Coronation Park Master Plan
Thank you for showing up, Bathurst
From the summer survey to the community open house on September 22, you told us how you use Coronation Park and what you want it to become. That input is now in the hands of the planning team, and the draft master plan is taking shape.
Next step: draft master plan — in developmentSurvey closed September 1, 2026 · Open house held September 22, 2026
Coronation Park, Bathurst, NB
A look back at the open house
On September 22, residents dropped by the Paul Ouellette Room at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre to walk through the display panels, look over a preliminary plan for the park, and talk it through with City staff and the team from TRACE Planning & Design. Some came for the short project orientations; many simply wandered the panels, asked questions, and added their own ideas to the “Big Ideas” board.
Walking through the “Big Moves” for the park with the planning team.
Welcome panel at the entrance, with residents reviewing the boards.
Play & Explore, one of the four pillars of the City of Bathurst brand, welcomed visitors at the door.
What was on display
- What the community told us in the survey, and the ideas gathered so far.
- The “Big Ideas” for Coronation Park, organized around themes such as active living, connecting with nature, inclusion and accessibility, and supportive environments.
- The “Big Moves”: the larger changes being considered for how the park is laid out and connected.
- A preliminary park plan, presented for comment before the draft is finalized.
Every comment left on the boards and every conversation with the team was recorded. Together with the survey results, that feedback is what the planning team is working from now.
What we’ve heard so far
- 300+ survey responses received from across the community
- 98% of people who responded said they visit Coronation Park
- 2 rounds of community input: the summer survey and the September open house
The trails, the playgrounds and the splash pad were named the park’s most-used features. At the open house, residents dug deeper into the themes behind the plan and reacted to a first preliminary layout for the park. A summary of what we heard will be shared here alongside the draft master plan.
What happens next
The public engagement phase is complete. Here is what the planning team is doing with everything you shared:
- 1
Review the feedback
Survey results and open house comments are compiled and analyzed together, so the priorities that came up most often carry the most weight.
- 2
Develop the draft plan
TRACE Planning & Design and City staff refine the preliminary plan into a draft master plan: a long-term roadmap for improvements at Coronation Park.
- 3
Present to Council
The draft master plan is presented to Bathurst City Council. Once it is, the plan and a summary of the community feedback will be posted on this page.
Where we are in the process
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Summer 2026 · closed September 1
Have your say
Step completeThe community survey drew more than 300 responses on how the park is used today and what should come next.
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September 22, 2026
Community open house
Step completeResidents reviewed the ideas collected so far and a preliminary park plan, and shared a second round of feedback in person.
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3
Underway
Draft master plan
We are hereThe planning team is shaping everything we heard into a draft master plan for Coronation Park.
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4
To be announced
Presentation to Council
The draft plan is presented to City Council. Once it is, it will be posted here for the community to see.
Stay in the loop
There are no dates to mark on the calendar right now, and that’s normal: turning two rounds of community input into a solid plan takes time. When there is news — the Council presentation, the draft plan, the summary of what we heard — it will be posted on this page and on the City of Bathurst Facebook page.
About Coronation Park
Coronation Park is one of the places where Bathurst comes together — for a walk on the trails, a game on the fields, or an afternoon at the splash pad. Today the park is home to:
- Walking trails
- Dog park
- Splash pad
- Disc golf course
- Outdoor fitness equipment
- Community gardens
- Playgrounds
- Basketball court
- Ball fields
- Soccer field
- Memorial monument
- Gazebo and covered picnic tables
The master plan looks at how all of it is used today — and what the park should offer next.
Questions people are asking
What is a master plan, exactly?
A master plan is a long-term roadmap for a space. For Coronation Park, it will set out what gets improved, added, or renewed over the coming years — based on how the community actually uses the park and what it wants next. It helps the City invest in the right things, in the right order.
When will the draft master plan be ready?
We don’t have a date to share yet. The planning team is working through the survey results and the open house feedback now, and the draft will be presented to City Council once it’s ready. This page will be updated as soon as a date is confirmed.
Where can I see the survey results?
The results were presented at the open house on September 22. A summary of what we heard — from both the survey and the open house — will be posted on this page alongside the draft master plan. Early highlights: more than 300 responses, 98% of respondents visit the park, and the trails, playgrounds and splash pad are its most-used features.
Was the survey anonymous?
Yes. Individual responses stay confidential, and no one had to give their name.
Why is the City doing this now?
Bathurst is growing, and a central, marquee space like Coronation Park should grow right along with it — matching what the community wants and needs today. Some of the park’s facilities are also reaching the age where decisions need to be made. Rather than improving things piece by piece, a master plan lets us look at the whole park at once and make sure future investments match where our city is headed.
Is the City working with an outside firm on this?
Yes — and we’re proud of the partnership. The City has engaged TRACE Planning & Design, a landscape architecture and urban planning firm based in Moncton, NB, to help lead the master plan. TRACE brings specialized experience in parks, waterfronts and public spaces, and their team was on hand at the open house to talk through the ideas and the preliminary plan with residents.
Is anything closing or changing at the park right now?
No. The park stays open as usual, and nothing is being removed or decided yet. This is still the planning stage — the decisions come later, and they’ll be shaped by what we heard from you.
Does the master plan mean construction is starting?
No. The master plan is a guide for future investments, not a construction schedule. Once Council has received the plan, individual projects would be planned, budgeted and announced separately, over several years.
Who can I contact with questions?
Reach out to the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department (Community Services) at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre, 14 Sean Couturier Avenue, Bathurst, E2A 6X2. Email parks@bathurst.ca or call (506) 548-0410. We’re happy to help.
Thank you, Bathurst
Two rounds of input, hundreds of voices, one plan in the making. Check back here for the draft master plan and the next steps.
Your park. Your plan.