Bonnerworth Park Redevelopment

Cenotaph

Based on recommendations from an outdoor recreation facilities study, the City is updating and reconfiguring Bonnerworth Park at Monaghan Road and McDonnel Street to:

  • expand the skateboard park
  • add a new bike pump track
  • add 14 pickleball courts, including two accessible courts
  • complete landscaping with about 63% of the site as green space

Construction began in fall 2024.

Updates

The baseball fields at Bonnerworth will be removed and the City will invest in ball diamonds at other parks, including upgrading ball diamonds at three parks in 2024 and 2025. The tennis courts at Bonnerworth will be removed and new tennis courts will be built at Knights of Columbus Park as part of a larger plan to rejuvenate and enhance the recreation facilities at that park.

City Council approved the Bonnerworth Park project and the first phase of the Knights of Columbus Park project, which will include the four new tennis courts and associated lighting, in the City's 2024 Budget.

The process included consultation with the broader community as well as stakeholder groups such as sport organizations that use the facilities during the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities Study in 2022-2023 as well as project specific consultations on the Bonnerworth Park and Knights of Columbus Park projects in 2024.

Background information, including technical studies, is available on the City's community engagement hub, Connect Peterborough, at connectptbo.ca/bonnerworth-park. The consultation has concluded; however, the consultation page remains available to view and access information.

Other background resources:

Frequently asked questions

 What is included in the Bonnerworth Park project?
 

The Bonnerworth Park project includes:

  • About 63% of the site will be green space – landscaped/grass
  • Pathways on the site
  • 14 pickleball courts, including related sound attenuation measures
  • Expanding the existing skateboard park
  • Creating a new bike pump track
  • Parking area totalling 44 spaces

The four existing tennis courts will be removed and four new tennis courts with associated lighting will be built at Knights of Columbus Park.

The two ball diamonds will be removed and three ball diamonds in other locations will be upgraded to enhance ball diamond capacity.
 Why was Bonnerworth Park selected as the location for pickleball courts and a bike pump track?
Bonnerworth Park was selected for several reasons such as its location on an arterial road, the existing use as an active use hub for sport facilities that is consistent with the new uses that will be added to the park, the existing pickleball use on the tennis courts in the park, the proximity to the McDonnel Street Community Centre that can be used to support activity in the park, and the ability to coordinate the construction of the three recreation facilities – expanding the existing skateboard park, adding a new bike pump track, and adding pickleball courts – into a single construction project.
 How has the City engaged with the community through the process?
The City has engaged with the community at various phases of the process, including, but not limited to, the following:
  • June 2021 – Parks and Open Space Implementation Plan to set out a process for parks planning and provide a process for addressing new requests for parks facilities is presented to the City’s Arenas, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, which is a citizen’s advisory committee that provides feedback for City activities. 
  • October 2022 – Surveys for pickleball and tennis facility needs, with 258 and 97 responses, respectively. 
  • June 2023 – Stakeholder consultations with tennis and pickleball facility user groups. 
  • July 2023 – Focus group meetings with ball field and sport field facility user groups. 
  • August 2023 – Meetings with representatives from school boards and post-secondary institutions on parks and sport fields needs in their organizations. 
  • August 2023 – Meetings with representatives from townships and First Nations to review Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities Study. 
  • August 2023 – Arenas, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee special meeting to review results from the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities Study, including the recommendations for the Bonnerworth and Knights of Columbus projects. 
  • October 2023 – Draft Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities Study posted for public review and emailed to all participants of public and stakeholder consultation meetings that had occurred throughout the process. 
  • October 10, 2023 – City Council considers and endorses Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities Study during its General Committee meeting. 
  • October 23, 2023 – City Council unanimously approves the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities Study during its regular Council meeting. As part of this approval, Council provided specific direction on the Bonnerworth and Knights of Columbus projects. 
  • December 2023 – City Council unanimously approves the City’s 2024 Budget, which includes the first phase of the Bonnerworth and Knights of Columbus projects as well as a pre-commitment for the second phase of the Bonnerworth project in 2025. 
  • February 2024 to April 2024 – Consultations specific to Bonnerworth and Knights of Columbus projects launched, with surveys for the two generating 833 and 101 responses, respectively. There were more than 5,500 visitors to the Bonnerworth project page and 852 visitors to the Knights of Columbus project page. 
  • March 19, 2024 – City met with representatives from the cycling community, pickleball facility users, and the Peterborough Skateboard Coalition about the Bonnerworth project design. 
  • March 21, 2024 – City held a public information session about the Bonnerworth project with an estimated attendance of more than 100 people. Invitations were dropped off at homes in the surrounding neighbourhoods and posters were put up at the park to promote the meeting, along with promotion online and through local media. 
  • April 4, 2024 – City met with tennis community representatives about the Knights of Columbus project. 
  • April 4, 2024 – City held a public information session about Knights of Columbus project, with an estimated attendance of about 50 people, including about 20 people who attended to speak with City representatives about the Bonnerworth project and who met separately with senior City staff for questions and answers. 
  • April 8, 2024 – City Council hears public delegations on the Bonnerworth Park project and considers a motion to look at alternatives. Council did not support motion to look at alternatives to the Bonnerworth project. Project proceeds as previously approved by Council. 
  • August 8, 2024 – Draft plan, informed by technical studies and community engagement, was posted for public review, with a new public commenting period open from August 8 to 21, 2024. The City received 423 comments through this commenting period to inform the finalization of the plan.
  • August 13, 2024 – Draft plan presented to the Arenas, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Community input from the various phases of the review of outdoor recreation facilities and the specific Bonnerworth Park project have informed the finalization of the details for the project.
 How have the technical studies affected the project design?
Technical studies completed by subject matter experts were used to inform the final design plan and ensure it meets all technical standards. These technical studies, including a geotechnical investigation, archaeological assessment, traffic impact study and parking plan, noise impact study and stormwater management report have been posted to the project page in the Documents section. The recommendations made in the reports are reflected in the final design. Examples include the noise attenuation fencing, the number of parking spaces provided and how stormwater is managed and infiltrated on site through Low Impact Development (LID) measures including permeable pavers in the parking lot and enhanced vegetated swales.
 How has community input informed the project design?
Community comments related to the preservation of green space led to the reduction in the number of pickleball courts and the increase of open space area in the final design. The reduction of courts also meant the number of parking spaces could be reduced from the original design. The Arenas, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and Accessibility Advisory Committee provided comments relating to the location of the accessible pickleball courts which led to the accessible courts moving closer to the parking lot. A water bottle filling station was also recommended which has been included in the final design. Comments related to noise contributed to the planning for noise attenuation features.
 When will construction start?
Construction is expected to start in fall 2024. With the selection of the contractor for the construction, the City will work with the contractor to determine timelines with construction beginning in fall 2024.
 When is construction expected to be completed?
 Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2025.
 How has the City addressed noise concerns?

