Construction on Windsor's new $7.5-million greenhouse in Jackson Park is underway.
The 22,000 square foot facility will replace the 100-year-old greenhouse structures at Lanspeary Park. The new greenhouse will feature computerized controls, automated venting systems, irrigation, and rooftop shading to improve energy and operation efficiencies.
"The Jackson Park greenhouse will be a premier facility dedicated to cultivating plants and flowers to be showcased throughout our parks and on our public rights of way," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
He said the facility will be doubled in size giving the city the ability to bring all horticultural services in-house.
"The city will begin growing all of our annuals, our perennials, our hanging baskets, and planters that are used to beautify city-wide but also in our business improvement areas," said Dilkens.
It's estimated this will save the city around $76,000 annually.
The facility will also include a multi-purpose heated greenhouse for community and educational events.
The design of the new Windsor greenhouse facility, by Glos Arch + Eng, at the construction site, March31, 2021. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
"Council had a choice to make when this tender came to us, do you want to add the space or do you want to take additional savings? And we all unanimously said add the space. We envision a new 3,500 square foot multi-purpose heated greenhouse to be an inviting retreat," said Dilkens.
The new facility will be open for the summer of 2022. At that time the greenhouse structures in Lanspeary Park will be decommissioned.
The City of Windsor will be undertaking a public survey to evaluate what should be done at Lanspeary Park once the greenhouse is removed.
"We want the public to play a role in the redevelopment of that space. We have no particular vision in mind at this point, but the public will be engaged and we'll make sure we hit the mark by consulting with them and hearing what they'd like to see in another very important park in this city," said Dilkens.
The public consultation for Lanspeary Park is not yet underway.