Attachment 1: WHAT WE HEARD SUMMARY CONSULTATION REPORT - Chancellor Park

SUMMARY CONSULTATION REPORT

Planning for Chancellor Park Playground Improvements Town of View Royal Tavola Strategy Group

JUNE 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROJECT OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................... 3 WHAT WE HEARD.......................................................................................................................... 6 Overall Themes.............................................................................................................................. 6 What We Heard in the Online Survey .......................................................................................... 7 What We Heard at the Open Houses ........................................................................................ 18 NEXT STEPS.................................................................................................................................. 21

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Chancellor Park is a neighbourhood park located at the end of Chancellor Avenue and Quincy Street. The approximately 0.3-acre space is located between the Galloping Goose Regional Trail and Highway 1, not far from Victoria General Hospital and Eagle Creek Village. In addition to serving the local Hospital neighbourhood, the park is a destination for people who walk and bike on the Galloping Goose Trail as well as for workers and visitors to the nearby hospital.

The playground located within Chancellor Park is scheduled to be updated in 2024. These updates will include universally accessible playground equipment that provides improved access to play for persons of all abilities. Accessible play spaces ensure persons with disabilities can actively participate and play. The features, materials and layout are designed to meet the needs of all.

As the Town grows, park infrastructure needs to be enhanced or replaced to provide safe and functional recreational opportunities for families to enjoy. The objective of the playground replacement project in Chancellor Park is to increase usage and enjoyment by providing a range of passive and active recreational opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and interests.

The existing park includes:

• a half-court with basketball hoop and hockey net;
• picnic tables;
• park benches;
• water fountain;
• playground area;
• public parking; and
• an open lawn area.

The Town has allocated funds in the 2024 Capital Budget for construction.

The engagement process was undertaken from Monday, May 27, 2024, to Sunday, June 9, 2024.

ENGAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

1. To raise awareness of plans to update Chancellor Park including plans to convert the existing playground to a universally accessible playground.
2. To provide in-person and online opportunities for the community to learn more and provide input that will inform playground improvements to the park.
3. To close the loop with participants and View Royal residents about how public input informed the park design.

AUDIENCES

• Those living in the Hospital and Northern Gateway neighbourhoods
• Stratas for multi-unit buildings in the neighbourhood
• View Royal residents [including parents and children]
• View Royal staff
• View Royal Mayor and Council
• Media
• Accessibility community
• Neighbouring school communities [e.g. View Royal, Marigold and Eagle View elementary schools]

PROMISE TO THE PUBLIC

The public engagement plan aims to engage at the “consult” level. The promise to the public is “we will keep you informed, listen to, and acknowledge concerns, and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision.”

KEY TOPICS AND LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT

ENGAGEMENT PROCESS

Awareness-raising

• A detailed project website and FAQ were developed.
• Signs were installed in Chancellor Park.
• A QR code was used on posters and signage for easy online survey access.
• Posters were distributed throughout the neighbourhood.
• Social media posts were shared on Facebook and Twitter.
• A media release was distributed to local media.
• A letter was hand-delivered to ~250 homes in Hospital and Northern Gateway neighbourhoods.
• Outreach to Eagle View, View Royal and Marigold Elementary Schools and Parent Advisory Councils.
• Letter distributed by property manager at Camden Green [21 Conard Street].

Input Methods

• An online survey was launched with a dedicated URL www.viewroyal.ca/chancellorparkupgrades
• A Drop-in open house was held Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Eagle Creek Village Quality Foods.
• An outdoor open house was held Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon at Chancellor Park.

