Plouffe Park has been at the heart of Dalhousie for more than 100 years. It’s our community green space, our recreation hub, our lungs. We all breathe more deeply as we walk by and see our kids playing soccer or skating at Plouffe Park.
Now the City plans to sell it off – so we’ve established this campaign to stop it from happening. Because we need our parkland, now more than ever. And because, if the City sells Plouffe Park, there’s no park in Ottawa that’s not at risk.
GET INVOLVED:
Want to get involved or show your support? Share your email below and we’ll keep you in the loop with the latest developments.
To learn more about the proposal and see #SavePlouffePark in the news, check out our Resources.
Contact us at saveplouffepark@gmail.com with any questions or comments.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What’s so special about Plouffe Park?
Plouffe Park has been at the heart of Dalhousie for more than 100 years. It’s our community green space, our recreation hub, our lungs.
It’s also the only City-owned playing field in Dalhousie, serving a large and growing population – and a community that has less than ¼ the amount of green space called for in the Official Plan.
What’s wrong with the City selling off Plouffe Park for another public use?
The community worked with the City in good faith for more than a decade to develop a plan for Gladstone Village and 1010 Somerset that allows for thousands of new homes, including affordable, family-oriented units, as well as an expanded Plouffe Park and improved recreation facilities.
Instead, the City proposes to sell off Plouffe Park – in contravention of its Parks and Recreation Policy and the City’s Official Plan. If the City gets away with selling off Plouffe Park, there isn’t a park in Ottawa that’s not at risk.
Why do you object to a new school being built on Plouffe Park?
We enthusiastically support the building of a new French-language school to serve local students, but there are alternatives nearby that would better meet students’ needs without depriving the community of much-needed green space. So, there’s no reason to jam a new school onto Plouffe Park.
But haven’t you been offered a replacement park?
Construction on Plouffe Park would begin next year yet the promised green space won’t be available for eight to ten years! That leaves us without a park for the next decade.
This area already has far less parkland than other parts of the city – and its population, including many young families – is about to boom. The new parkland was supposed to be a long-overdue addition to Plouffe Park, not a replacement.
When will decisions be made about Plouffe Park?
The City will host a public information session to present its plan and hear the community’s response in November. Councillor Troster will also host a public meeting. Depending on the results, recommendations will go forward to the Planning Committee, chaired by Councillor Leiper, and the Finance and Corporate Services Committee, chaired by Mayor Sutcliffe, later this year or early in 2024.
What can I do to save Plouffe Park?
Check out our Take Action page for all the ways to provide support. You can write to Mayor Sutcliffe and to your local councillor objecting to the sale of Plouffe Park. You can also join with your neighbours to mobilize public support – by taking a sign, reaching out to family and friends, writing a letter to the editor, organizing an event or donating to our campaign.
