Des Newman WhitBEE Park

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The Town is working to create Whitby's newest 10 acre (4 Ha) district park located at 105 Des Newman Boulevard. The district park will help serve a diversity of ages and abilities of the growing community for years to come.

We would like to thank the many residents who took the time to share their feedback on possible names for the park.

What did we hear?

More than 520 people participated in the survey about naming this west Whitby park. While it was a close race, the most popular name selected by participants was Des Newman Park. Additionally, 171 people offered comments about the name or suggested alternate names, with the most popular being Whit-bee Park, which 43 people supported. After considering the survey results, Council "unanimously" adopted the name "Des Newman WhitBEE Park".

Read the full report and survey details.

Current Update

Des Newman WhitBEE Park is now complete and open to the public.

Additional Park Information

The park will be the largest park investment in the Town’s history, including design features like:

  • A fitness area (donated by Mattamy Homes)
  • Lit multi-purpose field
  • Multi-skills court with an additional basketball net
  • Half-court basketball
  • Four pickleball courts
  • Bee themed senior and junior playground areas
  • Fun ball net
  • Sand play area
  • Splash pad area
  • A honeycomb inspired hexagon-shaped shade shelter
  • A walking trail with bench rest areas
  • Native plantings to support pollinator species

We look forward to welcoming you to your new park in the future and will continue to keep you updated on progress on this page.

Park Design

The revised park plan is now available to view here. The new design outlines the overall park design, a pickleball and basketball area, splash pad, exercise equipment area and playground designs, including a bee-themed playground rendering – as requested by the community.

In response to the community's desire and Council direction for a honeybee and pollinator themed park, the following elements are being incorporated into the design:

  • Plants to attract native pollinator species;
  • A honeycomb inspired hexagon-shaped shade shelter with a bee ornamentation;
  • The playground incorporates yellow and black tones with bee and honeycomb details throughout, a large bee climber, bees cut-outs at the playground, roofs with floral details and honeycomb climbers.
  • The splash pad design integrates flowers and nature-inspired elements that speak to the pollinator/bee theme.
  • An interpretive sign shaped as a stop sign will be installed beside the sand play area to outline the inspiration for the bee theme for the park, and the neighbourhood’s story of the bee swarm that was found nearby.

Planning a Park

The Town has four different Park classifications including Town, District, Local and Parkette; all of which serve a different function and contain different park elements and amenities.

  • A Town Park has major facilities and contains community centres, arenas, swimming pools and lighted athletic fields and is intended to serve the recreational needs of the whole community.
  • A District Park such this is designed to serve the recreational needs of a larger neighbourhood or series of neighbourhoods. They are for primarily active recreational uses including lighted athletic fields, playgrounds, courts and parking areas. Various sport user groups rely on District Parks to undertake the various sports programming for youth minor sports across the community.
  • Local Parks and Parkettes are intended to serve the recreational needs of the immediate neighbourhood for active and passive recreational uses. Local Parks contain sports fields, playgrounds, courts and walkways. Smaller Parkettes normally contain playgrounds, seating areas and walkways.

The Town's Official Plan and several Council approved guiding documents help direct the development of our parks. These include the Culture, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (CPROS) and the Sports Facility Strategy (SFS). Both of these studies account for trends, demographics, current inventory and service levels. The SFS determined that the Town lacked a multi-use field for rugby and soccer and also identified the need for pickleball courts; currently one of the fastest-growing activities.

Have additional questions about this project? Email Jill Stanton, Landscape Architect at stantonj@whitby.ca.

The Town is working to create Whitby's newest 10 acre (4 Ha) district park located at 105 Des Newman Boulevard. The district park will help serve a diversity of ages and abilities of the growing community for years to come.

We would like to thank the many residents who took the time to share their feedback on possible names for the park.

What did we hear?

More than 520 people participated in the survey about naming this west Whitby park. While it was a close race, the most popular name selected by participants was Des Newman Park. Additionally, 171 people offered comments about the name or suggested alternate names, with the most popular being Whit-bee Park, which 43 people supported. After considering the survey results, Council "unanimously" adopted the name "Des Newman WhitBEE Park".

Read the full report and survey details.

Current Update

Des Newman WhitBEE Park is now complete and open to the public.

Additional Park Information

The park will be the largest park investment in the Town’s history, including design features like:

  • A fitness area (donated by Mattamy Homes)
  • Lit multi-purpose field
  • Multi-skills court with an additional basketball net
  • Half-court basketball
  • Four pickleball courts
  • Bee themed senior and junior playground areas
  • Fun ball net
  • Sand play area
  • Splash pad area
  • A honeycomb inspired hexagon-shaped shade shelter
  • A walking trail with bench rest areas
  • Native plantings to support pollinator species

We look forward to welcoming you to your new park in the future and will continue to keep you updated on progress on this page.

Park Design

The revised park plan is now available to view here. The new design outlines the overall park design, a pickleball and basketball area, splash pad, exercise equipment area and playground designs, including a bee-themed playground rendering – as requested by the community.

In response to the community's desire and Council direction for a honeybee and pollinator themed park, the following elements are being incorporated into the design:

  • Plants to attract native pollinator species;
  • A honeycomb inspired hexagon-shaped shade shelter with a bee ornamentation;
  • The playground incorporates yellow and black tones with bee and honeycomb details throughout, a large bee climber, bees cut-outs at the playground, roofs with floral details and honeycomb climbers.
  • The splash pad design integrates flowers and nature-inspired elements that speak to the pollinator/bee theme.
  • An interpretive sign shaped as a stop sign will be installed beside the sand play area to outline the inspiration for the bee theme for the park, and the neighbourhood’s story of the bee swarm that was found nearby.