Engagement by the numbers:

• 133 people participated in the process
  • 41 Open House attendees
  • 92 Online Surveys

WHAT WE HEARD

Overall Themes

• Participants were supportive of the introducing of universally accessible playground equipment.
• Survey respondents and attendees at both open houses indicated a preference for climbing structures, in-ground trampolines, and swings as the top three playground features.
• Park furniture (e.g. chairs, benches, picnic tables), grassy open spaces and shaded areas were the preferred top three features’ respondents and attendees wanted to see in the park. Some park users indicated that not all park furniture should be focused on the playground.
• Some respondents noted that with the park’s proximity to the Galloping Goose, can be a safety hazard and suggested that a fence separating the park users from the cyclists would be beneficial to keep children from running onto the path or balls rolling under cyclists as they pass by.
• Other attendees were concerned about reducing the amount of greenspace currently available in the park. Many park users spoke of how they would often see people use the space to sit and enjoy the sun, toss a ball for their dog or just run around.
• While some expressed a desire for off-leash dog park, some others strongly opposed to the park becoming an off-leash dog park and pushed for signage to indicate that dogs must remain on-leash.
• Many envisioned the park as a space for all ages and accessibility levels; and hoped to have the park become a destination with multiple activities and/or features in the park, that were not exclusive use of any one group.
• Some – especially those living in closer proximity to the park – had concerns about noise, and fear that the park would be used for unwanted activities.
• Several park users indicated a desire for public bathrooms and additional lighting to be available on site. Yet, many other park users indicated that a public bathroom may bring about more unwanted activities to the park.
• Some residents also indicated a desire to have a formal path connecting Cheltenham Street to the park. Currently Cheltenham St is connected to the park via a dirt path that is not maintained and is often muddy when it rains, and slippery during the winter.
• Social media, signage in the park and the Town’s website were the top three ways of how people wanted to be kept informed about the process of this project.

RESPONSES FROM ONLINE SURVEY

92 responses

What We Heard in the Online Survey

Question 1: Do you live in View Royal? (92 responses)

[Pie Chart: 79 respondents (86%) answered "Yes", and 13 respondents (14%) answered "No".]

Question 2: If no, which community do you live in?

No responses

Question 3: How many years have you been a resident of View Royal? (79 responses)

[Pie Chart: More than 10 years (42), 2 to 5 years (20), No response (13), 5 to 10 years (12), Less than 2 years (5).]

Question 4: How close do you live to Chancellor Park? (92 responses)

[Pie Chart: 5-minute walk (28), 2-minute walk (20), 15-minute walk (16), 10-minute walk (15), Too far to walk/I would bike or drive (13).]

Question 5: What is your connection with Chancellor Park? (89 responses)

[Pie Chart: I live close by (60), Other (21), I pass through on my way to work (5), I pass through on my way to school (3).]

Other:

• I run by Chancellor Park
• Walk by when walking Goose
• None yet but now I’m interested
• I walk through from time to time
• I sometimes run by
• We take my 2 year to the park every evening after dinner
• Would walk there if I know it’s a good park, would serve as an additional area to walk to with my toddler
• Visit parks with our child. Love your bike pump track.
• I run a multi-aged daycare in my house; 8 kids attend, all under 5 years old. We would visit almost daily if the was play equipment for ages of 2-5 years old
• Visit from time to time
• Children’s elementary school and preschool close by
• Visit
• We would visit the park if wheelchair accessible for my 6year old daughter.
• It’s on my running and biking route
• I pass through it on my way to shopping at eagle creek…this should be a separate bullet
• Live across the street
• I bike through the park when I go for bike rides, usually I stop there
• I scoot by there and bring my grandkids there to play
• I take my grandchildren there
• Take my dog there and live close
• I live nearby and take my dog and my family

Question 6: How often do you visit Chancellor Park? (92 responses)

[Pie Chart: A few times a year (31), More than once a week (26), More than once a month (25), Never (10).]

Question 7: What is your age? (92 responses)

[Horizontal Bar Chart: 30-49 years old (50), 50-65 years old (16), 65+ years old (10), 14-18 years old (6), Under 13 years old (6), 19-29 years old (4).]

Question 8: Chancellor Park will be a universally accessible playground for all ages and abilities. Which equipment are you most excited to see included in the new playground? (91 responses)

[Bar Chart: Climbing Structures (e.g. rope, ladders) (50), In-ground Trampoline (49), Swings (42), Slide (38), Outdoor Fitness Equipment (30), Spinners (15), Other (14), See-saw (7).]

