FERGUS – Neighbours of Strathallan Park can breathe a little easier now that council rescinded its previous decision to declare the park surplus.
The matter passed as part of the consent agenda at council’s Aug. 25 meeting.
The Wellington Catholic District School Board was considering building a high school beside St. Joseph Catholic School on Strathallan Street in Fergus.
To do so, the board would purchase the land from the township.
“Under the township’s disposition policy, lands must be declared surplus before any agreement to dispose of lands is negotiated,” managing director of community services Pat Newson states in her report.
Council did that on Jan. 29, 2024 and many people who use the park told council the park is well-used and should remain a park, and the site is not big enough to hold a high school.
In the meantime, the school board determined Strathallan Park is not suitable for a high school and they intend to build elsewhere. The board is currently in the midst of a long-term accommodation plan.
“The township understands that the WCDSB will not be pursuing any rezoning of the property, which would have been a necessary precondition of any sale,” the report states.
“As such, staff are recommending that the lands be deemed non-surplus.”
Newson went on to state the park has been maintained according to the regular maintenance schedule and it remains part of the township’s asset management plan.
Councillor Bronwynne Wilton noted during the meeting that the playground structure has been removed from the park.
Newson explained the township intends to replace it with another structure.
Once the township establishes a public engagement policy, there will be public engagement on what a new playground structure should look like, she said.
A new play structure is pegged for 2026, she added.
