KITCHENER -- Kitchener City Council approved nearly $12 million in funding to revamp Carl Zehr Square on Monday night.
According to a city staff report on the project, the facility located in front of city hall is over 25 years old and requires a number of upgrades.
"Many of the infrastructure elements are nearing the end of their serviceable life," the report noted.
The overhaul will include what the city calls "essential" repairs to the parking garage and drainage systems, along with work to the ice rink and fountain, and accessibility improvements.
The city has been talking about renovating the square for the last five years. The space itself is close to 30 years old.
Council voted 10 to one in favour of the project, with one councillor believing they could have gotten a few more years out of it.
“If money weren’t an object it is better to get the Cadillac version, but money is an object,” said City Councillor John Gazzola.
The city says it is choosing a more expensive option with a 50-year life span to help with underground drainage, instead of a cheaper option.
“It’s a little higher in cost now, but it’s going to give us a lower lifetime cost,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.
Each year, tens of thousands of people use the spaces around city hall for a variety of different events and purposes.
The construction project is set to begin this spring, and wrap up in fall 2021.
The city says during the construction there will be little disruption to the downtown, saying there will still be access to City Hall and the parking garage. King Street will also remain open, but College Street will see some partial closures.
