Tender approved for Jack Purdie Park trail, Malden Centre park playground

New playground equipment has been approved for Malden Centre Park (Special to the RTT)

Amherstburg town council approved a pair of tenders for park improvements at its most recent meeting.

Council members voted in favour of a tender for a new multi-use trail at Jack Purdie Park. The bid was won by Murray Mills Excavating & Trucking (Sarnia) Ltd. to an upset limit of $375,805 plus HST. A shortfall of $107,419.17 will be funded from the park reserve in the amount of $77,419.17 and $30.000 from Enbridge through the Giving Gack to the Communities funding opportunity.

A total of 12 bids were received for the project, noted a report from director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon.

Councillor Diane Pouget said council approved $250,000 for the trail and wondered who granted permission for the rest. Deputy CAO/director of legislative services Melissa Osborne said the report sought permission from council to approve the tender and to approve the additional funding required to execute it.

Baillargeon said the tender came in higher than expected and it is “entirely up to council” on what to do with it. She said the trails connect the amenities in the park and out into the community.

Pouget also spoke on a proposed sledding hill for Jack Purdie Park and said she was “shocked” when watching the accessibility committee meeting that the hill could be as large as Russell Renaud Hill. Baillargeon said the size of the hill will depend on the amount of fill from the trail project.

“It has the potential to be that high but I don’t think we’ll generate that much fill. There will be a sledding hill there at some point,” Baillargeon said.

Baillargeon added there would be no extra cost for the hill and it would be “a gentle, rolling slope.”

Councillor Don McArthur said he saw the current trails as cracked and narrow and asked administration’s opinion. Baillargeon said they are cracking and “barely walkable” in some areas. She said they are “absolutely not” AODA compliant at the present time. The trail will be widened and resurfaced with council approving the tender.

McArthur supported the project, saying it will benefit the people in the subdivision, the community and those with disabilities in Amherstburg.

“It’s going to be AODA compliant,” he said.

McArthur said it is unfortunate the tender came in higher than anticipated, but “sometimes it goes the other way.” He said the park’s “time has come” and that council is investing in the park.

“We need to invest in the things that make this community a great place to live,” said McArthur. “This investment will benefit the thousands of people that use the park every day, people with strollers, people in wheelchairs, people who walk and people on bicycles. It’s a fantastic project to build a walkable community.”

Councillor Linden Crain wanted to know if there are other opportunities for sponsorships in the park. Baillargeon said there is a bench dedication policy already as well as a tree planting policy. The economic development department is working to identify sponsorship opportunities as well, she added.

Crain added he wanted to continue the master plan and that area of the park “has been bare for quite some time.” He said the pathway will be accessible, and that he also liked the fact trees will be planted. 

“I think it’s a great addition for the neighbourhood and great for families to enjoy,” said Crain.

The tender for a new walking trail in Jack Purdie Park has been approved by Amherstburg town council. (Special to the RTT)

Councillor Peter Courtney had issues over funding and budgeting, and wanted to devise a way to come up with a solution in order to come up with the best price. CAO Valerie Critchley said if projects come in over-budget, council can decline it but re-tendering would have to be substantially different in scope to safeguard the municipality. 

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb supported the project, saying it was part of the master plan approved by the previous council.

“I think it’s time to deliver for the people who live in that area,” said Gibb.

Gibb also called it “unfortunate” that it came in over-budget but said costs are rising in town and at the county level as well. He said a trail in the park will allow children to stay in parks and the trail also will connect to other parts of the town.

Pouget said she had “very serious concerns” with the Jack Purdie Park project and voted against it. She said in 2025, residents fear for their livelihood. She said food banks can’t keep up with demand “and the mission is the same way.”

“People are fearing for their jobs and their livelihoods. They don’t know how they are going to put food on the table and provide the necessities of life for their family,” she said. “I believe it is unreasonable and unfair to approve a $100,000 over-expenditure for an eighth trail in the Town of Amherstburg and the third sledding hill in this tough economic times.”

