Public Input Wanted On Breakwater Park Design

Breakwater Park – the park that runs along the waterfront between Beverley and Barrie streets – will be the focus of an upcoming public meeting on how to enhance this great public space to further encourage active living.

The workshop-style meeting, to be run by active transportation expert Gil Penalosa of 8-80 Cities, is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, at Memorial Hall, City Hall, 216 Ontario St. Participants are asked to register by 6:45 p.m.

“Breakwater Park is already a favourite destination for walkers and cyclists. We look forward to involving the public in choosing new design elements that will enhance the park for all users and get people out and active,” says Lanie Hurdle, Commissioner of Community Services.

8-80 Cities is a design firm that is partnering with the Ministry of Health to create spaces that invite physical activity and incorporate sustainable design principles.

“Parks are an important part of the fabric of the community because they give everyone access to a place to be active. Since being active is so important to our health, improving parks means improving the health of the community,” says Stephanie Sciberras, Physical Activity Specialist with KFL&A Public Health.

Kingston is one of six municipalities that received a “Make a Place for People” consultation opportunity in partnership with 8-80 Cities toward developing improvements to Breakwater Park. The City and KFL&A Public Health partnered on the winning application. In addition to consulting with the public, key stakeholders will also be involved in this project intended to raise awareness of the links between active and healthy living principles and built environment. 8-80 Cities will return in June for a second round of public consultation about this key waterfront park.

Media contact information: Cindie Ashton, Communications Officer, 613-546-4291, ext. 3116 (cell 329-3462). Or call the City of Kingston’s media hotline at 613-546-4291, ext. 2300.