Other:

• Monkey bars. Bridges, obstacle course elements. Balance beams, etc
• Spray/water feature
• All accessibility equipment
• Enough already
• Equipment for under 5 kids to be able to use
• Play equipment for ages of 2-5 years old
• Young toddler play equipment (age 1-3) smaller slide and climbing structure
• Wheelchair accessible swing
• Fence around basketball court
• Wheelchair height equipment to touch; music tic tac toe, spinning pieces. Wheelchair accessible swing. Ramps on and off playground. Sensory path for wheelchair to roll over.
• Monkey bar
• Zip Line
• Zipline
• Zip line

Question 9: In addition to playground equipment, what features might you like to see in this space in the future? (91 responses)

[Bar Chart: Park Furniture (e.g. chairs, benches, picnic tables) (64), Grassy Open Space (44), Natural Gardens for Birds and Pollinators (40), Shared Areas (36), Covered Areas (20), Other (15), Bike Amenities (e.g. repair station, bike racks) (12), Ornamental Gardens (8).]

Other:

• Washrooms
• A fence by the basketball court so the balls don’t fly onto the goose in front of bikes. It’s quite dangerous for everyone, including kids chasing their balls and not seeing the bikes first.
• Water fountain
• Spray/water feature
• Outdoor sports space enclosed hockey and basketball
• Splash pad
• Basketball
• Fence around the park for safety from street traffic (especially important for children with disabilities and young children
• Soccer net
• Sensory garden with plants to see, touch and smell
• Gazebo
• Water fountain for people & dogs
• Plug in for medical scooters or bikes
• Dog space
• Dog area

Question 10: Do you have any concerns about the proposed playground improvements in Chancellor Park? (92 responses)

[Pie Chart: No (80), Yes (12).]

Question 11: If yes, how might your concerns be addressed? (12 responses)

• Bark chips are not accessible. Folks in manual or powered wheelchairs can’t navigate them.
• Posting signs that it’s a playground and not an off-leash dog park. Too many dogs off leash running up to kids without warning
• Not sure what the proposed updates are
• This park has already been updated and is well equipped for its size, Portage Inlet Linear Park desperately needs separate pedestrian and cycling paths, beach improvements, and play equipment. Also fencing to separate the park from the highway.
• Always a concern of having homeless move into these spaces. So far we haven’t had too much problem.
• Would like there to still be green space. The park is used often for sunbathing and relaxing.
• During your upgrade period, can we still use the park?
• $300k is way too much out of limited park improvement reserve for one park. We have lots of parks that need amenities like covered areas now. The options should have been WITH price tags. Does this mean we can only afford ONE universally accessible playground in all of View Royal, or then next one would have to wait for 10 years?
• Noise – posted signage of ‘quiet hours’. Garbage – ensure adequate # of stone cans and timely removal of garbage. More strategic planting in front of park bench. Currently, the bench near the fountain stares directly at our house, into our garage when people are sitting there. Or better positioning of the bench so it is facing a different direction. There are already enough open sight lines of the park. If things like bike stations or similar are built, please put them at further end of park so there are not hordes of people impacting adjacent neighbours with noise.
• I’m concerned that the green space in the park will be reduced
• Because of issues with people using this stretch of the Goose for overnight sleeping (especially now that there is a liquor store across the street) I would definitely not recommend a covered picnic area.
• Can we add a sand station with tractors/excavators

Question 12: Do you have other ideas on how to make Chancellor Park and playground the best it can be? (52 responses)

