Murray Park improvements

About this project

Murray Park is located on 75 Cliftonvale Avenue and currently includes several park amenities including an aging wading pool, washroom building, poor condition tennis court, dated play equipment, lit sports field used for soccer and recreational football, and site furniture in poor condition.

The City is planning a life-cycle renewal of Murray Park that will include several improvements. This project will create an updated and welcoming space for the neighbourhood with enhanced park amenities to help achieve objectives outlined in the City's Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The short and long-term design of this park is expected to include improved infrastructure such as new site furniture, play equipment, trees, sport amenities, wading pool/spray pad, public gathering space, and possible pathway enhancements.

The main benefit of the project is maintaining this neighbourhood park to ensure that it meets the needs of the community and is safe and accessible to everyone.

The project is expected to occur in two phases, subject to public input and budget approvals. Accommodating two phases of design and construction aligns with forecasted budgets and ensures that priority amenities (upgraded playground, sports court, seating) can be installed in 2024 in advance of longer-term work.

• Phase 1 in 2024 will include improvements to existing park amenities and the addition of a new park feature (possibly as a basketball court, subject to public input) in replacement of the existing poor condition tennis court. The existing playground will be replaced by new play equipment to provide a variety of play experiences for children between 2 and 12 years old. The safety surfacing in the play area will be engineered woodchips. Construction of Phase 1 for this project is expected to start in late summer 2024. Please note that the schedule is dependent on weather conditions.
• Phase 2 (Timing to be determined) is anticipated to include upgrades to the wading pool (possibly as a spray pad subject to public input) and the existing fieldhouse. Subject to public input, this phase may require a reduction in the soccer fields and changes to park lighting to better accommodate City standards for a wading pool/spray pad and washroom facility.

The existing tennis court

The existing tennis court in Murray Park is not to standard and is in very poor condition. There are several major cracks, the fence and net posts are deteriorating, and the line painting is fading. Replacing the existing tennis court in its present location with a properly sized court that meets current standards and safety requirements is not feasible as part of this project, as it does not fit the current space.

Over the years and through past Neighbourhood Decision Making processes, there has been significant neighbourhood interest in removing the existing tennis court and replacing it with a basketball court. However, this will be subject to further public input.