Parkdale Park

Location: Hintonburg Neighbourhood, Ottawa ON. / Completed 2011

Client: City of Ottawa

“There is fun to be done!  There are points to be scored.  There are games to be won.  And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winningest winner of all.”  Dr. Seuss

Parkdale Park is the heart of the Hintonburg arts district and large residential community located adjacent to the Parkdale Market just off Wellington Avenue West ‘main street.’ The project was an initiative of the Wellington Street West Community Design Plan and Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Funding.  Public engagement led to park improvements included new paved surfaces around an existing wading pool, site furniture, shade trees and planting beds, fencing and decorative lighting.  Whimsical sculptural seating elements in the shape of tomatoes appear as if they have escaped and rolled in from the market next door delight children and animate the space.

The field house renovation, including new angled kite like shade canopies and park stage were designed by Colizza Bruni Architecture Inc.  Through a collaborative approach to placemaking, this project succeeded in strengthening connections with community and place contributing to people’s health, happiness, and well-being.

The project won the City of Ottawa Urban Design Award of Excellence for “Public Places and Civic Spaces.”  Kaja Cerveny was the project Landscape Architect and manager while with Douglas & Ruhland Landscape Architects.