Renos launched at La Croisée park

The shovels are in the ground for La Croisée Park’s second phase just northeast of the Vanier and Aylmer Roads intersection. The work began in late July and should wrap up by fall, to the pleasure of Larry Prickett, La Croisée Community Association president.

“The La Croisée community has grown to approximately 350 homes, so that's a fair number of families and it's been about 17 years since any new design or provision of public space in our community has occurred. In fact, a community survey in the spring showed that only 23% of residents were ‘satisfied’ with our available community public space, La Croisée Park, so this upgrade to our park by the city is welcomed by the majority of residents,” he told the Bulletin.

During the upgrade, the contractor will improve the park mainly by installing a new play structure for kids 6 to 12 years old and borders in the sand play area.

“We have also heard rumours that, as a result of the community survey report, there may be additional electricity and a storage facility here to help with our future community events and other recreational activities in the park,” added Mr Prickett.

This summer, La Croisée Community Association presented a survey of 17 questions about current local public spaces to Gatineau.

“The community survey showed residents want other facilities in our existing small park but there is no doubt the community cries out for an even larger park with larger facilities, and there is reserved space available for that, right now, in our community,” said Mr Prickett. The park is just north of Aylmer Road in the La Croisée neighbourhood built by Richcraft.

As indicated in the survey, “the importance of ‘Drinking Water’ in La Croisée Park received the highest percentage of ‘Yes’ responses. However, on a rated scale of all suggested park options, ‘Additional Play Structures’ was considered most important, overall.”

In the survey’s open comments, “useful play structures, swings, too much sand and not enough shade were common concerns and references. A majority of participants (82%) agreed that a community storage facility in the park would be useful. A slightly smaller percentage (71%) said they would support this project.”