Festival Hydro Community Park
The SSA vision is to convert the 18 acre site at Packham Road from being a 4 ½ months a year soccer facility to an almost year round Community Park, with the addition of 2 km of accessible pedestrian and bicycle trails, fitness equipment located at various locations throughout the site, new change rooms and washrooms, a pavilion and a new artificial turf field which could be used many more months of the year.
A grant from Trillium was obtained by the SSA for a feasibility study relating to conversion of the area and the construction of an artificial turf field. A number of field trips were conducted across southwestern Ontario to view similar facilities and meetings were held with consultants and staff from other communities. It was estimated that the construction of a fenced and flood lit, artificial turf field would be in the area of $1.2 million. The proposal was made to Stratford City Council and SSA agreed to raise $700,000, over time, towards the project. The Stratford Soccer Association solicited local businesses, corporations, service clubs and foundations and thanks to the generosity of the community raised that amount and more, through the naming rights of various components of the community park.
