The City of Brantford is asking residents to help name a new community park and recreation centre planned for the city’s southwest, as construction moves ahead on one of the largest public spaces ever built in the area.
Set on a 24-acre site between Shellard Lane and McGuiness Drive, the park is part of a broader development project in partnership with the Grand Erie District School Board and the Brantford Public Library.
Scheduled to open in 2026, the facility will be shared with a new elementary school and library, forming what the city describes as a “community hub” designed for year-round use.
The city will hold two public drop-in sessions next month to gather naming suggestions.
Residents will be able to view design plans, speak with city staff, and submit ideas for the park’s name.
The shortlisted submissions will be reviewed under the city’s Naming Policy and brought to council for a final decision.
The open houses are scheduled for:
- Wednesday, April 9, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Assumption College School cafeteria, 257 Shellard Lane
- Thursday, April 10, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre pool meeting room, 254 North Park Street
“This is a generational investment in one of the fastest-growing parts of Brantford,” city staff said in a statement. “We want the community to help shape it—not just in design, but in name.”
The park will include a wide range of amenities aimed at both organized sports and casual recreation.
Plans call for an accessible playground, splash pad, multi-use court for basketball and winter skating, and five outdoor pickleball and tennis courts with bleachers.
A regulation-sized artificial turf field and a tournament-standard cricket pitch are also in the works, along with a field house, activity hub building with concession stand and change rooms, a skate park, disc golf course, shaded seating areas, paved trails and parking.
Those unable to attend the open houses can submit naming ideas and read more about the project online at letstalkbrantford.ca/NamingSouthwestPark.
Regular project updates are available at brantford.ca/SouthwestPark.