• Really glad it’s being updated for all abilities
• No
• Bouncy floor instead of wood chips for the playground.
• Bathrooms
• I really like that you are designing a playground that is accessible for all, both kids and parents who might have barriers.
• No
• Leave it intact and add features that encourage multi-generational use for people arriving by foot, skateboard, bike, car.
• Make it off leash for the many dogs in the area
• Dog off leash area
• Make the playground structures more and bigger.
• Tall trees near fence line to reduce noise.
• No
• Make it inclusive space for physically challenged & neurodivergent children.
• Upgrading the park so it is toddler friendly for families that use it. Instead of 5 and up, would be nice for younger children to enjoy the park as well.
• View Royal needs a spray park
• All abilities accessible
• Prohibit dogs (including leashed) from park year round.
• Small pickleball court would be really cool! Or a small entirely fenced in dog run for all the condo living dogs near by!
• Good for all ages, from preschool to teenagers
• Make it a playground specific for toddlers and similar to the playgrounds that Langford are doing (McCormick meadows, Chief Al LeQuesne Park, or West Hills), natural playground materials or include more natural playground like Hither Green Park in Esquimalt
• Hopscotch, Keep the basketball court, Rubber bottom playground, Monkey bars, Trees along fence line to help drown out highway and make it feel more natural
• Rubber poured-in-place flooring, or whatever it is the most accessible type of ground which will also cushion falls
• The basketball hoop and cement area are a draw for teens and young adults (and some young-at-heart adults) which is wonderful. I enjoy seeing the park being used by different age groups.
• Zip line for children
• Please add wildflower garden and early blossoming bushes to support early pollinators and overwintering hummingbirds please.
• Splash pad : ) a fence from the goose would be great as cyclists get interrupted by balls and babies!
• Rubber/recycled tire padding for the ground of the play area. Structures designed for both infants/toddlers and children: infant swings and child swings; big and small slides.
• Perfect spot to make some improvements for residents and families who use the regional trails.
• No additional ideas, very excited about the project! The park is already great and I’m, happy to live close to it.
• So many kids in neighbourhood. We need a space for them to enjoy
• I’d like to see a variety of equipment that can span from toddlers to pre-teens, with enough separation that everyone stays safe. It would be incredible if there was a washroom and water fountain available as well.
• There are a lot of runners passing by the park every day, so it would be nice to have some fitness equipment to make a stop for a workout:)
• Add a play structure that kids between 2-5 years old can use and enjoy. The park is lacking this and it is much needed. The cement area with hockey new is really never used, something better should go there.
• I run a multi-aged daycare out of my house; 8 kids attend all under 5 years old. We would visit almost daily if the play equipment for ages of 2-5 years old.
• Fenced in play area! Kids are constantly trying to run onto the bike path.
• Look closer at safety for all park users
• Please keep the open space for free play. My kids used to take soccer balls, badminton rackets and whiffle balls with a bat to play.
• No
• Having climbing structures suited to both children and adults, and having it be as wheelchair accessible as possible
• Fence around basketball court for biker safety and so you don’t have to Chase the ball around, you can add a gate for entrance in the chain link.
• Wheelchair height equipment to touch; music, tic tac toe, spinning pieces. Wheelchair accessible swing. Ramps on and off playground. Sensory path for wheelchair to roll over.
• Communication board, Wheelchair swing
• Please include real swings (higher ones). The ones there now are way too low (my kids want to swing and not diddle back and forth). We live just on the Saanich side of the border and attend regularly with our 3 kids.
• Make it bigger please.
• Provide a small fence area for SMALL dogs. Knocken Hill is the only off leash area east of Helmcken and WAY too far.
• Off- leash dog area? Woodland based structures
• Zipline would be super amazing
• I am in a medical scooter and wish it was accessible to the playground so I could partake with my grandkids a little
• Water fountain/tap, Regular garbage pickup
• Keep the wood chips (no artificial rubbery material) and maybe add a flat wood chip walking path around the perimeter and along the “desire line” shortcut to Cheltenham St. A modern drinking fountain would be amazing! Keep the basketball/hockey court because it’s quite popular.
• Add the sand station with excavators, picnic tables, shaded areas, maintain the water fountain and the basketball court
• No bathrooms, Better drinking fountain

Question 13: What is the best way to keep you informed as planning continues on the playground replacement project? (91 responses)

[Bar Chart: Social Media Posts (51), Town of View Royal Website (34), Signage in the Park (32), Town of View Royal Newsletter (21), Hand-delivered Notices (19), Posters (7), TV News (6), Other (5), Newspaper (4), Radio (3).]

