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Goderich Recreation Park Revitalization Committee

The new Goderich Recreation Park!

Located in the heart of "Canada's Prettiest Town", the land that makes up Goderich's Agricultural Park was secured by the Town in 1886 with baseball diamonds constructed in 1952 and 1979 and a soccer pitch built in 1979.  The park is a highly valued space in the lives of families and youth in our community.  However, with generations of use, the facilities are well past the end of their lifespan.  A long-awaited revitalization project for upgrades to the park is now underway to renew this important public space for everyone in our local community to enjoy. 

The Goderich Recreation Park Revitalization Committee fundraised and met the goal of opening a new and revitalized community park in 2019.  The park is open to everyone including visitors and tourists to our beautiful town.  The revitalized space has been designed as an active park for our local baseball and soccer communities, skate park enthusiasts, children, youth and families.

 

 What is at the new park?

Baseball

The plan includes one hardball diamond and two softball diamonds in a tournament design.  These three new diamonds, along with the existing diamond at GDCI, will give Goderich the opportunity to increase play and provide a venue to host additional and larger tournaments.  Ball diamond surfaces will see significant improvement so that they are safe, playable and serviceable.  The design includes bleachers, team benches, and LED lighting.

Soccer

The plan also includes a soccer pitch on a north-south orientation with a crowned field.  Perimeter fencing with draping behind the goal posts will facilitate competitive league play.  Bleachers, covered team benches, and lights are included in the design.

Skate Park

An in-ground / in-ground skate park is being built within 14,000 square feet of space with room for future expansion.  This will be a preferred and unique destination for BMX bikers, scooters, in-line skaters and skateboarders in Huron County and beyond.

Playground

The park will include a playground for children to use not only while their siblings and friends are participating in sports, but for every day family use as well.

Pavilion

A multi-use pavilion in a central location will serve as a covered viewing area for spectators, with electricity and water to promote and enable the hosting of events.

 The Design Process

Master Plan

The plan for the revitalized park was developed over a number of years with extensive community input. 

Originally conceived as part of Goderich's Master Plan for recreation (2005-2006), the final design includes the essential elements of the preferred master plan, updated for current usage and recreation trends. 

This design provides increased access and playability for the baseball and soccer communities and other field users, long-awaited permanent skate park facilities, an accessible children's playground, storage space, washrooms, shelter, improved green space, and picnic facilities for everyone's use.

The tender for the park, along with two Requests for Proposals were received by Council on October 10, 2017 and referred to the Recreation Park Revitalization Committee for review and recommendations.  The final tender and designs were approved by Goderich Town Council at their meeting on October 23, 2017.

Baseball and Soccer

All elements of the park were designed based on consultation with affected users. The design of the hardball diamond and softball diamonds was based on feedback from local men's, ladies and co-ed leagues including fastball, baseball, softball, and slo-pitch, as well as consultation with Goderich Minor Baseball and coaches from GDCI.  The design of the soccer pitch was chosen based on input from local men's and ladies' soccer leagues, Goderich Minor Soccer and coaches from GDCI.  The tender was awarded to Birnam Excavating Ltd. after confirmation that all relevant specs were met.

Skate Park

The Goderich Skate Park Committee conducted an on-line survey in the spring of 2017 requesting input on the preferred design for the park.  The results of this public survey, as well as general input from the community, were included in the RFP for the skate park design.  Specific input was provided by the Skate Park Committee, the Rotary Club of Goderich, Goderich's Recreation Board of Management, the YMCA, and Town Administration.  The final design, submitted by New Line Skateparks, was chosen by the Goderich Recreation Park Revitalization Committee after considering all proposals submitted to the Town.

Playground

The playground design, submitted by Play Power Canada, was chosen by the Recreation Park Committee after consultation with the Recreation Board of Management, the YMCA and Town Administration with the goal of building an accessible park with a universal design. The Hunter Costello Memorial Fun-dation also provided input on preferred, accessible design elements.

