In 1977, The City of Morden set land aside for green spaces, one of them has been maintained but not developed until this year. Last week, the City of Morden held a grand opening ceremony for the Conner Hill Park.
Morden Parks And Urban Forestry Director Shawn Dias explained what led to the development of this park.
"A couple years ago, we were spearheading our Parks and Urban Forestry Master Plan Project. We actually took the Mayor and City Council on site to the green space on Connor Hill and talked about the need for, one, having a plan so that we could allocate funds and develop these spaces, and two, looking at that space as a really great opportunity because we currently owned it, and they were maintaining it, and it just needed some upgrades."
This June, the work began on the park and was completed at the end of September.
Dias described the park.
"There's a really great pathway that is interior through the space that connects a lot of the cul-de-sacs and roads that are surrounding the space. So, it actually got people off street by allowing them to walk through the park space, which is great. In addition to that, we put in a slide for the kids and some giant steps there and also, we have some log features the kids can climb round on as well. We built up an area hopefully, in the wintertime, it'll get used. as a toboggan slide as well."
The park connects Conner Hill Drive, Hillcrest, Mint and Dogwood Streets with pathways that intersect in the center of the park.
Dias explained the cost of the project and how it was financed.
"The cost of the park was $290,000. We were able to secure funding through Building Sustainable Communities, through Access Credit Union, through Crocus Real Estate, True North Electric, and then most recently, we had some funding come through from Canada Healthy Communities Initiative. So collectively, all of those folks, along with the City of Morden, were able to fund the development of this space."
Dias noted parks are great for many things.
"The development of a neighbourhood park helps to build community in lots of different ways. They support safe and accessible spaces to get outdoors, become physically active, and support mental well-being. They also provide a space for connection. Neighbourhood kids get given the opportunity to play and form friendships, adults and other people in the community are able to meet up in those spaces. They're free and inclusive, and we've noticed a desire from our folks here, and in other urban areas, to have that connection with nature and be able to get outside. The city is able to provide that by having this new neighbourhood park."