Other:

• EMAIL
• Email
• Schools sending notices
• Any online VR communications
• Town bulletin board

Question 14: Optional: Would you like to be entered for a chance to win 1 of 3 $10 gift certificates? (91 responses)

[Pie Chart: Yes (50), No (41).]

RESPONSES FROM THE OPEN HOUSES

The first Open House was held at on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from 5pm-7pm at the Eagle Creek Quality Foods, and the second Open House was held at the park site, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 10am-12pm. Participants viewed a series of informational boards and spoke to staff and consultants onsite. Interactive display boards invited attendees to answer a series of questions. A children’s activity table included parks colour posters and markers. During the second Open House, participants also had the opportunity to walk around and sit in the park space. Bubbles and hula hoops were available for children.

A total of 41 attendees who participated in the Open Houses.

What We Heard at the Open Houses

Question 1: Which equipment are you most excited to see included in the new playground?

[Horizontal Bar Chart: Climbing Structures (14), In Ground Trampoline (11), Slide (9), Other (9), Swings (7), See Saw (5), Spinners (4), Outdoor Fitness Equipment (2).]

Other:

• Please no wavy slides, kids bump themselves going down especially when wet. Low bridges for littles and a couple for the older kids. Low to the ground climbing rope on an angle, not straight up/down. 2 slides side by side, kids love racing with one another. See-saws aren’t that used by kids, not the spinning bowl – kids always fall out eventually. Playground with a spinning something, easy to spin.
• Zipline
• Zipline
• Zipline
• Zipline
• Zipline
• Zipline
• Zipline
• Monkey bar, climbing (like Marigold School)

Question 2: In addition to playground equipment, what features might you like to see in this space in the future?

[Pie Chart: Park Furniture (13), Shaded Areas (12), Grassy Open Spaces (10), Other (8), Natural Gardens (6), Covered Areas (4), Ornamental Garden (3), Bike Amenities (3).]

Other:

• More pet friendly
• Level ground wheelchair
• Do not cut remove “ANY” Trees
• Shaded areas
• Bench or two from path & playground for dog owners
• A path to Cheltenham St. This area becomes slippery in winter
• An off-leash area
• Shaded areas
• Pet friendly
• Basketball court/hockey area

Question 3: Do you have any other ideas on how to make Chancellor Park playground the best it can be?

• I realize woodchips are easier to maintain however, they get in the kid’s socks/shoes, shirts and poke them. Also, when they fall if a woodchip is poking up, the child gets it in their skin. The kids also have so many slivers.
• Rocks are really the best for the children. It’s still safe but also fun to play with when buckets/shovels are provided.
• The closest bathroom is View Royal Park which is far. Chancellor +/or Helmcken Park need one (that’s open).
• It’s nice currently don’t go overboard
• Washroom for kids
• Washroom for kids
• Doesn’t need more covered/shady areas
• Bike Repair Station
• Keep the water fountain
• Merry go round (bigger) like memorial park
• Washrooms for children & also bicycle rider using trail
• Empty garbage near entrance more frequently
• Managing the significant mud in the far corner in fall/winter
• Great job cleaning but far corner is a mess
• More signage about dogs being leashed
• Covered areas during rain
• Needs a washroom. People go in bush
• Signage on goose to indicate park & slow down cyclists
• Thanks for doing this today

Question 4: Do you have any concerns about upgrading Chancellor Park?

• Washrooms will attract unwanted activities
• I don’t have a dog, but people come to play catch with their dogs a fair bit so leave some space for them I guess
• Washrooms & covered area may encourage unhoused encampments
  • I agree

Question 5: How best to keep you informed as planning continues?

[Pie Chart: Social Media (8), Park Signage (3), Town of View Royal Newsletter (3), TV News (2), Hand-Delivered Notice (1), Town of View Royal Website (1), Poster (0), Radio (0), Newspaper (0).]

NEXT STEPS

With the input collected from this public feedback will inform the draft design concept for Chancellor Park Playground. Once staff have prepared a design concept for the playground, staff will present the concept at a future Council meeting.