Planning a Park

The Town has four different Park classifications including Town, District, Local and Parkette; all of which serve a different function and contain different park elements and amenities.

  • A Town Park has major facilities and contains community centres, arenas, swimming pools and lighted athletic fields and is intended to serve the recreational needs of the whole community.
  • A District Park such this is designed to serve the recreational needs of a larger neighbourhood or series of neighbourhoods. They are for primarily active recreational uses including lighted athletic fields, playgrounds, courts and parking areas. Various sport user groups rely on District Parks to undertake the various sports programming for youth minor sports across the community.
  • Local Parks and Parkettes are intended to serve the recreational needs of the immediate neighbourhood for active and passive recreational uses. Local Parks contain sports fields, playgrounds, courts and walkways. Smaller Parkettes normally contain playgrounds, seating areas and walkways.

The Town's Official Plan and several Council approved guiding documents help direct the development of our parks. These include the Culture, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (CPROS) and the Sports Facility Strategy (SFS). Both of these studies account for trends, demographics, current inventory and service levels. The SFS determined that the Town lacked a multi-use field for rugby and soccer and also identified the need for pickleball courts; currently one of the fastest-growing activities.

Have additional questions about this project? Email Jill Stanton, Landscape Architect at stantonj@whitby.ca.

  • West Whitby Unnamed District Park Tender – Finalizing Bid Evaluations.

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    On June 15 all bids were received for the contract to construct the new unnamed West Whitby District Park. The project team is in the final stages of evaluating the proposals and the construction contract should be ready for award by July 23rd. Construction is anticipated to start in August with project completion and the subsequent opening of the park during the spring 2022.

  • West Whitby Unnamed District Park Tender for Construction

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    On May 21st, 2021 the tender was issued with a deadline for submissions by June 15th, 2021 from qualified contractors. The bids will then be evaluated by the project team and the best submission will be selected. Please stay tuned for further updates including the anticipated construction schedule.


  • Council Approves Revised West Whitby Park Design

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    Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the West Whitby Unnamed District Park design through a virtual open house held last year. More than 1,000 community members visited and nearly 200 residents submitted thoughts and ideas on the project through Connect Whitby.

    An initial staff report summarizing feedback gathered during the open house and final design recommendations was presented to Committee of the Whole on January 18. During the meeting, Council requested staff to further explore opportunities to create a multi-purpose court space that could be used for a variety of sports.

    Last night, January 25, Council unanimously approved a number of changes to the design for the park based on feedback received from the community. These include:

    • a more modern design for park playground equipment;
    • bee-themed play equipment elements (to be included in the request for proposals where possible);
    • a multi-purpose wall (attached/adjacent to pickleball fence), and;
    • associated asphalt area along the west fence line of the pickleball courts to provide a play/practice area for a variety of sports. Two basketball nets will also be included in this multi-purpose area.

    For more details, view the staff report and memorandum on the project.

    As part of next steps, Mattamy Homes and Town Staff will proceed with detailed construction drawings, tender documents and work on contractor selection.

    If you haven’t already, subscribe to the West Whitby Park page on Connect Whitby to stay informed on future park updates, including the start date for construction. Staff will also report back to Council with naming options, in addition to Des Newman.

    If you have questions or concerns you can connect with Jill Stanton, Landscape Architect, at stantonj@whitby.ca. For more information, visit whitby.ca/parks

  • West Whitby Park Update

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    Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the West Whitby Unnamed District Park design through a virtual open house held October 13 to 27, 2020 using Connect Whitby.


    More than 1,000 community members visited and nearly 200 residents submitted thoughts and ideas on the project through Connect Whitby. An initial staff report summarizing feedback gathered during the Community Open House and final design recommendations was presented to Committee of the Whole on January 18.


    During the meeting, Council requested staff to further explore opportunities to create a multi-purpose court space that could be used for a variety of sports. The final report will go to Regular Council on January 25. Tune in to the Council meeting at 7 p.m. at whitby.ca/livestream.

    We welcome ongoing feedback. If you have questions or concerns you can connect with Jill Stanton, Landscape Architect, at stantonj@whitby.ca


    For more information visit whitby.ca/parks

  • Community Open House Update

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    Thank you to the community members who shared their feedback during the West Whitby Unnamed District Park Virtual Community Open House.

    More than 1,000 people visited the open house on Connect Whitby, with nearly 200 residents directly contributing their feedback to help inform the development of Whitby's newest district park to be located at 105 Des Newman Boulevard.

    The Town is currently reviewing all comments and questions submitted during the open house. Based on this feedback, staff members will provide recommendations to Council later this year. Updates will also be shared at key milestones through Connect Whitby.

    Thank you, again, to our community for their valuable feedback and being part of the process to build this new park.

    Have more questions about this project? Email Jill Stanton, Landscape Architect at stantonj@whitby.ca.

    Looking for more ways to help shape future projects and initiatives in the Town?
    Check out the full list of Connect Whitby community engagement projects at connectwhitby.ca/projects


Page last updated: 22 Sep 2023, 03:20 PM