2021 saw major setbacks in Kenora's plans for a new Central Community Club and the redevelopment of the Central Park area. In 2018 the original Central Community Club was beyond repair and was torn down. Since then, volunteers with Light Up Central had been working to raise $170,000 to rebuild the building.
Kenora Online states that the project and Central Park stayed stagnant until February of 2021 when Mayor Dan Reynard said the Central Park area could be a perfect location for multi-residential housing units due to its close proximity to the downtown core and the rising demand for housing in the area.
"Its perfect in terms of infrastructure. There are paved roads, sidewalks, sewer, water, hydro, natural gas. Everything's there and it's close to the downtown core. We will see how that plays out."
Mayor of Kenora | Dan Reynard
One month later, councillors unanimously voted in favour of rezoning Central Park from an open space to a residential space. The city said the western half of Central Park would be developed but the Central Community Club area and the eastern ball diamond would remain, along with green spaces.
In March, the Ontario and Federal governments came to the table with a funding announcement to help the City and the Light Up Central committee meet their fundraising goals, for a total of $813,000 of work. The City has committed $100,000 and Light Up Central raised $117,000.
Plans for upgrades to Central include:
- New outdoor rink
- New open rink area
- Replacement of the boards surrounding the hockey rink
- paving and lining the ice surface
- Construction of a player bench area
- New Central Community Club
When the development is complete, residents will also be able to enjoy the new rink surface's concrete base that will allow the following activities over the summer:
- Hockey and basketball
- Beach volleyball
- Second ice surface
- Bocce ball area
Unfortunately the project saw its first setback in May when city engineers discovered that the area's underground infrastructure was in need of repair and couldn't be relocated. This would cost the city an extra $400,000 or so. Work to fix these issues took place until September. Work in the area finally began in June.
In September, residents voiced their opinions at a Central Park rally which included a presentation of a 1,000 signature petition against the park's redevelopment.
"The City has violated their own official plan. We believe that Central Park is a public park and a public space that was gifted to the City over 100 years ago by the Hudson's Bay Company. Parks are public assets that shouldn't be sold."
Organizer | Dawn Mitchell
When the project was announced, Lake of the Woods Museum, Heritage Kenora and the City of Kenora all disputed the claim that the Hudson's Bay Company specified the property must be used as a park and said the company's plans from the 1880's showed Central Park was to be used as a residential area, before it was turned into a park in the 1890's.
Mitchell agreed that the Kenora community is in immediate need for new housing developments but stressed that they shouldn't come at the expense of Central Park.
"We just want to make sure that we can meet the housing needs of this town, and we can do that by also preserving a green space that we have a lot of history with and enjoyed for the past 100 years. We want to keep it there for another 100 years."
Organizer | Dawn Mitchell
The City announced in the middle of November that construction had been delayed until the Spring of 2022. Crews had experienced delays due to:
- Unexpected soil conditions
- Revision of the clubhouse's final designs
- Incorrect construction pricing estimates
The City is continuing to work with the general contractor and architects, and designs have now been finalized for the new clubhouse and final engineering specifications are taking place for the new outdoor rink.
The City's Senior Leadership Team has pledge to work closely with a future developer to ensure their work is well-suited to the needs of the community and the neighbourhood.
Central is the home of Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Neil Strain of Kenora, who played for the New York Rangers in the NHL's Original Six.
