City of Brantford celebrates the new Woodman Park playground, garden beds and greenhouse

BRANTFORD, ON – Today, the City of Brantford and Equal Ground Community Gardens are excited to welcome residents and visitors to celebrate the grand opening of the new upgraded playground, pool, garden beds and greenhouse at Woodman Park. The project was made possible thanks to $2,206,100 in funding from the Government of Canada including from the Canada Community-Building Fund, $1,508,265 from the Government of Ontario, as well as an additional $76,800 in funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

The new playground features an array of exciting new amenities designed to appeal to all ages and abilities. The accessible playground equipment is tailored for different age groups, complemented by a swing set on rubber safety surfacing. The park’s updated design incorporates innovative outdoor learning and meeting spaces, games tables, paved pathways, shade structures and new tree plantings. A highlight of the playground is the new We-Go-Swing™, which allows both wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users to enjoy at the same time allowing more opportunities for interactive play.

Attendees enjoyed free activities including tours of the new greenhouse, recreational basketball, chalk art, and giant games and took advantage of a public swim offered at the recently renovated Woodman Pool. The recently renovated Woodman Pool opened in 2024 and features a heated 25-metre pool with five lanes for swimming lengths, 2-metre-deep end, a 1.2-metre shallow end with walk-in entry, accessible ramp, and a water bucket splash feature.

The Woodman Community Garden was built with accessibility and convenience in mind. The new gardens feature accessible and raised garden beds, a variety of fruit trees and vibrant pollinator gardens. Added amenities include a practical storage shed, shade structure and paved pathways for easy navigation. Thanks to a grant of $76,800 through the Resilient Communities Fund from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to Equal Ground Community Gardens (EGCG), the new greenhouse further enhances the garden experience, providing space for extended growing seasons and educational opportunities. Learn more about how to get involved with Equal Ground Community Gardens and about other community gardens in Brantford, please visit www.brantford.ca/CommunityGardens.

About the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program

Through the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario are investing in projects like the Woodman Community Pool and Playground that improve cultural infrastructure, support upgrades to recreational facilities, and improve community centres. The City of Brantford received a contribution of $1,810,100 from the Government of Canada and $1,508,265 from the Province of Ontario to support this priority project. As an important recreational facility in the community, infrastructure updates to Woodman Community Pool and Playground are contributing to more inclusive and accessible recreation opportunities in the City of Brantford.

About the Ontario Trillium Foundation

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105 million dollars into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

About the Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF)

The CCBF is a permanent, predictable, and stable source of funding for municipal infrastructure, helping to enable strong, sustainable, and vibrant communities across Canada. In Ontario, the CCBF is administered by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

The Community Gardens portion of this project was completed with $396,000 funded by CCBF, supporting vital cultural projects across the country.

Quotes

“Thoughtful investments in community spaces bring people together and create lasting benefits. The upgrades to the Woodman Park playground and pool all reflect a strong commitment to accessibility and quality of life for residents of all ages in the city of Brantford,” - Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure

“Our government is proud to support infrastructure projects that help build strong and vibrant communities. The Woodman Park playground project is part of the most ambitious capital plan in Ontario’s history with investments of more than $200 billion over the next decade to build and expand highways, transit, hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure that will strengthen our communities and protect the economy.” - Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure

“Since 2009, Equal Ground Community Gardens has been initiating community gardens in the region. I am happy to be part of a government that sees the value in promoting green, welcoming spaces where the community can gather for social interactions and teach hands-on gardening techniques for future generations.” - Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant

“The City of Brantford is very grateful to our partners at the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario for the generous financial contributions that made this unique project possible. This renovation represents our commitment to providing inclusive and enjoyable recreational facilities for City of Brantford residents, ensuring the neighbourhood greatly benefits from the improved amenities. I have no doubt that the improved, and fully accessible Woodman Pool and upgraded playground will be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike for years to come.” - Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis

"Equal Ground Community Gardens is thrilled to welcome everyone to the official opening of our Greenhouse and Learning Centre, the focal point of our newest and largest community garden site in Brantford. Getting the greenhouse built has been challenging, but well worth the effort! We have already welcomed so many people to the site and are looking forward to future programming at both the greenhouse as well as the gardens, for many years to come. We are immensely grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding - without which, this great facility would have only remained a dream for EGCG. In addition to OTF, we greatly appreciate our partners at the City of Brantford for helping us create this beautiful space for members of the community to connect through gardening." – Caitlin Schneider, Equal Ground Community Gardens President

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Media Contacts:
Sharon Sayles | Communications Advisor, Communications and Community Engagement
City of Brantford | 519-759-4150 ext.5218 | ssayles@brantford.ca

Heather Carvalho | Manager, Communications and Community Engagement
City of Brantford | 519-759-4150 ext. 5741 | hcaralho@brantford.ca