Controversial parkland sale part of Windsor open house on upgrades
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An upgrade plan for an east Windsor public park — which includes a controversial suggestion of selling off a portion of it for private housing development — is the subject of an open house next week.
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The city is seeking residents’ input on proposed improvements to Kinsmen Norman Road Park (1730 Olive Rd.), which could include soccer nets, a sports court, a multi-use trail, a gazebo, and more.
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Capital funding for the project has yet to be approved by council, but a city news release on Thursday states Ward 8 Coun. Gary Kaschak “would like to make this park a priority and has proposed that a small portion of the park could be developed for housing.
“The proceeds from the sale of the lots would be directed to fund the parkland improvements identified in the master plan.”
A dangerous action
Kaschak’s recent suggestion had already drawn criticism. Selling off public greenspace for parkland capital improvements is “a dangerous action,” one that “may set a precedent for future development of our many beautiful city parks,” Richard St. Denis, president of the Unifor Windsor Regional Environment Council, told the Star in October.
The park in Kaschak’s ward currently includes 2.36 acres of open space, trees, as well as a community soccer field previously paid for by Kaschak’s ward funds.
The proposed new amenities, which include more trees, lighting, benches, and trash receptacles, are based on feedback received from respondents to a previous survey about the park conducted in 2022, the city said.
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Kaschak first broached the idea of selling off a slice of the park to pay for improvements at his ward meeting last month. A few weeks later, he told the Star renderings exist for a new and improved Kinsmen Norman Road Park with 20 per cent less green space, but with several added amenities.
Saving the taxpayers some money
Kaschak said he considers land at the park’s southern end under-utilized. He envisions six or eight single-family homes going up there, with the land sale potentially netting the city more than $1 million.
Without that money, he said, those park upgrades would be difficult to fund in the upcoming 2025 budget. He called it a “win-win,” with housing and amenities, “and saving the taxpayers some money as well.”
The public open house is on Monday, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church (1991 Norman Rd.).
Residents can also provide feedback by visiting the Kinsmen Norman Road Park open house web page on citywindsor.ca, which includes a link to the survey. The survey will be available until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 23.
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