July 18, 2023

Playground Enhancements

City Council pre-approved three 2024 park playground renewal projects for Maple Park, Bemus Park and Manchester Park and preapproved two 2025 playground renewal projects for River Road Park and John Deere Park, as all parks have been deemed at the end of life, requiring renewals.

With aging equipment, damaged and decaying retaining walls, and requiring surface upgrades, the playgrounds do not accommodate mobility devices and are not AODA compliant.

Pre-approval for the capital projects outlined below utilizes the Cash in Lieu of Parkland Reserve in the amount of $2.3 million.

Budget Breakdown Amount

Maple Park Playground and Related Landscaping $400,000

Bemus Park Playground and Related Landscaping $400,000

Manchester Park Playground and Related Landscaping $400,000

River Road Park Playground and Related Landscaping $400,000

John Deere Park Playground and Related Landscaping $400,000

Proposed allowance budgeted for Michael Drive Parkette $300,000

Total $2,300,000

Parks are dynamic places. They are hubs for community gatherings, physical activity, and fresh air. Well-designed parks offer social, environmental, health, and economic benefits and have the potential to bring people together.

Short-Term-Rental Update: Licencing Bylaw

The City’s short-term-rental (STR) licensing bylaw received an update at council this week to include regulations surrounding recreational vehicles. When the STR Licensing By-law was passed, it only focused on using dwelling units and did not consider using recreational vehicles as STRs. The proposed amendments will prohibit the use of a recreational vehicle as a STR and will prohibit anyone from advertising a recreational vehicle as a STR. The proposed penalty for each offence is $1,000. The amendments also align with the City of Welland Comprehensive Zoning By-law which prohibits the use of a boat, trailer or recreational type vehicle for human habitation.

Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan

Council adopted the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan. This CIP establishes the City’s commitment to supporting the creation of new affordable housing in partnership with a variety of housing providers. This CIP and the programs created from the plan are a series of financial incentive programs for private property owners and non-profit housing providers interested in developing affordable housing. The financial incentive programs outlined in this Plan will largely be used by the developers/owners of new affordable housing, including those in the private and non-profit sectors.