Your Meadowlane Park, your watershed

Last fall, we hosted an open house for Meadowlane Park. Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Open House on Nov. 8, 2023, and provided their feedback on the design options.

For a detailed report on what we heard from community members at the open house and online, please read the summary: 2023 What We Heard Report

Common Themes

• Significance of Mt. Frederick: We heard about the importance of Mt. Fredrick as a park amenity for the community year-round.
• Accessible trails: You want trails to be accessible and cleared in winter.
• Connect with nature: You enjoy having a natural space to connect with nature, plants and animals.
• Meadowlane Park as a gathering Space: You expressed the importance of having a space for activities and learning.
• Safety: You are concerned with safety around the pond during winter months.

Design Ideas

We also heard ideas of what you want incorporated into designs for the stormwater pond and the park. You would like the design to include:

• “Shaded seating and gathering space”
• “Open space for recreational activities”
• “More natural play areas”
• “Trails close to plants and water”

Frequently Asked Questions updated

Thanks for all the questions you have shared with us. We have added responses to new questions in the Frequently Asked Questions section

Next Steps

Thank you for your patience as we develop a park design based on City staff and your feedback. We look forward to hosting a project open house this year once the designs are ready.

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to be notified about future events. Add your email to the Stay Informed section of this page and click ‘Subscribe’.

If you have any questions, contact us at meadowlanepark@kitchener.ca

Some of you have asked, “What more can be done in our neighbourhood to reduce the amount of runoff that reaches the park/creek?”

As you know, we are working to better manage runoff in Sandrock Creek with a stormwater project in Meadowlane Park. Meanwhile, our partner Reep Green Solutions, can help residents who live upstream from the project manage rain and reduce runoff that reaches the park.

The Rain Smart Neighbourhoods Project helps you plan projects for your yard that will help reduce flood risk in the neighbourhood by planting more trees, building rain gardens, soaking up rain in permeable paving, and more.

This spring, join Reep’s Healthy Yard Webinar Series to learn how you can make changes in your yard that will improve the nature in your neighbourhood and extend the benefits of this project! You can also learn more about Healthy Yard Consultations, available to residents who want to help reduce flood risk for the neighbourhood with actions in their own yard.

Register for the webinar series at reepgreen.ca/events

Webinars include:

• Healthy Yards: Nurture Nature in Your Neighbourhood - March 28, 2024 from 7 to 8 p.m.
• Healthy Yards: Rain Garden Design and Construction - April 3, 2024 from 7 to 8 p.m.
• Healthy Yards: Nurture Nature in Your Neighbourhood - April 10, 2024 from 7 to 8 p.m.

As you know, we are working to better manage runoff in Sandrock Creek with a stormwater project in Meadowlane Park. Meanwhile, our partner Reep Green Solutions, can help residents who live upstream from the project manage rain and reduce runoff that reaches the park.

A few neighbours asked us if we would extend the deadline for the survey. If you missed the chance before, please share your feedback on the design options presented at the open house last month. The survey will now close on Sunday, Dec. 17.

Answer the survey

Thank you to everyone who came out in the rain last night to our Open House. Check out the presentation materials and tell us what you think! The presentation materials include:

• Project details, including project background and what we heard this summer
• Six design options, and feedback on these options from the Community Resource Group (CRG)

You can find the presentation slides and the poster boards here.

Whether you attended last night or not, we want your feedback! Please fill in our survey so we can hear what you think about the design options. Answer the survey

This summer we hosted pop-up stormwater conversations at Meadowlane Park on July 26th and August 22nd. Thank you for spending a hot summer afternoon with us to ask questions and share ideas and concerns.

For a detailed report on what we heard from community members at the park and online, please read the summary: Summer 2023 What We Heard Report.

Common themes

• Meadowlane Park as a Gathering Place: You expressed how important Meadowlane Park is as a community gathering place.
• Significance of the Hill: We heard about the importance of Mt. Frederick, the hill in Meadowlane Park, and its year-round use in play (ex. Tobogganing)
• Connection with Nature: You appreciate being immersed in nature at Meadowlane Park and feeling connected to plants and animals.
• Safety and Accessibility: You wondered what safety features are needed when a stormwater pond is near a school.

Design Ideas

We also heard ideas of what you want incorporated into designs for the stormwater pond and the park. You would like the design to include:

• “Open space for playing games and sports”
• “A hill for year-round play including tobogganing”
• “An outdoor or natural classroom space
• “Possible work-out stations along the trail”
• “Trails and pond space that feel tranquil, peaceful, and natural”

Open House Nov. 8

We are hosting an open house drop-in on Nov. 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Meadowlane Public School in the gym (236 Forestwood Drive). After consultation with the community this summer, we have prepared concept designs for the stormwater measures. Learn more about the project and share your feedback on the options.

Please register

November 8, 2023

5 to 8 p.m.

Meadowlane Public School in the gym (236 Forestwood Drive, Kitchener)

Please register

We are looking for ways to improve water quality and reduce flood risks through stormwater measures at Meadowlane Park. After consultation with the community this summer, we have prepared concept designs for the stormwater measures.

About the open house:

If you can't attend this in-person event, you can participate virtually. We will post materials on this webpage for you to review and comment on close to the event.

This project was approved by the Ministry of the Environment in 2016 as part of the Integrated Stormwater Management Master Plan (ISWM-MP). If community consultations lead to required project modifications, we will seek to amend the relevant planning tools -- in this case, the Class Environmental Assessment, under which the ISWM-MP was completed.

We have changed the date of the Meadowlane Park Open House to November 8, 2023, so we can host the event at Meadowlane Public School.

Meadowlane Park Open House

5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Meadowlane Public School Gym

236 Forestwood Dr, Kitchener, ON N2N 1C1

We will provide a light meal and children's activities. We'll share more details and a registration link soon.

Last chance to apply to the Community Resource Group (CRG)

Thanks to everyone who has applied to join the CRG so far. We are still accepting applications this weekend. Apply to join the CRG by Sunday, September 3.

Design survey

Thanks to everyone who visited us at Meadowlane Park on July 26 and August 22. We will share an update on what we heard on Engage soon. If you missed dropping by, you can answer the design survey until Sunday, September 3.

Healthy Yard Consultations

You can play a big part in reducing community flood risk and improving water quality! Healthy yards lead to rain smart neighbourhoods, where rainwater soaks into the ground instead of turning into runoff. Our partner, Reep Green Solutions is offering in-person coaching on properties in this neighbourhood. Reep can help you plan landscaping to make your yard more resilient to climate change. Sign up for a fall or spring consultation at reepgreen.ca/rain-smart

Yard Naturalization Workshop

You can also join Reep for an interactive workshop at the Forest Heights Library on September 26. Many of us want less lawn or want to support pollinators but find it overwhelming to get started. Join Reep for a fun, interactive workshop where you will learn five easy ways to naturalize your yard. Try these tips in your yard and you'll support wildlife and improve watershed health. To register, visit reepgreen.ca/events

At our drop-in this week we had the chance to meet with neighbours visiting the park. We shared project information and listened to feedback and ideas about the design of the stormwater features.

Did you miss us? No problem, there are other ways to learn more and share your input.

Learn more:

• Check out the drop-in displays
• Read our slides on reducing flood risk and new infographic
• Visit us at the next drop-in on August 22

Share your thoughts:

• Answer the design survey
• Apply to join the Community Resource Group

You can also join us at the first project open house on November 8, 2023 [Please note the date change. The open house will not be on November 1]. More information to come!