The wrecking ball is coming to Jackson Park.
On Monday night, Windsor city council approved the demolition of the washroom and maintenance buildings at the park to make way for replacement buildings. Improvements to the parking lots and connecting trails are also planned. The current washroom and maintenance buildings are not insulated and usable only during summer months.
The new buildings will have a footprint of 1,045 sq. ft. compared to the current 375 sq. ft. and are expected to save the city money on increasing maintenance costs demanded by the older structures.
While the nearby Sunken Gardens, which saw its construction begin in 1930, has heritage designation, the city has determined the washroom and maintenance facility which were built in 1965 do not share the same period architecture and their demolition won't adversely impact the heritage significance of the site. The proposed building would imitate some elements of the period's architecture while matching the wood and stone treatment of the existing pergola.
The demolition and replacement costs are to be covered through money already allocated in the city's capital budgets.