Town Centre Parks and Trails Design

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Update April 2024

Project Overview & Inputs

The Town Centre Parks and Trails Master Plan was developed to serve as a guide for planning and decision-making processes for park and trail development within the Town Centre area over the next 20 years. The Town Centre is projected to have continued growth, adding pressure to the existing parks and trail amenities in the area. The Master Plan has been developed to ensure that improvements to existing park amenities and the creation of new parks and trails consider the current and future needs of Lake Country residents and visitors. The Master Plan project boundary consists of Swalwell Park, McCarthy Park, Creekside Park and lands bordering along Middle Vernon Creek between Main Street, Bottom Wood Lake Road, and Beaver Lake Road.

The Master Plan process included the following processes:

  • Relevant documents and studies of the area were collected and reviewed.
  • A walkthrough of the site was conducted, and an inventory of existing conditions was recorded.
  • Archaeological and Environmental Assessments and reports were completed.
  • Community input was gathered through a series of community engagement activities, including Stakeholder Meetings, Park Events Booths, an Online Survey, and 2- Youth Oriented Activities.

The information collected was analyzed to determine trends, key values, priorities, and opportunities and constraints for the project area.

Guiding Principles

The key findings that resulted from the information gathering process became the Guiding Principles for the project:

1. Preserve and Protect Natural Features

2. Encourage Activities for All Ages and Abilities to Support an Active Community

3. Celebrate Unique Culture, Heritage, and Arts

4. Support a Safe Network of Paths, Trails and Connections for All Abilities.

5. Preserve Public Spaces

These guiding principles were reviewed throughout the design development process to ensure that the Master Plan aligned with the values, goals and vision shared by the District of Lake Country.

Master Plan Outcomes

Summarized as follows are Key Program Features incorporated into the master plan design:

  • Connections to various amenities through the improvement of existing, or creation of new, pathways and trails. Trail and pathway locations and materials have been suggested with inclusivity, safety and maintenance in mind.
  • New locations for possible creek crossing are identified with intent to minimize disturbance to the creek while providing connections from key recreation areas to Main Street. Key areas identified include a crossing near the NEXUS recreation area and near the old Kangaroo Farm.
  • Indicate possible locations for Pocket Parks and land acquisition along Main Street. These Pocket Parks ensure that passive outdoor spaces remain accessible as increased development and density fills in along Main Street. Each Pocket Park would also act as a trail head linking users to the broader trails and park system.
  • Improve entry experiences by relocating art to main pathway junctions and pocket parks and creating clear nodes for wayfinding signs, and rest areas.
  • Restore and protect key areas of the creek and riparian ecosystem by minimizing pathway creation into these areas, adding riparian planting, interpretive signs, and designated viewing areas.
  • Improve all-season use of the project area by including more shade areas in the summer, improved lighting of key amenities in the winter, and providing year-round bathroom access.
  • Encouraging walking and cycling by providing more benches, bike racks, bike repair stations, water fountains, lighting, and clear sign locations.
  • Preserve and restore open green spaces for programmed and unprogrammed uses such as soccer and tag.
  • Improve cultural opportunities by renovating the stage at Swalwell, providing space for expansion for the Farmers Market, propose additional locations for public art and provide a small outdoor amphitheater/ classroom in Creekside.
  • Improve appeal of the area to a wider range of age groups by including a new inclusive playground (ages 0-12) in Swalwell, a small playground (ages 5-12) in McCarthy Park, improving the splash park, and adding a 13+ fitness area.
  • Improve dog friendliness by adding an off- leash dog area and multi-use paths and waste receptacles.

Implementation

To complete the Master Plan, the District of Lake Country will implement the design in phases. The timing and scope of each phase will depend on multiple considerations including availability of funds, the progress of new developments in the area and public interest and support.

For the purposes of this plan, three major phases have been proposed. Phases were determined by evaluating current land ownership with public interest.

Phase 1 includes improvements to lands already managed and owned by the District of Lake Country including Swalwell and McCarthy Park. Most of the improvements desired by the community fall within this area and are regarded as a major priority.

Phase 2 includes continuation of trails and connections from NEXUS to Main Street, to various pocket parks and to Creekside Park. This phase will need to be coordinated with surrounding landowners.

Phase 3 is largely dependent on future development with many of the trail connections requiring land acquisition or negotiation with private landowners. To avoid extra costs for land acquisition, it is recommended that private lands adjacent to the creek be evaluated by the DLC on a case-by-case basis when a new development is being proposed to determine if opportunities may exist to add additional pocket parks, trails and paths that would benefit the landowners and public alike.

What’s Next

Review the Draft Concept:

Take a look at the draft concept plans and report (also located under "Reference and project documents").

