Walter's Creek Park

Walter’s Creek Park

Walter’s Creek Park is being upgraded to offer an improved and inclusive play structure and park with AODA compliant features.

Progress

June 27, 2024

The Walters Creek Park Project is close to completion! Contractors are working on the finishing touches and scheduling inspections to finalize the new playground. 

Background

Located at 680 Cedar Street, Walter’s Creek Park was one of the original park spaces in the Town of Shelburne, constructed in 1980. The park had consisted of mainly greenspace, with a swing set, and curved playground crawl tunnel.

The Town did upgrade the park in 2010, and the existing features at this park include two independent playground structures focused on climbing and sliding activities, a swing set, and climber.

The upgrade and improvements to Walter’s Creek Park equipment was recognized and approved through the 2022 budget process. The investment in upgrading the park was also confirmed and supported through community engagement and research undertaken in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The Town went out for tender for the new playground structure and equipment in September 2023 and for the landscaping works in January 2024.

Goals and Outcomes

The two main goals were to replace and upgrade the play structure equipment and provide accessible path and elements to the overall park design. 

Park and Water has created a vibrant space that is beyond compliant to provincial AODA as well as the Annex H Recommendation of the current CSA Z614-20 standard. By incorporating components that allow for graduated levels of challenge, children will be able to enjoy the space throughout their childhood as they develop and increase both strength and skill. Accessibility is also an important part of the design to ensure a space that can be accessed comfortably by all users, of all ages and of all abilities. The new park has a variety of play and brings social, creative, imaginative, and sensory play to the overall environment with activities that allow for beginner, intermediate and advanced play opportunity.

The designs incorporate play experiences that allow for:

• Climbing,
• Sliding,
• Spinning,
• Swinging,
• Balancing,
• Upper body and Bouldering opportunities.

Council’s commitment to the park improvements is outlined in Council’s Strategic Priorities Goals - Sustainable, Engaged and Livable.

LP1 – Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
LP2 – Improve and enhance park and recreation services. 

Timeline

Construction is anticipated to begin April 2024 and be completed by early June 2024.