Tell the City of Kitchener you support a multi-use path – but not at the cost of the heritage trees and community space that we all treasure.
Recently updated: October 2, 2025
Thank you to everyone who attended the recent open house events and showed support for Rockway Gardens. The strong community turnout and engagement were inspiring, and it’s clear that Rockway Gardens means a lot, to many. The City of Kitchener recently updated the information on their EngageWR project page. We encourage you to review their latest plans and complete the surveys, which are open until October 19, to ensure your voice is heard. GardenKtichener continues to advocate for our proposed route, a variation of the original “Option C”, which is outlined below.
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The City of Kitchener is planning to install a multi-use path through Rockway Gardens, as part of the Rockway Fairway Transportation Connections project. While GardenKitchener supports safe, accessible cycling and walking routes, we want to ensure these are introduced without harming Rockway’s historic landscapes and stonework, or creating safety hazards in spaces that are popular for photos and events.
Help us advocate for a route that provides safe cycling connections in and around Rockway, without compromising the heritage, environment, and safety of our community’s beloved gardens.
Background:
On August 29th, members of GardenKitchener met with City of Kitchener representatives to learn about three possible route options for a multi-use path. The original “Option A” was identified as the city’s preferred route – this was a “multi-use path on Floral Crescent between Preston Street and Doon Road” that was identified on the project’s Engage page.
Option A:
A 2.4 – 3 metre multi-use path would be built along the south side of Floral Crescent, beside the historic rockery.
This would require the removal of green space including dedicated trees planted in memory of community members, and disrupt the root system of a century-old oak tree. It would also require the removal of portions of the garden’s original stonework.
Why GardenKitchener opposed Option A
This route put both the heritage of the gardens and the safety of visitors, staff, and volunteers at risk. Key concerns included:
Safety risks: This route would decrease the boulevard space between Floral Crescent and the Rockery – Rockway’s well known heritage rock garden. This boulevard area is frequently used by Rockway Gardens staff and volunteers for essential garden maintenance. It’s also a space that’s popular for weddings, prom and wedding photos, and leisurly strolls, as the Rockery is a unique and beautiful backdrop. The proposed multi-use path would significantly shorten the boulevard space. Having fast-moving bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters in a space where people are often moving slowly or distracted by other tasks would create unsafe conditions for visitors, staff, volunteers, and users of the multi-use path. It’s easy to imagine a distracted photographer backing into a fast-moving e-bike in this space.
Destruction of heritage trees: A 100-year-old oak tree and memorial trees – beloved tributes to members of the community funded by donations of loved ones – would likely need to be removed.
Damage to the new community orchard: Recently planted fruit trees – our latest food security project providing fresh fruit to local charities – would likely need to be removed.
Loss of historic features: The last portion of Rockway Gardens’ original rock wall could be destroyed. These elements of Rockway are what make it so unique in our community.
Reduced Parking: As a result of the proposed bump-outs, visitors, including those with mobility challenges, would lose access to on-road parking space, impacting their ability to enjoy the grounds and attend events such as summer concerts, weddings, and plant sales.
Irrigation issues & snow damage: This option would disrupt the critical space required to properly operate the irrigation system for the rock gardens. Winter maintenance of the pathway including snow mounds caused by plowing and the application of salt and other snow melt substances would harm nearby plantings.
Option B:
In the original option B, the 3-metre multi-use path would continue on Floral Crescent to Rockway Drive and transition to an on-road bikeway with sharrows and a 1.8-metre sidewalk, connecting with the existing sharrows and sidewalk south of Doon Road. This option would have minimal impact to vehicles and parking, however it was felt that because of the volume of traffic and parking demand on Floral, this option would not be comfortable or safe for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
Option C:
The original third option saw the Delta Street multi-use path continue along Preston Street and then onto Charles Street, which would be converted from roadway to multi-use path. The sidewalk along King Street would be removed and replaced with a multi-use trail, turning onto Dixon Street in advance of the intersection. While this option would completely separate cyclists from both traffic, it would be a less direct route. It would also impact traffic on Preston and King, and require the moving of a bus stop.
Updated Options as of October 2025:
Option A:
This option is no longer being considered.
Revised Option B:
In the revised design, the City of Kitchener has removed the 1.8 metre sidewalk along Floral Crescent. Sharrows, and signage would still be added to Floral Cresecent. See complete details here.
Revised Option C:
An existing pedestrian pathway in Rockway Gardens would be converted to a multi-use path from Floral Crescent to Charles Street. At Charles and King, the existing sidewalk would be converted to a multi-use pathway. In a variation of this route, the Iron Horse Trail would follow Preston Street to Charles Street, instead of cutting across the gardens. See complete details here.
GardenKitchener’s Suggestion (Another Variation of Option C)
GardenKitchener recognizes that having vehicles in and around the Rockway Gardens green space creates safety hazards of all kinds – not only from collisions, but also from environmental impacts. The noise, air pollution, and toxic chemicals from road and maintenance that they bring through the green space prevent wildlife from moving through their habitats safely, harm our delicate ecosystems, and reduce our air quality. However, we also know that motorized vehicles are essential for some members of our community to move around, and that removing motorized traffic on Floral Crescent entirely isn’t an option that the City is willing to explore at this time.
At the meeting on August 29th, the GardenKitchener team offered a number of alternative suggestions to City staff, including the idea of turning Floral Crescent into a one-way street for vehicle traffic, so there would be space for a separated bike lane without having to disrupt the green space.
GardenKitchener’s preferred route is a variation of Option C that places a multi-use trail along the grass area beside Charles Street. While this route still cuts across green space and impacts some existing trees, it’s optimized to minimize damage to heritage and memorial plantings, while still providing a safe and relatively direct route for trail users. This route also directs fast-moving traffic away from areas popular with slow-moving pedestrians, garden visitors, photographers, staff and volunteers.
This image shows two of the original route options. The red line indicates the location of the City’s original ‘Option A’. The blue shows the alternate route suggested by GardenKitchener – still our preferred route. It was suggested that “the most direct route” for cyclists is preferred, which is why Option A was preferred between the three original route plans. The alternate option suggested by GardenKitchener is not a straight line, but its added distance is only around 100m. This alternative route also has a less-steep grade (left to right).
This image shows the latest route options – revised Option B and revised option C – proposed by the City of Kitchener, as of October 1, 2025. This image does not include GardenKitchener’s proposed route.
How you can help:
- Complete the City of Kitchener’s digital surveys, and share your feedback on the revised routes. Explain that you still prefer GardenKitchener’s proposed route, because it provides a relatively direct option for cyclists, away from areas frequented by visitors, staff and volunteers, and minimizes damage to heritage and memorial plantings.
- Email Council, if you haven’t already. We’ve drafted one for you! Copy and paste this text and click here to send it to all members of City Council. Feel free to share additional thoughts about why Rockway Gardens is an important part of your community.
- Spread the word. Share this page with neighbours, friends, and family! GardenKitchener supports safe cycling and pedestrian infrastructure – just not at the cost of Rockway Gardens’ heritage, safety, and community use. Stand with us and ask Council to support GardenKitchener’s suggested route as the best solution.
- Register to show your support and stay up to date as this issue evolves. Complete this form to stay in the loop: