Starwood Park master plan

The City of Guelph is developing a park master for Starwood Park, located at 510 Starwood Drive in the city’s east end.

The park is zoned P.2 (Neighbourhood Park) in the City’s zoning bylaw, which permits specific uses. See Zoning By-law Section 9 Park (P) Zones.

About the project

Basic park development, which includes grading, topsoil and sod, has been completed by the subdivision developer. This creates a safe grassed area that can be used by residents and is maintained by the City until park facilitates are installed.

The engagement process to create the park master plan is complete. Park construction is now underway!

Starwood Park Master Plan, June 1, 2018

Landscape program and engagement

Starwood Park will serve the community that abuts it, generally northwest of Eastview Road. The new neighbourhood park will be a community gathering space while also functioning as a trailhead to the City’s connective trail network.

The City conducted a community engagement process between January and March 2018. Residents had an opportunity to provide feedback on three park concepts that illustrated different program opportunities and layout plans. The first phase of the engagement process suggested that Concept 2 – The Lookout was strongly preferred over the other two concepts. Some refinement of the elements to enhance functionality resulted in the preferred concept plan that led to the master plan.

The park elements from the preferred concept plan that received positive feedback from the community were its natural elements (including playground materials, the presence of trees, a rain garden), the play area’s location away from the street, the seat walls, and the grove.

Design goal

The intent of the master plan is to guide a community-supported neighbourhood park. The design should be functional, aesthetically pleasing, and create a sense of place. That is to:

• Provide a safe and accessible environment for a diversity of neighbourhood residents meeting the standards of Crime Prevention Through Environmental
• Design, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act and the City of Guelph Facility Accessibility Design Manual.
• Provide diverse opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities to gather for passive and active recreation
• Make the park a destination and trailhead to the Eastview trail network to encourage active lifestyles for all ages
• Create a design that is financially feasible and operationally sustainable

Design elements

• A shade pavilion that services both a viewing area and the play area
• A variety of seating including accessible benches, a seating wall, and armour stone seating
• A rain garden featuring a mix of grasses, perennials, and shrubs that collects stormwater runoff and provides habitat for wildlife
• A lookout area that heightens views towards the ponds and hills of Eastview Park to the northeast with space for a provisional interpretive panel
• Junior and senior play areas
• A grove of trees that will provide natural shade for gathering
• A play lawn for various open play activities
• 3.0 metre accessible paths with a 2.5 metre accessible secondary path
• Two picnic tables
• Two games tables; one located under the pavilion

Community engagement

First phase (January 2018)

During this phase, we asked residents to review three concept designs and vote on playground components for the neighbourhood park. There were 24 votes for Concept 1 – The Circuit, 71  votes for Concept 2 – The Lookout, and 16 votes for Concept 3 – The Gathering. Concept 2 – The Lookout is the basis for preferred park concept design.

Phase 1 community feedback summary – January 2018

Second phase (March 2018)

During this phase, we asked residents to view the Starwood Park preferred concept design and provide input.
Preferred concept comments: 5 (2 on Mindmixer, 3 by email)

Confirmation of direction

Questions and suggestions

Comments about play area