Dozens of residents in Elora Meadows subdivision braved the rain on Aug. 17 looking for answers.
Even though land is dedicated along Marr Drive for a community park and paved trailways have been installed, residents gathered to find out why no playground has been installed.
Elora Meadows resident Warren Ziegler moved here two years ago. Like his neighbours, he had also heard the parkland was part of developer Carson Reid’s overall 10-year plan.
However, playground installation is the township’s role in this particular project and Centre Wellington isn’t ready to have the property ownership signed over until certain issues are addressed.
Ziegler said some of those issues included potholes, weeds and the condition of the field.
“Their answer is that it is in the plans … but 10 years from now my daughter will be 13 years old, and won’t have any use for the park.”
He added, “I was told that a (playground) could be installed within six weeks of it going to tender.”
Ziegler said he was also told that residents might have some say in how the park is developed.
Centre Wellington councillor Don Fisher explained the land is dedicated as parkland, but the township only assumes ownership when it reaches a certain level of preparedness. The councillor’s understanding is that there are a few outstanding issues.
“When those get looked after, the township assumes the property and work begins to move ahead with playground construction,” he said, adding that the history of the subdivision goes back roughly a decade.
The original developer went bankrupt and current developer Carson Reid took it over.
Fisher said Centre Wellington learned a lesson and now develops park financing agreements.
“If the developer wants for marketing purposes to have a park … there is now an agreement for the developer to upfront the costs. It’s now part of the normal subdivision process,” he said.
Most of the time developers want to and most of the time the township wants this as well, he said.
Funds to cover the up-front costs would happen in a subsequent year when the township intended to build such a park – which could be several years after the actual development.
Fisher clarified that process was not in place when the subdivision was established in 2008.
He added there are always complications when an original developer goes under and someone else comes in.
Fisher said the current developers moved along pretty well “… it’s a pretty nice subdivision.”
Fisher was aware of a sod issue at the Stumpf Street entrance and an issue with a tree near the Marr Drive entrance. He said township staff believe that work will be addressed by this fall.
“As soon as that happens and the township is happy with the condition of the land, the township will assume ownership, return the letter of credit … then we build the park,” he said.
When asked if that means work would begin this fall, Fisher clarified that it depends whether there is time to undertake the work this fall.
“There is an interest in getting this done,” he said, adding that assuming ownership of the park is delaying the ability to get work on the playground portion of the park underway.
“We want to make certain the property is up to the right standards (as per agreement) because the moment the township assumes ownership, the developer is no longer responsible,” he said.
If all goes well, Fisher anticipates residents being able to see a completed park in place later this fall or in the spring of next year.
“You, the residents, just got caught in the timing process,” he said.