Pouget noted the boiler replacement project at the Libro Centre and a $3 million new fire truck that was also approved that night, saying they are more of a need. She said other projects the town faces include the water plant expansion, the policing issue, a new town hall, the former Duffy’s property, “dwindling” reserves and upgrades repair to town infrastructure.

Mayor Michael Prue said during the last term of council, when he was a councillor, the park issue came up and that included a proposal to sell a portion of the park. The community rejected that, and the community wanted that park developed instead.

“We have fought for that to be a jewel,” said Prue.

Prue added while he was disappointed the price came in higher than anticipated, but council has to think long-term and listen to residents. He said residents have gone to meetings, told staff what they want and explained what they feel is necessary.

Twelve companies bid on the project and the cost was the lowest, he added. Prue said there would be disappointed people in that subdivision if the trail wasn’t approved, saying it is what they fought for.

Courtney suggested before tendering, to seek private sponsorships of funding and materials. He said he was frustrated with overages and wanted to know how the town could leverage funding from the private sector. Osborne indicated administration is working on trying to get sponsorships for existing assets, but cautioned the market could become saturated.

“I think we have to get creative,” said Courtney, who voted in favour of the motion.

Local disability advocate Linda Saxon addressed both park matters. On the issue of Jack Purdie Park, Saxon said the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) regularly “is clear” in calling for mandatory consultation with the public and persons with disabilities on trail projects. Accessibility committees must also be consulted, she noted.

“These consultations should take place prior to RFP’s (Request for Proposals) being issued,” she said.

Items on trails requiring consultation include slopes along the trails, the need for and location of ramps and rest areas, passing areas, amenities and any other pertinent features, she indicated.

Saxon said she has requested information from the town on public consultation as far back as eight years ago and as recently as last month. She referenced a passage in the administrative report that the pathways in Jack Purdie Park meet all AODA regulations but Saxon added there is no sidewalk leading to the “existing segregated swing.”

There are 6,300 persons with disabilities in the community, Saxon said, and she said consultation with people with disabilities may have led to “a more realistic distance between rest areas of 30 metres.” 

Saxon added other municipalities have created an engagement policy and a process for consultation with the public and persons with disabilities when creating outdoor amenities like trails.

Pouget asked administration about how the town reached out to the public and persons with disabilities. Clerk Kevin Fox said there is a four-step consultation process, with the parks and recreation and accessibility committees worked with.

Fox added there are also surveys and open houses on park designs with notices in the newspaper, online and/or social media. It goes to council and then can go back to the committees for input. Fox said the town’s process meets and exceeds requirements in the Act.

Public notice is given through council agendas and news of open houses are put on the town’s website and social media “and others,” he indicated.

“Everybody’s feedback is welcome at every stage of the project,” said Fox.

Malden Centre park

Town council also approved a $339,940 plus HST tender for playground equipment at Malden Centre Park. Baseball-themed pieces of equipment was the option voted by the community and approved by town council. New World Park Solutions Inc. was the winning bidder.

Saxon also called for “targeted consultation with people with disabilities” and said she urged for “meaningful consultation” with people with disabilities and their caregivers.

“People with disabilities and caregivers need to be aware it is taking place and they need a variety of ways to provide input,” said Saxon.

If a child in a wheelchair cannot access all levels of a playground, it is not inclusive, she said.

“Whenever a barrier to some playground elements exist, then some children will be excluded,” she said.

Saxon also called for an engagement policy to further gather input from people with disabilities when speaking on this issue. Critchley said such a policy is possible, but said the town meets AODA requirements with respect to consultation and is “quite open” about doing so.

Critchley noted the council and committee meetings are public, as are open houses, with further engagement through the town website, newspaper advertising and social media.

Councillor Molly Allaire noted the tender amount came in lower than the budgeted $350,000, with Osborne saying the remainder will go back to the reserves they were funded from.

Courtney said he likes the baseball theme of the equipment. He wanted to ensure the playground will fit in with the configuration of the park, noting the final set-up of diamonds hasn’t been finalized yet. Baillargeon said there are nine possible configurations but the playground “will fit into every single configuration.” 

Tender approved for Jack Purdie Park trail, Malden Centre park playground

By Ron Giofu