The City of Kingston is preparing to officially open Gerard Hunt Memorial Park, located at 1242 Wheathill Street and named in honor of Gerard Hunt, a prominent figure who devoted two decades to the city’s service.
The community is invited to the park unveiling in a ceremony featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony and speeches on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m..
“Throughout his dedicated years of service to a city that he loved, Gerard demonstrated unwavering leadership, mentorship and commitment to the well-being of Kingstonians,” said Mayor Bryan Paterson. “Providing residents with a shared space to gather, enjoy nature, and create cherished memories, this new park embodies Gerard’s vision for a connected community and will serve to celebrate his remarkable legacy.”
The decision to rename the park was made in June 2023 through a Council Motion, recognizing Gerard Hunt’s substantial contributions to the community during his tenure, which included ten years as the City’s Chief Administrative Officer.
Gerard Hunt Memorial Park, covering 1.5 hectares, is situated south of Taylor-Kidd Boulevard and west of Centennial Drive. It was a collaborative effort involving the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est and Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario. The park boasts various amenities, such as playground equipment, a splash pad, a shade shelter, an amphitheater, pathways, trees, and provisions for a potential community garden and community-operated skating rink.
The park’s design was shaped by input from a public engagement event held in the spring of 2019, with construction wrapping up in the summer of 2023.
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