Resident angered by Windsor decision to cut Wilson Park trees to make way for Adie Knox upgrades

CBC

a day ago

A retired Windsor man who plays pickleball in Wilson Park says he's upset the city is cutting down old trees to make way for a parking lot for its reimagined Adie Knox Herman Recreation Complex – even if that parking lot includes chargers for zero emission vehicles.
Chris Soda questioned why the city couldn't put the parking lot in an area that didn't require tree removal.
"I don't know any other area in Windsor where somebody with a straight face could say, 'Well guys, guess what; we're going to cut down 12, 100-year-old trees in a public park. Don't worry, we're putting an EV battery charging station up and a parking lot," Soda said.
A spokesperson for the City of Windsor confirmed to CBC that it is removing 12 trees from the park to accommodate new infrastructure as part of the Adie Knox project, which includes significant renovations to the existing facility and new building additions and parking areas.
It plans to add approximately 45 more trees to the site by the time the entire project is complete, Michael Janisse said.
But Soda said it will take years before people will be able to sit under the shade of those new trees.
'I don't know how you improve an area when you take away shade'
Soda learned of the plan to cut the trees when he was playing pickleball with his wife and some friends and saw yellow tape up and a couple of trees down.
He called the city to ask what was going on.
"And that's when I first found out that this is part of a plan, some plan, the serious plan, to improve this area," he said.
"But I don't know how you improve an area when you take away shade from kids at the splash pad, a picnic area or at least an area where you can throw your blanket down, and mom and dad are watching the kids while the kids play."
Soda hopes the city has a change of heart, he said, and he is urging people who agree with him to call the city and complain.
Windsor city council voted in 2022 to proceed with the Reimagined Adie Knox project.
The updated facility includes a new outdoor basketball court, tennis court and pickleball courts, which have already been completed.
It also includes a new splash pad, accessible playground and baseball and cricket batting cages, which have also been completed.
A new gymnasium, change rooms and program rooms and a new outdoor walking trail are still in the works.
A decision not to reopen the facility's swimming pool has angered some residents, including Soda.
"There are some really good things about this," he said, pointing to the outdoor courts.