What We Heard

Water Play and Splash Pads Survey

Nearby trees, seating areas, and colourful aesthetics and nature were some of the ideas shared by community members through a consultation on features to be included in two new splash pads that will be installed this year at Turner Park and Hamilton Park.

Through the annual budget process, City Council has been dedicating funding to the creation of splash pads and the conversion of old water playground features into splash pads as a recreational amenity for children and families. The splash pads for Turner Park and Hamilton Park are small neighbourhood size splash pad projects that were approved in the City’s 2019 and 2021 budgets.

Surveys on features and how the community will use the two splash pads were available with people being able to participate by telephone or online via the City’s community engagement platform, Connect Peterborough. The surveys opened April 16, 2021 and closed on May 5, 2021.

Community feedback assists the City with designing a splashpad that will meet the needs of the neighbourhoods. The survey responses are summarized for each park below:

Turner Park

124 people responded to the Turner Park Survey. The survey results indicate park visitors primarily walk to visit Turner Park and spend an hour or less at the park. The survey results show a desire for a colourful aesthetic and a high demand for additional shade. 60 people chose to leave an additional comment with requests for extended operational hours and confirming their excitement to have the splashpad built along with the need for shade. Comments received have been summarized and posted on the project page.

Turner Park survey results summary is available.

Hamilton Park

254 people responded to the Hamilton Park Survey. The survey showed 154 people walk to the park, 32 bike and 59 arrived by vehicle. 210 people spent less than an hour at the park. The survey showed a strong support to a nature aesthetic with tree planting for additional shade along with additional seating being high priority items. Respondents were able to provide additional comment at the end of the survey, 146 people chose to leave an additional comment that included comments on how much they were looking forward to having a safe waterplay opportunity close to their homes, concerns of water from the splashpad entering Jackson Creek, and comments about increased traffic on Bonnacord Street .Comments have been summarized and posted on the project webpage. The concerns noted will be reviewed and addressed by the project team through the design process as the project progresses.

Hamilton Park survey results summary is available.

Future information about the project and a concept plan will be updated on the Connect Peterborough project page as they come available.

The City currently has five splash pads in operation throughout the City. Splash pads are hard surface playgrounds that have water squirts, ground geysers and decorative water spray features. Splash pads serve children from toddler age to pre-teen.

Gillian Barnes, Project Manager, Facilities and Planning Initiatives 705-742-7777 ext. 1828 or by email at gbarnes@peterborough.ca.