Noise considerations have been addressed in several ways through the design of the project including noise attenuation fencing for the pickleball courts, ensuring adequate setbacks through the location of the features on the property, landscaping including providing berms, and planting trees that also serve as a buffer.

A noise impact study was completed to evaluate the potential noise impacts from the site onto the nearby residences. The study recommended noise attenuation fencing and found that the proposed noise control design for the proposed park will have a mitigative effect on the predicted noise levels, ensuring any increase in noise levels are not at levels considered as significant. While the berms and trees around the pickleball courts were not required by the noise impact study, they will be additional measures to contribute to noise attenuation.
With the removal of ball diamonds from Bonnerworth Park, how is the City addressing baseball field capacity in the community?
The two ball diamonds at Bonnerworth Park were underutilized with an average use of two hours a day per week, typically between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Due to how close the fields are to adjacent roads, the use of the fields was limited.

To add capacity in other parks, the City is upgrading ball diamonds at three other parks, including Stacey Green Park that was upgraded in 2024 and two more ball diamonds that are slated for upgrades in 2025.
What is the project budget?
The project budget is $4.425 million as approved by Council in 2024 and pre-committed in the 2025 budget.
Are the technical studies publicly available?
The technical studies are posted on the consultation page for the project at connectptbo.ca/bonnerworth-park.
Where can I find the final design document?
The site plan that is issued for tender is available on this page on the City's website and on the the consultation page for the project at connectptbo.ca/bonnerworth-park.
Can you explain the tender process being used for this project?
It's an open process that follows City Council's Procurement By-law. This project is following a two-stage process with the first stage through a Request for Supplier Qualifications process to create a qualified supplier list that will be eligible to bid on the contract, then the second stage with the call for bids from the pre-qualified list of suppliers.
The process and call for submissions were posted on the City's website through Bids and Tenders.
What are the dates for the issuing and closing of the tender for the construction contract?

The tender was issued via the Bids and Tenders portal to the pre-qualified list of bidders on September 27, 2024. The tender is tentatively scheduled to close on October 17. The closing date may be extended depending on addendums to the tender.

The pre-qualified list of bidders was selected through an open, competitive process with the call for proposals posted on the Bids and Tenders site that is linked through the City's website.

Will the name of the company that is awarded the contract be made public?

The name of the company that is awarded the contract will be posted on the project page at peterborough.ca/bonnerworth.

What company has been selected for the construction?

Land Eleven Construction has been selected as the successful bidder as per the City's procurement processes for the contract for Landscape Construction Services for the Bonnerworth Park Redevelopment project.

There were seven companies that were prequalified through an open process to proceed to the second stage of the procurement process for the tender. The City received six bids from the seven prequalified companies. Land Eleven Construction submitted the lowest bid.

The project budget is $4.425 million as approved by City Council in 2024 and pre-committed in the 2025 Budget. The project remains within budget.

How will construction traffic be managed?

Construction traffic will be directed to enter and exit towards Monaghan Road.

Will the project comply with the City's Engineering Design Standards for stormwater management?

The project will comply with the City's Engineering Design Standards for stormwater management. The City is updating the project's Stormwater Management Report to comply with City standards.

Is there an application for an injunction? Is construction proceeding?

(Note: On November 22, 2024, Friends of Bonnerworth Park publicly stated that the group had withdrawn its application for an injunction)

Construction of a bike pump track, expanded skateboard park, pickleball courts, and associated features at Bonnerworth Park at Monaghan Road and McDonnel Street is continuing. There is no injunction against the project and there is no scheduled court date.

Reports that the application by Friends of Bonnerworth Park will be heard by the Superior Court of Justice on November 25, 2024 are incorrect.

The City has been informed that the applicant’s current law firm, Kraemer LLP, does not intend to handle the injunction application going forward and that Friends of Bonnerworth Park plans to retain new legal counsel.

City Council approved direction on Monday, November 12, 2024 to authorize the City to respond to the injunction application in the Superior Court of Justice.

As this is a legal matter, the City’s public communications on the matter will be through legal counsel and through its response to the court filing.