04 Oct City Of Kitchener Builds Pop-Up Park In Front Of Carl Zehr Square
What makes a welcoming, safe and playful park? From October 14 – 16 the City of Kitchener Department of Parks and Open Spaces and non-profit partner 8 80 Cities are building a pop-up park in front of Carl Zehr Square for a weekend of community engagement, greenery, and fun.
The City of Kitchener and 8 80 Cities have partnered together to launch the first-ever POP-UP PARK in downtown Kitchener to build excitement and engage diverse communities in reimagining parks and public spaces from an equity lens.
The project is part of the City of Kitchener’s broader Places and Spaces Parks Strategic Planning process. “We’ve heard a lot of great ideas from community members over the summer about what they would like to see in their parks and open spaces, this pop-up park is about demonstrating and testing those ideas in real-time, asking the community are we on the right track? We hope we get even more folks engaged in the conversation on the future of parks in Kitchener” says AJ Visneski Manager of Parks and Open Spaces and project lead.
The pop-up park will feature physical design elements that represent community ideas including accessible pathways and play, nature-based play elements, green open flexible spaces for passive use and cultural activities, an open fire, picnic tables and natural seating, community food gardens, and interactive art.
Over the course of the three days of the pop-up, the space will be programmed with a variety of activities for all ages, including live musical performances, outdoor movies, gardening workshops, community learning opportunities on reconciliation led by Indigenous elder Gerard Sagassige, community conversations on addressing houselessness in parks led by Social Development Centre through the outdoor living room installation, cultural games, engagement stations, community picnics and more.
Join us for a media event on Friday, October 14th at 9:30 am in front of Carl Zehr Square where Indigenous elder Gerard Sagassige will host an opening ceremony with Suddaby Elementary in attendance.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
AJ Visneski Manager, Parks and Open Space Design and Development, City of Kitchener – ashley.visneski@kitchener.ca
Niall Lobley Director of Parks and Cemeteries, City of Kitchener – Niall.lobley@kitchener.ca
Jayne Armstrong Project Manager, 8 80 Cities – Jarmstrong@880cities.org
