The City of Abbotsford has released three potential plans for Mill Lake Park, portions of which include the removal of the boardwalk and the outdoor pool.
The city is now seeking public input on the plans until the end of October through three avenues – an online survey at letstalkabbotsford.ca, public open houses at the park on Oct. 11 ( 2 to 6 p.m.) and Oct. 21 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), and workshops with user groups and stakeholders.
The Mill Lake Master Plan will provide a framework for the development and management of the park over the next 15 to 20 years.
The three concept plans are designated as “active,” “balanced” and “passive.”
The “active” concept includes replacing the outdoor pool; expanding the spray park and playground; removing the ball diamonds and boardwalk; relocating the fitness, ping-pong and chess areas to the lawn bowling area; and adding a large terraced plaza, an outdoor classroom, a cultural/multi-purpose building, and a fenced off-leash dog area.
The “balanced” plan retains the boardwalk but calls for removing the outdoor pool and repurposing the field house; removing the ball diamonds; removing half of the horseshoe area and relocating the lawn bowling; relocating the Kariton House Art Gallery to a new multi-purpose building; and adding a nine-hole disc-golf course, a covered event space and two off-leash dog areas.
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The “passive” version removes the pool, field house, boardwalk, lawn-bowling and horseshoe areas, and two of the three ball diamonds; and adds a nine-hole disc-golf course, a plaza, and an outdoor classroom.
Also included among the plans are expanding the forest canopy, enhancing the ecosystem, and adding a water cleansing pond and channel.
The three concept plans were formed following the first round of public consultation, which took place in summer 2021.
The next round of feedback will lead to the development of the draft master plan. The last such plan for the 45-hectare part was prepared in 2013.
Among recent improvements to the park were a new fountain and dock were in 2022. The $200,000 fountain was the first project to be approved from the Mill Lake Park Reserve Fund established by the city in 2019.
A commitment of a $1 million donation over 10 years was previously made by an anonymous donor for improvements to the park.
As well, the aging floating wooden dock in the northwest portion of the park was replaced at a cost of $220,000.
The park’s Centennial Pool also completed $1.1 million in upgrades in 2022.
The Abbotsford Lawn Bowling Club closed its facility at Jubilee Park in 2018 and, after several delays (including due to the COVID-19 pandemic), reopened at Mill Lake Park in May 2021.
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