Historic park getting a facelift
Local residents fill community centre to provide input on the revitalization of Gen Stewart Park
Work is set to get underway this fall on improvements to Glen Stewart Park. The Glen Stewart Park Community Centre was filled with people for a public meeting to show off the proposed plans for the park, including new playground equipment, turning the park’s two softball diamonds into a single baseball diamond and an upgraded parking lot.
By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express
It’s been a staple of the central Oshawa community for decades, but time has taken its toll.
The community centre building is dated and in need of repairs, the playground equipment is minimal, the parking lot degraded, the creek bed eroded.
It’s clear that Glen Stewart Park needs help and, this September, the city plans to extend its hand and give it. At a recent public meeting held inside the Glen Stewart Park Community Centre, members of the community filled the small space to get a glimpse at the city’s plans and provide feedback.
“You can see the interest in the community,” said Mayor John Henry in attendance at the open house.
“I’m excited about dusting off a great park and bringing it up to standard to meet the needs of this community for years to come.”
Set to begin this fall, the improvements will see the two current softball diamonds converted to a single baseball field, based on recommendations from the Library, Culture and Recreational Facilities Needs Assessment completed last year.
The playground equipment and splash pad – currently only a small cooling station – will be upgraded, the parking lot will be redeveloped and the creek will get a much needed restoration.
“If you go take a look at it out there, it’s not running freely, there’s a lot of junk in it, there’s erosion on the banks,” explains David Conway, a past president of the Glen Stewart Neighborhood Association, who adds he’s pleased with the work the city has planned for the area.
“From what I can see, they’re going to…really fix it up.”
The creek bed restoration will address the serious erosion occurring on the edges and help the creek run more freely.
“That’s going to be kind of tranquil for anybody using the park,” Conway says.
“It’s going to be a nice atmosphere for anyone coming here.”
Conway admits he’s sad to see the softball fields go, having coached a son and two daughters through the sport on those fields.
For Henry, it was good to see the amount of public involvement surrounding the park.
“It’s not the elected people’s ideas, it’s the public that needs to contribute and build the community and tell us what they want,” he says.
Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts on the project online at connectoshawa.ca/glenstewart.