Community Love at the Grand Reopening of Victoria Park

Friday, September 08, 2017

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Smiles, laughter and pure joy were sentiments that could be felt and seen at the grand re-opening of Victoria Park this summer. Young and old, the community of Kingston gathered around the park as excitement grew to celebrate the completion of the redevelopment of the 125-year old Victoria Park.

Celebrating Canada 150

In collaboration with the TD Common Ground project, an initiative in recognition of Canada's 150th birthday, Kingston was chosen for its vibrant and rich history. As the home of Canada’s first Prime Minister, it just made perfect sense to honour our nation's first capital and invest in diverse yet growing community green spaces.

Located in the close proximity of downtown Kingston and quite the popular hangout spot, Victoria Park was one of many spaces across Canada fit for enhancements to achieve the goal of enriching and bring people together.

The Reopening

As the town crier Chris Whyman rang his bell on Sunday morning and speeches were made - line ups for gelato and local food trucks grew as neighbourhood kids became anxious for the announcements to comment. The need for a little fun in the new splash pad was certainly growing. Previous council members stood amongst the crowd of over a hundred along with parents and students, the prospect of some much needed TLC finally coming to fruition was the joy the local community needed to kick off the last few weeks of summer within the city of Kingston.

Once the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and unveiling of the plaque was completed as well as acknowledgment of the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Peoples, Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson gladly set his blazer aside and became the first person to test out the splash pad! Many cheered and finally joined in, keeping a close eye at the flow of water leading towards the demonstration garden filled with a variety of plant species.

The Facelift

With the grand reopening of Victoria Park, it is now home to a newly designed splash pad, new tennis and basketball courts, nature inspired walk way, water conservation garden, diversification of trees, and expansion of community gathering areas.

After spending several years residing a few blocks away from Victoria Park, the added green space has made it much more inviting for gatherings whether a BBQ with friends or mid-day chill session under the trees.