 Estimated Project Costs

Based on estimates provided by BM Ross Engineering, in the spring of 2017 Goderich Town Council approved a $3,030,000 project plan to revitalize Ag Park.

After tenders were received, the estimate for the total cost of the project has come in at $3,647,000.

The project is being financed by the Town of Goderich via reserved funds allocated for recreation, grants and budget allocations of $200,000 per year over a 12-year amortization. 

The Recreation Park Revitalization Committee was originally tasked with raising a minimum $500,000 community contribution towards the project.  This goal has been increased to $1,100,000 to cover the difference between the original estimate and the final budget. As of October, 2017, the committee has raised $800,000.

The Committee continues fundraising, planning and preparing for the project with the knowledge that the path forward must be fiscally appropriate and responsible for all stakeholders, while addressing our community's recreation needs. 

 Benefits to the Community

The revitalized space has been designed as an active park for our local baseball and soccer communities, skate park enthusiasts, children, youth, and families.

Upgrades will create a vibrant, healthy space for our whole community.  The redevelopment plan focuses on expanding the use of the Park to include members of our community in both active and passive activities.  These upgrades will promote outdoor activities and healthy lifestyles for every member of our community.

The revitalized park will provide a safe, inclusive and fun space for our youth to practice their skills, meet new friends and enjoy the outdoors.

Our revitalization project will help to address youth health issues by offering a greater number of accessible athletic opportunities.

Our updated park will generate new economic opportunities by bringing additional visitors to our Town who will come to "play" at the park and participate in events.  This will positively impact our local retail and service industries.

 Construction Schedule

Town Administration began working with Birnam Excavating shortly after Council approved their tender.  Demolition/construction at the site began in November 2017.

Construction will continue through 2018.  Field user groups, including the baseball and soccer communities, are currently working towards finding temporary, alternate locations for their 2018 seasons.

The Grand Opening of the new, revitalized park is expected to take place in the spring of 2019.

 

GODERICH RECREATION PARK

The Goderich Recreation Park Revitalization Committee would like to extend our thanks to everyone
who has pledged their support for the park project. Once again, you have proven how much you care
for your community. Your generous financial support will help create a revitalized park that will
be a centrepiece of recreation for our children, youth and families for generations to come.

A special thank you to Kraft Heinz and TSN for the opportunity to participate in 2017’s Kraft Heinz
Project Play contest. We were thrilled with the amazing amount of support we received from our
businesses, organizations and the people of Goderich and surrounding areas. We are especially
grateful to everyone who nominated or voted for the Recreation Park and for the support we received
from Zehrs Goderich whose staff worked tirelessly to promote our nomination. Our incredible
$250,000 grand prize win could not have happened without you.

To our local service clubs, organizations and businesses, and to the individual donors who have
supported us from the first day of our campaign, our sincerest thanks. We have been overwhelmed by
your incredible generosity. We truly live in an amazing community. Contributions are still
gratefully accepted.

Cornerstone ($100,000 +)

Goderich Lions Club

Major ($50,000 - $99,999)

ERTH Power Corporation/Goderich Hydro

Goderich Kinette Club

Hunter Costello Memorial Fun-dation – in memory of Hunter Costello

Hyundai of Goderich

Kinsmen Club of Goderich

Murray’s Rona

Rotary Club of Goderich

Leadership ($20,000-$49,999)

Goderich Self Storage

Dr. Bruce and Betty Thomasson

Zehrs Goderich

Principal ($10,000 - $19,999)

ABC Investments

Blue Water Body and Fender and Staff

B.M. Ross and Associates

Bruinsma Excavating Ltd.

Conlon Family

Edward Fuels

Goderich Elevators (P & H) are proud to support this community project

Goderich Oldtimers Soccer

Goderich Toyota

Huronia Med-E-Ox Ltd

IODE Maple Leaf Chapter

Jack Thom Distributor Ltd.