Detailed design of phase 1 is proceeding in 2024 with construction anticipated to occur in 2025/2026.



Survey Contest Winners.

Thank you to the 300 community members who took the time to provide feedback through the online survey. Five email addresses were randomly chosen at the end of July. Each of the five winners were able to choose a local Lake Country business to receive $100 Gift Certificate. It's important to support our local Lake Country businesses!

Winners:

  1. Judy P - L’Isola Bella Bistro
  2. Christine S - Beat. Patisserie
  3. Leanne M - Pane Vino
  4. Gordon R - TBD
  5. Waiting for winner to respond - TBD

Kids Contest!

Kids here's a chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate for any Lake Country business - your choice!

There are two different contest - you can enter one or both. Printable forms are linked on the right of this page (if you are using a desktop) or down below if you are using a mobile device.

Project Overview:

Lake Country’s Town Centre has been the commercial and institutional hub of the community since inception. With the completion of Main Street in 2008, and continued development throughout the years, Town Centre is well positioned to continue to grow into a more significant residential, employment and cultural hub.

This project involves design for improvements to Swalwell Park as well as the design of new trail connections and pocket parks along both sides of the Middle Vernon Creek corridor between Bottom Wood Lake Road, Main Street and Beaver Lake Road. It will support the sustainable development of Lake Country’s Town Centre through protection of greenspace, creation of pedestrian and cycling paths, and enhancements/additions to community, recreation, and cultural amenities.

Overarching Project Objectives:

  • Create a rich, diverse, and connected network of parks and trails in Lake Country's Town Centre.
  • Engage the public and stakeholders to ensure user driven design solutions that reflect the needs and desires of the residents and positively impacts the neighbourhood and businesses.
  • Improve pedestrian and cycling linkages around the neighbourhood through the addition of off-road trails and pathways.
  • Capitalize and build upon the existing park system's location within Lake Country's commercial and civic core.
  • Improve site functionality for established community events such as Live in Lake Country and the Lake Country Farmers Market.
  • Improve the Middle Vernon Creek corridor as a linear park and enhance sensitive ecosystem habitat along the corridor.
  • Identify parkland acquisition and capital funding needs to meet future park & trail development goals.

Your Input Matters:

Survey is now closed - thank you to the 303 who took the time to provide input.

Update April 2024

Project Overview & Inputs

The Town Centre Parks and Trails Master Plan was developed to serve as a guide for planning and decision-making processes for park and trail development within the Town Centre area over the next 20 years. The Town Centre is projected to have continued growth, adding pressure to the existing parks and trail amenities in the area. The Master Plan has been developed to ensure that improvements to existing park amenities and the creation of new parks and trails consider the current and future needs of Lake Country residents and visitors. The Master Plan project boundary consists of Swalwell Park, McCarthy Park, Creekside Park and lands bordering along Middle Vernon Creek between Main Street, Bottom Wood Lake Road, and Beaver Lake Road.

The Master Plan process included the following processes:

  • Relevant documents and studies of the area were collected and reviewed.
  • A walkthrough of the site was conducted, and an inventory of existing conditions was recorded.
  • Archaeological and Environmental Assessments and reports were completed.
  • Community input was gathered through a series of community engagement activities, including Stakeholder Meetings, Park Events Booths, an Online Survey, and 2- Youth Oriented Activities.

The information collected was analyzed to determine trends, key values, priorities, and opportunities and constraints for the project area.

Guiding Principles

The key findings that resulted from the information gathering process became the Guiding Principles for the project:

1. Preserve and Protect Natural Features

2. Encourage Activities for All Ages and Abilities to Support an Active Community

3. Celebrate Unique Culture, Heritage, and Arts

4. Support a Safe Network of Paths, Trails and Connections for All Abilities.

5. Preserve Public Spaces

These guiding principles were reviewed throughout the design development process to ensure that the Master Plan aligned with the values, goals and vision shared by the District of Lake Country.

