Upper Canada Park
We're planning to expand and improve the use of Upper Canada Park. Learn more about this exciting project below.
On this page:
Project background
Upper Canada Park was originally built in in the late 1970’s as a mix of baseball diamonds, soccer fields and other park uses. Over time, the park became focused on baseball by converting all fields into ball diamonds; however, the ball diamonds were limited in size and ineffectively laid out leading to a decline in use and quality.
A master plan was created in 2016 to refresh the park, bring in new park amenities and maximize the ball diamonds' capacities. The first phase of this work happened in 2018 and 2019 when the park was re-built to create an efficient “wagon wheel” sportsfield layout and bring in new park activities like a full basketball court. A skate park was added in 2021.
The second phase of development will take place in 2025 and 2026 to make final improvements to the park.
What's included
The current project represents the second phase of development, which includes:
- sportsfield lighting on the “wagon wheel” ball diamonds
- complete parking lot renovation and expansion
- public washrooms
- sports court expansion and lighting
- additional shade structures and seating
- permanent and larger waste receptacles
- operations building within the existing maintenance yard
- better park sign at the corner of Homer Watson Blvd. and Pioneer Dr.
Community benefits
The focus of Upper Canada Park by design are the ball diamonds. It is one of only a few parks that house three or more diamonds in one location, and the only one with five. It’s not just for sport use however. The park is meant to be used by everyone of all ages and abilities.
These improvements will:
- expand on popular amenities since their openings, namely the basketball court
- provide much needed seating and shade opportunities as all amenities and use have grown
- support accessible, permanent washroom needs for both the sport and park users
- support the success and growth of on-site food trucks
Parking lot expansion
The park’s redevelopment in 2018 and 2019 centralized the ball diamonds, while the work in 2021 enhanced and separated park amenities. These improvements significantly increased demand for parking within the park boundaries. The current parking lot is unable to accommodate the volume of visitors drawn by four lit ball diamonds and the expanded amenities. Expanding the parking lot will make sure all park users have access to convenient on-site parking, allowing them to be closer to their intended activities and improving overall accessibility and user experience.
Washrooms
Adding accessible, permanent washroom facilities will enhance the experience and comfort of all park users. The washrooms will be strategically located to support the ball diamonds, sport court, and surrounding park amenities. The new washrooms will help support increased use of the park and make sure it remains a welcoming and functional space for sports, leisure and outdoor activities.
Basketball court expansion
In response to growing community interest and popularity of the existing basketball court, the court area is being expanded by adding a half court beside the current full court. This will help reduce congestion during peak times and support more casual play, practice and small-group games. The new half court will also feature a basketball net at a lower height, creating a more inclusive space for all ages and abilities.
Lighting Upgrades
To improve safety, visibility, and overall user experience, we are upgrading lighting throughout key areas of the park. The improvements include new and upgraded fixtures in the parking lot, pedestrian pathways, playground and courts. The lighting improvements will support extended use of the park during the evening, create a safer environment for all users and contribute to a more welcoming public space.
Timeline
Phase 2 construction will begin in in September 2025 and be completed in June 2026.
The construction schedule was developed purposefully to avoid disrupting park use during the summer months while still providing access to ball diamonds throughout the fall for scheduled bookings.
Project updates
A live on-site camera will be installed beginning in October 2025. The camera will only focus on the construction site with the surrounding area blurred. We will post progress update photos on this page throughout construction.
Accessing the park
The parking lot, playground and skate park are currently closed due to construction activities. The ball diamonds will remain accessible during construction. On-street parking is available across Pioneer Drive for park users during this time.
Due to construction, the leaf drop-off site at Upper Canada Park will be closed for the 2025 season. A temporary leaf drop-off site will be located at Budd Park (1111 Homer Watson Boulevard) for this year. The City operates a total of eight leaf drop-off sites across the city and offers other alternatives for leaf management. Visit our leaf collection page to learn more.
Contact Us
City of Kitchener
200 King Street West,
Kitchener, Ontario
Telephone: 519-741-2345,
TTY: 1-866-969-9994
mailto:info@kitchener.ca