The grand opening of the new and improved Bonnerworth Park took place on Saturday November 8 2025. Apparently the “rejuvenation” of the park was the start of a “new chapter” for this “beautiful space”. To be clear, this was always a beautiful space holding two baseball diamonds used by several leagues, schools and neighborhood kids. Dogs were walked here, picnics were held here, walkers exercised here, kite flyers flew kites here, soccer players played here, tennis players played here, snowshoers walked, and iceskaters all used this park.

Mayor Leal states “63% of the park remains as green space”. What he doesn’t state is that the vast majority of that 60% is unusable due to massive berms. What is left is a postage size green space barely bigger than a backyard which was only begrudgingly granted to mollify the neighbourhood.
Councillors and the Mayor spoke at the opening as well as representatives from user groups which included the Peterborough Skateboard Coalition, B!ike and the Peterborough Pickleball Association. No Friends of Bonnerworth Park spokesperson was allowed to speak, after being told we were not allowed to speak. We were not a “user group”. Apparently, walking your dog, using the walkway for exercise, or reading a book on the postage size green space doesn’t qualify as being a user group for this “rejuvenated” facility. Just to be clear, Councillor Parnell, Bonnerworth Park was already a “four-season hub” for the community and neighbourhood something you would be aware of if you lived in the neighbourhood, and a hub for far more user groups than the now present three.

Councillor Baldwin alluded to the extensive work by the Parks and Recreation Department in formulating the plans they have and the “rejuvenation” of Bonnerworth was just one part of the plan. Councillor Baldwin also mentioned in his Peterborough Examiner column that the development of Bonnerworth having 14 pickleball courts as having some “dissenters”. He failed to mention there were over 8,000 “dissenters” from all across the city and county who signed a petition opposing the plan for this park. These people were already proud of this beautiful open green space, unencumbered by concrete pickleball courts (which looks like a prison exercise yard) and a paved parking lot. No wonder Peterborough is the only community in Ontario with 14 outdoor pickleball courts in a residential area. No other municipality would be stupid enough to approve such a plan.

Since Bonnerworth is an example that has resulted from the Peterborough Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities Study, it would be the suggestion, of over 8,000 people in this community that parks and recreation staff go back to the drawing board. When you do, have more fulsome consultations with the affected residents of your rejuvenation plans, before you announce they are “a done deal”.