Thames Park Improvements
The City of London is engaging with Thames Park user groups and other key audiences on the future of the park. In advance of formal engagement, we accepted feedback on the new amenities the community would like to see at the park, as well as the preferred location and design for a new spray pad in the area. Later in Spring 2024, we began a new feedback form to identify opportunities and challenges on the existing site and collect comments from the community. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete one or both feedback forms. Please find more details about the feedback results and the work for this project below.
About Thames Park
Thames Park, located at 15 Ridout Street South, is used by Londoners for various forms of recreation activities, including tennis, play, gardening, cycling, and walking, to name a few.
The park currently has four lit tennis courts, one playground, one swing set, paved pathways, the Thames Valley Parkway, and lit parking. The tennis courts were recently replaced and upgraded as part of the City of London's work on the Victoria Bridge project.
At its meeting on July 25, 2023, London City Council voted in favour of a motion instructing City of London staff to permanently close Thames Pool. In addition, the motion asked City of London staff to:
- install new amenities like pickleball courts and basketball courts in Thames Park;
- review installing a splash pad in Thames Park or Wortley on the Village Green;
- launch a feasibility study for building an indoor pool in the general area.
The items listed above must not exceed a combined budget of $1.92 million, consistent with the lowest cost to temporarily repair Thames Pool, as outlined in the staff report from July 18, 2023.
New Amenities at Thames Park
As part of Council’s resolution, City of London staff have been directed to engage with Thames Park users on the types of amenities they would like added to Thames Park.
Examples of amenities that may be added at Thames Park include improved pathways, an improved playground, storm water management, pickleball courts, a community events space, naturalizaiton improvements, sports field improvements, improvements for pollinators, and basketball courts, to name a few.
New Splash Pad Installation
As part of Council’s resolution, City of London staff have been directed to undertake a review of the feasibility for a new spray pad installation at Thames Park or Wortley on the Village Green, engaging with Thames Park users on the preferred location and design of the spray pad.
Wortley on the Village Green may be feasible for a new spray pad but has some constraints because it is protected by a Provincial Heritage Conservation Easement Agreement (HCEA), and the City cannot construct new features on this site without seeking approval from the Province of Ontario. In addition, any new infrastructure or amenities must protect and maintain the open character of the Green and be consistent with historical use.
Your Feedback
Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback this spring and summer about the opportunities and challenges currently within Thames Park as we begin work to make improvements to this important public space.
We received more than 250 responses!
Take a look at the graph below and you will notice “improving on existing pathways, playground and tennis courts” as well as “investigating expanding park amenities” are popular opportunities community members noted should be prioritized.
We will be using this feedback to help us determine what preferred improvements should be made as the concept development begins.
Mark your calendars! The next public meeting to share input will be in Spring 2025. More details on this meeting will be provided closer to that time.
