and has been approved for the construction of 71 residential units. The developer agreed to provide funds as a community improvement, to go toward the reconstruction of the park.

The work will include converting the basketball court to a multi-use court, construction of a playground area, installation of a shade structure, installation of a pathway system and lighting using LED light fixtures, park benches and waste receptacles, and tree planting.