The Minoru Lakes Park in Richmond’s city centre has officially reopened, following a major renewal to create a more modern and welcoming environment.

“For the past four decades, the Minoru Lakes Park has been an important and popular location for residents and visitors to relax and enjoy nature in the middle of our growing city,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “The renewal of the lake and park, while necessitated by infrastructure issues, has resulted in an even more inviting location that is welcoming to people of all ages as well as an abundance of flora and fauna.”

The Minoru Lakes Renewal Project, which began in 2022, was initiated due to issues with the lake and surrounding amenities. The redesigned area includes a deeper pond that has been designed to improve water quality, reduce water loss, and create new habitats for birds, plants and other species that rely on aquatic environments for food and shelter.

The park’s enhanced features include incorporating existing established trees, shrubs and undergrowth with emergent and shoreline native plantings providing foraging and nesting habitats for waterfowl and other birds and insects. The fully reconstructed and redesigned lake holds a larger volume of water and features a new waterfall that serves an important ecological function as well as a striking visual element. The waterfall, which enhances the overall park experience, also introduces oxygen into the captured storm water runoff from the surrounding area.

With the completion of this project, residents can now return to enjoy this improved park space, which includes new furniture such as benches and picnic tables, a boardwalk and seating areas set around reconstructed, widened and universally-accessible pathways. The refreshed park also features plazas, decks and a bridge.