Guelph park closed to vehicular traffic due to significant damage

Two undated images show damage at Eastview Park in Guelph, Ont. (Courtesy: City of Guelph)

A park in Guelph has closed to vehicles after the property was damaged.

Eastview Park, on Watson Parkway North, is now closed to vehicular traffic as city crews deal with the problem. In a news release, the city said the damage was caused by vehicles entering the park and driving over soil that was not designed for traffic.

“Repairs will take a significant amount of time and come at a substantial cost,” the release said. “The misuse of the facility not only destroyed sod but also disrupted important drainage features on the site, requiring extensive repair work.”

Because the ground is still soft, the city decided to close the park to vehicles until the soil dries up. It is still open to people who wish to walk or bike through the space, but barricades will be set up at the road entrances.

Once the weather allows, the city’s parks department will begin repairs, including restoring site drainage and replacing damaged sod. They will also consider landscaping changes to limit potential future damage.

In the meantime, an investigation is underway.

“The city is following established processes for dealing with vandalism. Security footage has been requested, and the Guelph Police Service will be involved as the incident requires.”