by Helen Hall
Kitchener Citizen
Victoria Park Lake has been drained and dredging will begin soon, but some improvements around the lake have been put on hold due to a budget shortfall.
Ward 9 councillor Frank Etherington represents the neighbourhood where the lake is located, and he is not happy with the change in plans.
Construction of The Boathouse’s new dock, patio and boardwalk have been cut, as well as a pedestrian bridge at the west end of the park near the railway tracks. These items will be added for discussion in the 2012 budget.
“I’m disappointed,” he said in an interview. He thought these items were a “done deal” and was surprised that there was not enough funds.
City councillors approved spending $8.1-million for improvements in and around the lake. It will be dredged and deepened to improve its circulation and reduce bacteria problems. A forebay will be added at the entrance to the lake to trap sediment before it enters. Some landscaping and park improvements have also been approved.
Victoria Park Lake is part of Kitchener’s stormwater management system. Storm-water from the west end of Kitchener drains toward the centre of the city and ends up in the lake.
Improvements around the lake are paid for out of the city’s parks budget. City councillors learned November 2 that the park’s budget is short $400,000.
“The major thing I took exception to was the removal of the boardwalk,” Etherington said. The boardwalk would allow pedestrians to walk between The Boathouse and the lake.
Earlier this year, residents rose in defence of The Boathouse when they learned the live music venue might have to close down permanently due to the Victoria Park Lake renovations and the inability for the city (who owns the building) to come to a lease agreement with the bar’s operator Kevin Doyle.
City council chambers were packed and it was decided that The Boathouse would continue to be a live music venue and that Doyle would be given the opportunity to resume his business - if he and the city can agree on a lease.
The Boathouse will close for safety reasons during the lake reconstruction. It is expected to shut down at the end of November and re-open sometime in May.
Etherington believes that The Boathouse patio, dock and boardwalk will be added to next year’s budget, because council has assured Boathouse supporters that they are behind the project.
“I don’t want to see a repeat of what we saw before,” Etherington said of the reaction to the possible closure of The Boathouse.
Etherington’s concern now is that these improvements will now have to fight against many other worthwhile projects for funds in the 2012 budget.
“We said we would give priority to this, but all kinds of things make demands on the city treasury,” Etherington said.
Kitchener Citizen
Victoria Park Lake has been drained and dredging will begin soon, but some improvements around the lake have been put on hold due to a budget shortfall.
Ward 9 councillor Frank Etherington represents the neighbourhood where the lake is located, and he is not happy with the change in plans.
Construction of The Boathouse’s new dock, patio and boardwalk have been cut, as well as a pedestrian bridge at the west end of the park near the railway tracks. These items will be added for discussion in the 2012 budget.
“I’m disappointed,” he said in an interview. He thought these items were a “done deal” and was surprised that there was not enough funds.
City councillors approved spending $8.1-million for improvements in and around the lake. It will be dredged and deepened to improve its circulation and reduce bacteria problems. A forebay will be added at the entrance to the lake to trap sediment before it enters. Some landscaping and park improvements have also been approved.
Victoria Park Lake is part of Kitchener’s stormwater management system. Storm-water from the west end of Kitchener drains toward the centre of the city and ends up in the lake.
Improvements around the lake are paid for out of the city’s parks budget. City councillors learned November 2 that the park’s budget is short $400,000.
“The major thing I took exception to was the removal of the boardwalk,” Etherington said. The boardwalk would allow pedestrians to walk between The Boathouse and the lake.
Earlier this year, residents rose in defence of The Boathouse when they learned the live music venue might have to close down permanently due to the Victoria Park Lake renovations and the inability for the city (who owns the building) to come to a lease agreement with the bar’s operator Kevin Doyle.
City council chambers were packed and it was decided that The Boathouse would continue to be a live music venue and that Doyle would be given the opportunity to resume his business - if he and the city can agree on a lease.
The Boathouse will close for safety reasons during the lake reconstruction. It is expected to shut down at the end of November and re-open sometime in May.
Etherington believes that The Boathouse patio, dock and boardwalk will be added to next year’s budget, because council has assured Boathouse supporters that they are behind the project.
“I don’t want to see a repeat of what we saw before,” Etherington said of the reaction to the possible closure of The Boathouse.
Etherington’s concern now is that these improvements will now have to fight against many other worthwhile projects for funds in the 2012 budget.
“We said we would give priority to this, but all kinds of things make demands on the city treasury,” Etherington said.
Victoria Park Lake improvements have begun but some items have
been put on hold
been put on hold
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