What We Heard

Water Play and Splash Pads Survey

Accessible walkways, shaded seating areas, and colourful aesthetics and nature were some of the ideas shared by community members through a consultation on features to be included in the new splash pad that will be installed this year at Valleymore Park.

Through the annual budget process, City Council has been dedicating funding to the creation of splash pads and the conversion of old water playground features into splash pads as a recreational amenity for children and families. The splash pad for Valleymore Park is a small neighbourhood size splash pad project that was approved in the City’s 2023 budget.

A Survey on features and how the community will use the splash pad was available with people being able to participate by telephone or online via the City’s community engagement platform, Connect Peterborough. The survey opened May 10, 2023 and closed on June 5, 2023.

Community feedback assists the City with designing a splashpad that will meet the needs of the neighbourhoods. The survey responses are summarized for Valleymore Park below:

Valleymore Park

205 people responded to the Valleymore Park Survey. The survey results indicate park visitors primarily walk to visit Valleymore Park and spend an hour or less at the park. The survey results show a desire for a colourful aesthetic and a high demand for additional shade. 83 people chose to leave an additional comment with requests to not interfere with existing uses on site (tobogganing hill, open field) and confirming their excitement to have the splashpad built along with the need for shade. Concerns with the availability of existing parking and comments about increased traffic on Spillsbury Drive. Comments received have been summarized and posted on the project page. The concerns noted will be reviewed and addressed by the project team through the design process as the project progresses.

Valleymore Park survey results summary is available.

Future information about the project and a concept plan will be updated on the Connect Peterborough project page as they come available.

The City currently has six splash pads in operation throughout the City. Splash pads are hard surface playgrounds that have water squirts, ground geysers and decorative water spray features. Splash pads serve children from toddler age to pre-teen.

Sean Nailer, Parks and Recreation Project Manager 705-742-7777 ext. 1829 or by email at snailer@peterborough.ca.