Knights of Columbus

Legion Ladies Auxiliary Branch 109

McGee Motors Ltd a Martyn McGee Company

Microage Basics

Adam, Julie, Bennett & Eric Moore

The Noel Family

NRStor and Hydrostor

Takalo & Burt

Unifor 16-0


Sustaining ($5,000 - $9,999)

A.D.S. Asphalt Paving and Family

Trevor, Jill and Brock Bazinet

Baseball Ontario and ICBA

Beach Street Station

BMO Bank of Montreal

Boston Pizza Goderich

Christy Macdonald Charity Golf Tournament

Coldwell Banker Goderich

Donnelly Murphy Lawyers Professional Corporation

Eastlink

Fisher Glass and Mirror

Frank Cowan Company

Gardiners of Goderich

Goderich Pirates Senior AA Hockey Team

In Memory of Nathalie Gordon

Homefield Group – Royal LePage Heartland Realty – Jeff Bauer, Kathy Dawson and Rick Lobb

Hurontel

Ideal Supply

Gerd, Astrid, Sebastian, Anna and Leandra Keller

The Sales and Office staff of K.J. Talbot Realty Inc. are proud to make a contribution to the
Revitalization Project of the Goderich Recreation Park

MacEwan & Feagan Insurance Brokers

Maitland Valley Marina Limited from the Peever Family & Maitland Valley Staff

Mr. Heat N Cool Ltd

Myles & Cathy Murdock Orr Insurance & Investment

Park House

The Scholl Family

Skate Park Committee

West Coast Blues Winterfest Committee

Partner ($1,000 - $4,999)

3 on 3 Goderich Spring Hockey

Bluewater Carpet & Tile – Mark Chisolm

Bushwacker Hockey

Canada Company Baseball Team 1975-85

Mary & Paul Carroll

Compass Minerals

Michael & Jane Dawson

Drs. Paul Gill and Katayun Treasurywala

Goderich Carwash

Goderich Grizzlies Fastball Team

Goderich Men’s Slo-Pitch League

Pauline & Ed Laithwaite

Lighthouse Money Management Inc.

Market Square Dental

In Memory of Rae Mathers

The McAuley Family

Larry and Denese McCabe

Mike Palmer, In memory of Mayor: Eileen Palmer

Gerry & Louise Pitre

David B. Ross – Class of GDCI – 1975

Skate Park Committee w/Libro Credit Union

Mike & Cathy Strickland

The Co-operators

The Tigert Family

Truly Nolen Goderich

Virtual High School in Bayfield supports the Goderich Recreation Park plan to create a vibrant,
healthy space for all to use

Weed Man Goderich

Peter and Vanessa Willis

Chip and Sandy Wilson

Supporting ($20-$999)

Angels Ladies Ball Team

Babes Ball Team

Bad Decisions Ball Team

Bait & Tackle Ball team

Becky & Gene Bender

Carquest of Goderich

Hassan Chamas (Goderich Oldtimers Soccer)

Here for the Beer Ball Team

Tim Clancy

Bob Dick (Canada Company Ball Team)

Linda and Duncan Jewell

Glen & Vanda McNeil

Memphis Belles Ball Team

Tom O’Brien (Canada Company)

Oddball Ladies Slopitch

Offside Slopitch

Mike Palmer, GDCI Class 1975

Mike Palmer, Canada Company

Dave & Lori Rounds

Ernst Tafeit

Tim Hortons Hot Drink Sales

Leo & Karen Van Der Voort (Goderich Oldtimers Soccer)

Other Valued Donors

Stephen & Betty Bidwell

Capital Power

Chris & Tiffaney Kittmer

Maitland Valley Family Health Team Staff

May McConville Insurance Brokers Ltd.

 This project is also partially funded by Federal Gas Tax 

Investing in Canada

 

 

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Goderich Town Hall: 57 West Street, Goderich, ON N7A 2K5, Phone: 519-524-8344, Email: townhall@goderich.ca
Tourism Goderich: Phone: 519-524-6600, Toll-Free: 1-800-280-7637, Email: tourism@goderich.ca

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