PROJECT UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2026
CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN

Construction is scheduled to run from February to September. 
The sewer works and facility installation will begin in March.
Construction Hours will be Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm
Saturday and Sunday work will be as needed and approved by the City

Any timeline changes and updates will be posted HERE.

​Project details, construction expectations, past updates and illustrations are below

​WHEN COMPLETED IT WILL:

​Improve climate change resilience and reduce the risk of flooding
Improve water quality in Idlewood Creek & the Grand River
Enhance community safety
Improve the  existing trail network with a paved three-meter-wide asphalt trail.
Upgrade all trail entrances. add line painting and permanent and removable bollards, and signage

This is part of the City’s commitment to making multi-use trails comfortable for all ages and abilities.

The mailbox located at the trail entrance along Oldfield Drive will be temporarily relocated across the street.
This allows safe access to the mailbox during construction.
​We are coordinating with Canada Post, and it will be put back once construction is done.
As shown below, the trail connecting Darlington Place and Oldfield Drive will be closed. 
​Trail closures may be adjusted once the project is in the trail restoration phase

Photos From February 27, 2026
Picture
Construction Information Sign
GET PROJECT UPDATES HERE
OPEN HOUSE PRESENTATION BOARDS
From November 20, 2025
Update - Construction To Begin In 2026

Due to favourable pricing in another stormwater project (Middle Strasburg Naturalization) there is an opportunity to advance the Idlewood Greenway work in 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  tendered the construction of the Idlewood Greenway in the fall of 2025 to take advantage of the favourable market conditions. The construction of this project will take place in the Winter of 2026 and be completed in Fall 2026
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
It 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:

​Improve climate change resilience and reduce the risk of flooding
Improve water quality in Idlewood Creek & the Grand River
Enhance community safety
Improve the  existing trail network with a paved three-meter-wide asphalt trail.
Upgrade all trail entrances. add line painting and permanent and removable bollards, and signage

This is part of the City’s commitment to making multi-use trails comfortable for all ages and abilities.


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.