A jewel in Windsor's park system will soon have improved access and facilities.
Windsor City Council approved a recommendation Monday night to allow the process to begin on upgrading the washrooms and maintenance building at Jackson Park.
Councillors allowed $2.1-million in future capital budget spending to be brought forward so work can begin this year.
Mayor Drew Dilkens says people will soon start seeing some changes.
"There will be some improvements done in time for this year, so folks will see an improvement since we debriefed on Bright Lights," says Dilkens, adding that parking improvements will be considered based on feedback received from last year's event.
Dilkens says over 60,000 people viewed the inaugural Bright Lights holiday spectacular, but one drawback was a lack of open washrooms on site.
"The washrooms there are old, and they're not accommodating for an event that attracted 60,000 people to Jackson Park and they're not year-round bathrooms," says Dilkens.
The current maintenance building and washrooms were built in 1965, according to the report submitted to city council, leading to the Queen Elizabeth II Sunken Garden. While the facilities are still usable, the report indicates they can no longer meet the now year-round demand for use. They also do not currently meet disability-access regulations.
The funding will resurface and widen the parking lots, as well as improve connecting trails throughout the park. The current lots are gravel and can become muddy in bad weather.
