The ‘veneer’ greening strategy invested resources in artful terrain, native plantings and the play opportunities they provide, in lieu of demolition and excavation. The design approach in the competition prioritized the park’s existing community role, while incorporating green space, stormwater capture, play opportunities, and improving usability for all generations. Of forty entries submitted, our team won for the Waterloo Park category. Our entry was ranked first in its class by each of the three deciding juries: the expert jury, community jury, and award jury.

Subsequently, Studio Sustena’s team was invited to continue design efforts in collaboration with Make The World Better Foundation, Urban Roots and Interface Studio Architects to bring the design to fruition. The collaborative design update re-opened the Waterloo street axis, renovated the west basketball courts, created a play hill and trail along the east half of the park, integrated a stormwater tree trench and subsurface infiltration, and transformed the street-facing spaces into porch-like environs.