On February 17, Niverville’s council addressed the matter of adding new parks and greenspace in the coming years. The topic arose during a discussion with developer Len Peters of Sunset Estates, who was seeking a rezoning approval for Highlands West.

In the coming months, Peters says, residents of the existing Highlands development will see the start of construction of a play park on the north side of Balgownie Drive, a new street that runs parallel to Crown Valley on the southernmost end of the development.

“In between the pond and Balgownie, there’s four or five acres there,” Peters says. “There’s a fairly large play structure that we’re putting in there.”

On the west side of Krahn Road, a ten-acre parcel has been set aside for a potential future school. Should the province follow through with plans to construct a school here, Peters says that the community would automatically benefit from greenspace and play structures that typically accompany schools.

As Highlands West begins development, Peters says there will be a few more pocket playgrounds scattered throughout.

Plans are also in the works for a new project called Grant Park. Located on the southwest side of Niverville, with access from Krahn Road, Grant Park consists of ten acres fully protected by mature trees. The property was once the homestead of the Grants, a well-respected farming family with ties to Niverville going back one hundred years.

Sheila Grant was the last of the siblings to reside on the property. Before she passed, she donated the parcel to the town of Niverville, to be used as greenspace for residents to enjoy.

“Based on a conversation with her sister, they were honoured to have their name on this land as a memory to their family,” says Mayor Myron Dyck.

As council entertains ideas for the park’s features, one thing is certain: the space will remain as natural as possible. It won’t be a place for typical play structures and swing sets. There will be groomed walking trails and benches.

“There are people that would love to see a butterfly garden to attract [pollinators],” says Dyck. “There are people that would like to see an area where they could do yoga in the park. So would there be a platform for that? We could do that. Whether there’ll be something to show historical significance, that is yet to be determined.”

In the meantime, council welcomes suggestions.