The design concept for a new park at Bradford’s social services and community hub at 177 Church St. is headed for budget talks.
During their May 13 meeting, the town’s strategic projects committee selected one of two designs for the future park on the east side of the property, and council approved the recommendation without discussion during its June 4 meeting.
Deputy Mayor Raj Sandhu also chairs the committee and told BradfordToday said he hopes the design will address community feedback and add more park space to the area for people to enjoy, while also being conscious of cost.
The final cost estimate is expected to be updated ahead of budget talks anticipated for mid November.
In a report from May 2023, community services director Terry Foran estimated the design for the space of just less than .45 hectares would cost $691,640 and include:
- Playground with: Area for toddlers and young children (ages one to seven), area for older children (ages eight and up), a gazebo with accessible seating
- Benches and decorative seat wall for watching children
- Waste bins
- Naturalized areas with tree plantings facing Rebecca and Queen streets
- Connections to the hub, Fred C. Cook Public School and Rebecca Street
- Parking with one accessible space
A second concept would have included everything in the first, plus a splash pad, but would have almost doubled the estimated price to nearly $1.26 million and Lions Park already offers a splash pad just a few blocks away.
Sandhu called the selected concept a “good start.”
“I’m open to listening, when the time comes, what the other members of council have in mind,” he said. “There could be other stuff that could be done there.
"I will share it when we start talking about it at that time.”
