​IDLE​WOOD GREENWAY STORMWATER & TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS
OPEN HOUSE
NOVEMBER 20 4:30 - TO 7PM
CENTREVILLE CHICOPEE COMMUNITY CENTRE
​141 MORGAN AVE

Join us as we share the confirmed final design. Find out about construction plans for 2026 and beyond.
The open house will be a drop-in format. Staff and consultants are available all evening to answer questions and hear feedback. It will take place in-person at Centreville Chicopee Community Centre in the gym.
At this event, we will have:
A light meal and refreshments
Free pre-paid EasyGO cards For Grand River Transit
Child-minding for ages 4 to 10
Accessible Washroom
Centreville Chicopee Community Centre is served by Grand River Transit.
​If you are travelling by bike or by car, there is a parking lot, outdoor bike racks, and on-street parking.
​YOU CAN PRE-REGISTER HERE
Update - Construction To Begin In 2026

​The work on the Idlewood Greenway is currently budgeted to be completed between 2027 - 2029. However, due to favourable pricing in another stormwater project (Middle Strasburg Naturalization) there is an opportunity to advance the Idlewood Greenway work in 2025 - 2026. The Middle Strasburg tender price came in considerably below budget due to current market conditions and partially due to staff establishing a roster of pre-approved contractors to bid on complex stormwater projects, ensuring the most efficient construction methods and best possible unit prices for individual contract items could be achieved.

​Staff hope to tender the construction of the Idlewood Greenway in the fall of 2025 to take advantage of the favourable market conditions, with the bulk of the work taking place in early 2026. To accelerate the timing of this project, staff need Council approval to reallocate 2026 funding of $5.36M from the Middle Strasburg Naturalization project to the Idlewood Greenway project and approval to tender the work before the 2026 budget is approved. There will be no impacts to the Middle Strasburg Naturalization project due to the reallocation of these surplus funds.
Read the Staff Report HERE​
Kitchener is adding an underground stormwater storage facility to Idlewood Greenway.
It's part of of a large project to build climate change resilience and improve water quality in our creeks, 
This is Now planned for 2026 and also gives us the opportunity to upgrade the  the trail section in the greenway area and do some tree planting.
The images below show where the underground storage is proposed to be located.
It's between the trail entrances on Oldfield Drive and Chartwell Court.
And centered within Jadestone Crt, Dunnigton Crt, Drumoak Place & Darlington Place
WHEN COMPLETED IT WILL:
Reduce the risk of flooding
Improve water quality in Idlewood Creek & the Grand River
Reduce erosion in Idlewood Creek
Improve resilience against climate change
Enhance community safety
We will replace the existing trail network with a paved three-meter-wide asphalt trail.
This is part of the City’s commitment to making multi-use trails comfortable for all ages and abilities.
We will upgrade all trail entrances and add line painting, permanent and removable bollards, and signage

Learn more at engagewr.ca/idlewood-stormwater 
What Is An Underground Water Storage Facility?
Underground stormwater facilities store water in an underground tank system.
Stormwater enters the systems where sediment & debris are captured before being released to nearby creeks.
In some cases, water may be allowed to infiltrate into the ground where possible.
​Underground stormwater facilities are generally not visible from the surface. 
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How big will the underground storage facility be? Where would it be in the greenway?
We have yet to confirm location within the park, size and design details. We will develop these details through the design process. We'll share design proposals with the public for review and comments at various stages. Plans may change considerably throughout the design process.  

Does an underground stormwater storage facility make noise? How is it maintained?
The facility will not make ongoing noise once installed. Maintenance with heavy equipment may occur every few years. We can confirm the maintenance schedule when we complete the stormwater facility designs.  

Will the underground stormwater storage facility affect groundwater levels or make my basement wet?
In Fall 2022 we conducted drilling at the greenway to assess the groundwater table and the soil conditions on site. Stormwater facility design will take into account current condition information. The stormwater facility will not negatively impact groundwater levels.

Will paths be returned to a natural habit rather than paved?
We will replace the existing trail network with a paved three-meter-wide asphalt trail. This is part of the City’s commitment to making multi-use trails comfortable for all ages and abilities. We will upgrade all trail entrances. We will add line painting, permanent and removable bollards, and signage.
​
Will maintenance of the stormwater facility be noisy?
The underground stormwater facility will not make noise once installed. It will likely need to be maintained using heavy equipment every few years. We can't confirm the maintenance schedule until the designs are finalized.