Master Plan Outcomes

Summarized as follows are Key Program Features incorporated into the master plan design:

  • Connections to various amenities through the improvement of existing, or creation of new, pathways and trails. Trail and pathway locations and materials have been suggested with inclusivity, safety and maintenance in mind.
  • New locations for possible creek crossing are identified with intent to minimize disturbance to the creek while providing connections from key recreation areas to Main Street. Key areas identified include a crossing near the NEXUS recreation area and near the old Kangaroo Farm.
  • Indicate possible locations for Pocket Parks and land acquisition along Main Street. These Pocket Parks ensure that passive outdoor spaces remain accessible as increased development and density fills in along Main Street. Each Pocket Park would also act as a trail head linking users to the broader trails and park system.
  • Improve entry experiences by relocating art to main pathway junctions and pocket parks and creating clear nodes for wayfinding signs, and rest areas.
  • Restore and protect key areas of the creek and riparian ecosystem by minimizing pathway creation into these areas, adding riparian planting, interpretive signs, and designated viewing areas.
  • Improve all-season use of the project area by including more shade areas in the summer, improved lighting of key amenities in the winter, and providing year-round bathroom access.
  • Encouraging walking and cycling by providing more benches, bike racks, bike repair stations, water fountains, lighting, and clear sign locations.
  • Preserve and restore open green spaces for programmed and unprogrammed uses such as soccer and tag.
  • Improve cultural opportunities by renovating the stage at Swalwell, providing space for expansion for the Farmers Market, propose additional locations for public art and provide a small outdoor amphitheater/ classroom in Creekside.
  • Improve appeal of the area to a wider range of age groups by including a new inclusive playground (ages 0-12) in Swalwell, a small playground (ages 5-12) in McCarthy Park, improving the splash park, and adding a 13+ fitness area.
  • Improve dog friendliness by adding an off- leash dog area and multi-use paths and waste receptacles.

Implementation

To complete the Master Plan, the District of Lake Country will implement the design in phases. The timing and scope of each phase will depend on multiple considerations including availability of funds, the progress of new developments in the area and public interest and support.

For the purposes of this plan, three major phases have been proposed. Phases were determined by evaluating current land ownership with public interest.

Phase 1 includes improvements to lands already managed and owned by the District of Lake Country including Swalwell and McCarthy Park. Most of the improvements desired by the community fall within this area and are regarded as a major priority.

Phase 2 includes continuation of trails and connections from NEXUS to Main Street, to various pocket parks and to Creekside Park. This phase will need to be coordinated with surrounding landowners.

Phase 3 is largely dependent on future development with many of the trail connections requiring land acquisition or negotiation with private landowners. To avoid extra costs for land acquisition, it is recommended that private lands adjacent to the creek be evaluated by the DLC on a case-by-case basis when a new development is being proposed to determine if opportunities may exist to add additional pocket parks, trails and paths that would benefit the landowners and public alike.

What’s Next

Review the Draft Concept:

Take a look at the draft concept plans and report (also located under "Reference and project documents").

Detailed design of phase 1 is proceeding in 2024 with construction anticipated to occur in 2025/2026.



Survey Contest Winners.

Thank you to the 300 community members who took the time to provide feedback through the online survey. Five email addresses were randomly chosen at the end of July. Each of the five winners were able to choose a local Lake Country business to receive $100 Gift Certificate. It's important to support our local Lake Country businesses!

Winners:

  1. Judy P - L’Isola Bella Bistro
  2. Christine S - Beat. Patisserie
  3. Leanne M - Pane Vino
  4. Gordon R - TBD
  5. Waiting for winner to respond - TBD

Kids Contest!

Kids here's a chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate for any Lake Country business - your choice!

There are two different contest - you can enter one or both. Printable forms are linked on the right of this page (if you are using a desktop) or down below if you are using a mobile device.

Project Overview:

Lake Country’s Town Centre has been the commercial and institutional hub of the community since inception. With the completion of Main Street in 2008, and continued development throughout the years, Town Centre is well positioned to continue to grow into a more significant residential, employment and cultural hub.

This project involves design for improvements to Swalwell Park as well as the design of new trail connections and pocket parks along both sides of the Middle Vernon Creek corridor between Bottom Wood Lake Road, Main Street and Beaver Lake Road. It will support the sustainable development of Lake Country’s Town Centre through protection of greenspace, creation of pedestrian and cycling paths, and enhancements/additions to community, recreation, and cultural amenities.

Overarching Project Objectives:

  • Create a rich, diverse, and connected network of parks and trails in Lake Country's Town Centre.
  • Engage the public and stakeholders to ensure user driven design solutions that reflect the needs and desires of the residents and positively impacts the neighbourhood and businesses.
  • Improve pedestrian and cycling linkages around the neighbourhood through the addition of off-road trails and pathways.
  • Capitalize and build upon the existing park system's location within Lake Country's commercial and civic core.
  • Improve site functionality for established community events such as Live in Lake Country and the Lake Country Farmers Market.
  • Improve the Middle Vernon Creek corridor as a linear park and enhance sensitive ecosystem habitat along the corridor.
  • Identify parkland acquisition and capital funding needs to meet future park & trail development goals.

Your Input Matters:

Survey is now closed - thank you to the 303 who took the time to provide input.

Page last updated: 10 Apr 2024, 09:48 AM