Anniversary Park Redesign

This phase was used by City staff to analyze and understand logistical requirements prior to engaging for community needs.

During this phase of the community engagement process, the City worked with residents and stakeholders to define a renewed overall vision for the park, including a series of Design Principles which will guide the development of design options in Phase 2.

Community Engagement Activities in this phase included:

• Stakeholder Workshop
• Online Survey
• In-Person Community Pop-Up

Outcomes:

Anniversary Park will be a green and calm urban oasis that supports community safety and comfort. It will be a welcoming place for people of different backgrounds, ages, and interests to meet and spend time, creating a vibrant new entrance to the Cabbagetown neighbourhood.

• Community safety and belonging
• Support community safety, comfort, and accessibility for all ages and abilities as a top priority
• Balance space for socializing and relaxation
• Enhance amenity options, while balancing space for socializing and relaxation
• Champion resilient approaches
• Enhance green spaces through plantings that provide shade and environmental benefits
• Integrate with neighbourhood
• Improve entrances and park edges, creating a design that connects with surrounding areas and feels less isolated

Community Stakeholder Workshop

In April 2023, the project team held an in-person workshop with community stakeholders. Participants included representatives from local neighbourhood organizations that serve patrons of the park. The workshop allowed participants to share their thoughts about opportunities, challenges, and ideas for the future Anniversary Park. Approximately 13 community stakeholders provided feedback at this workshop. Three members of the project team were available to collect feedback and answer questions.

• Ensure it is an inviting, inclusive space for all park users
• Welcoming for all community members, demographics and abilities
• A child-friendly space
• Support local businesses by providing a place to sit and eat
• Introduce an updated water feature
• A water feature that takes less space and offers positive visual and audio impacts (e.g., decorative fountain or mister)
• Water draws people together and is healing
• Prioritize greenery and calm spaces
• Provide calm, lush areas to sit, linger and relax
• Provide shade so people feel comfortable to stay in the park longer
• Add pollinator friendly planting
• Improve safety
• Provide lighting throughout the park
• Ensure good visibility into, out of, and through the park
• Provide furniture that cannot be moved or lifted
• Provide a wide range of seating options
• Ensure seating is accessible
• Include a mix of group and individual seating
• Include tables / places to eat
• Space for community events and gathering
• Demarcate a flexible space for community events such as markets, pop-ups, or installations
• Provide electrical power and outlets for events
• Other key suggestions from the workshop include:
• Make the park look and feel like a gateway into Cabbagetown
• Upgrade the drinking fountain (bottle filler and drinking fountain)

Review the workshop summary board. 

Online Survey

From April 6 to April 23, 2023, over 120 people responded to an online visioning survey. The feedback collected in this survey has informed the Vision Statement and Design Principles, and will guide draft design options for the park.

Download the summary report.