New accessible park to ‘enhance the neighbourhood’ in Oshawa 

A new park with accessible playground features has reopened in Oshawa.

Oshawa’s members of council and residents were joined by Whitby MP Ryan Turnbull for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 29 to officially celebrate the reopening of Fenelon/Venus Park.

“I am so happy to be finally able to open Fenelon-Venus Park and watch our neighbourhood residents, from young children to seniors, enjoy the park and greenspace,” said Councillor Brian Nicholson, chairperson of Oshawa’s safety and facilities services committee and Ward 5 regional and city councillor, in a statement. “It will enhance the neighbourhood tremendously.”

The project replaced play equipment and surfacing, enhanced seating, improved access, and increased tree plantings and naturalization, a process allowing non-native plants or animals to grow or live naturally in areas, according to the City. 

The one-hectare park is located between Fenelon Crescent and Venus Crescent, east of Park Road between Wentworth Street and Phillip Murray Avenue in Oshawa. The park has new junior and senior play equipment, as well as accessible swings, a basketball court, extra seating and an accessible park pathway connecting the park to both crescents, according to the City. 

The total cost of the redevelopment project was $335,000, with $240,000 in funding provided by the federal government through its Canada Community-Building Fund.

Construction began in June 2022. It was completed in December 2022.