HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-08-048 - Kiwanis Park Playing FieldJ
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Community Services
Report To: Community Services Committee
Date of Meeting: May 12, 2008
Submitted By: Jim Witmer, Director of Operations
Prepared By: Greg Hummel, Manager of Park Planning, Development and
Operations ext. 2598
Ward(s) Involved: Ward 1
Date of Report: May 1, 2008
Report No.: CSD-08-048
Subject: KIWANIS PARK PLAYING FIELD
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
BACKGROUND:
This 2008 season, City of Kitchener sportsfields are being utilized at approximately 95% of the
available time. As minor sports continues to grow and with the increase in adult sport leagues,
field availability is at a premium. City of Kitchener policy is that minor sport affiliated groups get
first priority and then the rest of the users. Staff is trying to find field opportunities across the City
that would suit the many user groups.
REPORT:
Through the process of finding appropriate fields for the many field requests, staff looked at
many locations and the opportunity of using the table lands at Kiwanis Park. Operations
Sportsfield staff has added school and park fields into this years allocations and still need to find
more. In reviewing the table lands at Kiwanis Park, consideration was given to the Kiwanis Park
Strategic Plan that was completed in 2003 with regards to the passive/active uses of the land.
With this in mind, staff looked at the specific user groups to find a group that would best fit the
intended direction of the Strategic Plan.
The Waterloo Organization of Disc Sports (WODS) is one group that would best fit the intended
use of the table lands. This group plays `Ultimate Frisbee' which is similar to touch football but
with the use of a Frisbee. The group plays on grass fields with the dimensions of a typical field
being 40 x 100 meters. Only lines would be painted on the grass and the group will provide
orange cones to define the end zones. Therefore there would be no permanent goal posts to
impact the aesthetics of the park. With the WODS being displaced by Kitchener Minor Soccer
teams, we could accommodate this group's seasonal need by installing five fields on the table
land portion of Kiwanis Park. (See attached layout)
Report No: CSD-08-048 2
The group has booked fields in Kitchener over the past number of years (i.e. Woodside,
Kaufman Parks etc.) and has been exemplary with the way they have looked after and cleaned
up the parks on their departure. The focus of the WODS is to promote athletic activity and
environmental responsibility.
The games are a maximum of two hours induration with two teams of approximately 15 people.
The teams are co-ed and the average age of the team is approximately 35 years of age.
Though the game is an active recreational sport, the sport itself is self regulated, non contact
and would fit in well at Kiwanis Park.
The City would maintain the table lands to apark-like setting for use of WODS. This higher level
of maintenance would be welcomed by the abutting residence. The WODS would pay for the
field usage and have also included in their registration package an additional cost for access to
Kiwanis Park and use of the pool. This additional revenue would also help the operating costs of
the park.
The field use of the table lands is being monitored as a pilot project to ensure that the impacts to
the neighbourhood will be minimized.
Letters were sent out to all residents on Kiwanis Park Drive, Woolwich Street, Falconridge
Crescent, Falconridge Drive and Hawkswood Drive seeking input on the use of the fields for the
Waterloo Organization of Disc Sports. Of the over eighty letters that were sent out, we received
comments from eleven residents. Seven residents had no real issues with the proposed use,
but four residents on Kiwanis Park Drive had issues with the increased levels of traffic entering
the park on their street. With the City taking a greater role in the use of Kiwanis Park, it is
projected that the usage will increase even without the WODS. Also, this group promotes an
environmentally friendly approach and typically car pools so that their traffic numbers should be
minimized. With WODS and the City on site, we will be able to address issues of use after dark
and issues around on-street parking.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The estimated cost to topdress and overseed the table land portion of the park is approximately
$5,000. The ongoing maintenance costs of the fields will be covered through user fees.
Jim Witmer
Director of Operations
Greg Hummel
Manager of Park Planning,
Development and Operations
Report No: CSD-08-048 3