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Efforts to replace 34 outdated and inaccessible playgrounds in Windsor were completed this week, less than three years after the ambitious $10.3 million project began.
The city on Monday unveiled a new $350,000 jungle gym on Rankin Avenue, just outside of South Cameron Woodlot, where a new trail system is planned.
“This is a great day for District 10. This South Cameron Park is something that is very close to my heart,” said District Councilor Jim Morrison.
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Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the community response to the city’s playground improvements had been “extremely positive.”
“The people of Windsor love their parks. They love quality parks,” Dilkens said.
“We have over 200 parks in our network, but people know where the good ones are, where the playgrounds are. They become amenities that the community takes care of.”
Dilkens said vandalism has been a problem in city parks in the past, but with a “nice new addition” like the new playground at South Cameron Woodlot, the community is “more proud.”
In November 2021, Dilkens announced the replacement of 32 playgrounds across the city for $9.4 million—about $300,000 per playground. The playgrounds selected for replacement were nearly 30 years old, increasingly difficult to maintain, and lacked accessible amenities, the city said at the time.
The 32 new playgrounds are divided into:
- three large playgrounds, each valued at $400,000, in Willistead, Gignac and Fred Thomas parks;
- 19 medium-sized playgrounds valued at $315,000 each at McKee, Bradley, Matthew Rodzik, Lake Laguna, Patrick Maguire, Kenilworth, Maple Leaf, Kid’s Alliance, Garwood, Homesite, Mayfair, Robert, Thurston, Coletta, St. Paul Grove, Ganatchio/Little River Corridor, Stillmeadow, Seneca and Cora Greenwood parks;
- and 10 small playgrounds valued at $225,000 each at Avondale Playlot, Brookview, Aboriginal, Alton C. Parker, Devonshire, Dynasty, Kominar, Francois, Shawnee and South Rendevous parks.
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Since winter 2021, the city has also replaced playgrounds in Wilson Park and Legacy Park for $450,000 each, giving the city a total of 34 new playgrounds.
South Cameron Woodlot, Morrison said, “is very different from the traditional open space park. This is a natural woodland and wetland in the middle of the city.”
Since 1995, the city has managed the forest area and expanded it.
“It’s 33 acres now – we’ve swapped land with various developers,” he said.
In May, the City Council approved concept plans that, if funded, would install asphalt and limestone paths and fiberglass boardwalks in and around the South Cameron Woodlot. The $2.6 million needed to fund the project will not be discussed until the budget is discussed.
The project will be completed in phases, with portions of the trails closed during construction while the rest of the park remains open to the public.
The first phase includes an asphalt path with solar lighting along the edge of the park along Ojibway Street and parallel to Mark Avenue. Phase 2 will install limestone and boardwalk paths along Kenora Street east of Randolph Avenue, and Phase 4 will continue this work west of Randolph. Phase 3 includes an interior path from Ojibway Street that leads to both the park’s playground and Kenora Street.
“I think the phased approach is important from a budget perspective,” said Dilkens. “The goal is to end up with a beautiful trail system through this wonderful piece of forest. That’s what we’ll be working on starting with the next budget.”
Residents are invited to visit the new playgrounds at 11 a.m. Saturday to learn more about the city’s plans for the wooded area. Free ice cream will be available.
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