Now Seeking Input on Future of Hillcrest Park

The City of Belleville and Sierra Planning and Management have begun a community-based assessment of options to determine the future of Hillcrest Park. First in this process is a public survey.

Hillcrest Park has undergone several recent changes which have raised both the need and the opportunity to plan for the future of the park by engaging with neighbourhood residents.

The relocation of the Belleville Lawn Bowling Club to Hillcrest (from their former Ben Bleecker site location) was approved in the 2019 Capital Budget. The relocation included the addition of two new lawn bowling greens, fencing, lighting and minor modifications to the Hillcrest Community Centre. Construction was completed at the end of the year and the club relocated in early 2020.

The former Hillcrest Public School site was purchased by the City in October 2019. On November 18, the City was pleased to announce that a portion of the property would be dedicated to the new Children’s Safety Village location - an interactive educational centre that features small buildings, detailed roadways, traffic lights, an operational railway crossing, mini vehicles, bicycles and an instructional classroom where students receive hands-on instruction from safety professionals.

The public engagement process will help to determine the uses for the remainder of the site including the former school lands and the original Hillcrest Park.

An online survey is currently available for public input to assist in identifying the range of improvements and future directions which can enhance the overall experience of users of Hillcrest Park.  The survey can be completed by visiting the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hillcrest_park

The study will take place over the next several months and will actively involve members of the public and surrounding neighbours. Timeline of the project:

• December 2020 – Background analysis and public online survey
• January 2021 – Design options and virtual public meeting
• February 2021 – Design planning report

For more information regarding the Hillcrest Park project, please visit the project webpage or contact the project team by email at hillcrest@belleville.ca.