Wesley Clover Parks soccer field irrigation project (401 Corkstown Road, Ottawa)

The Wesley Clover Parks hub is located in the west end of Ottawa, north of Highway 417, between Moodie Drive and March Road. The space is comprised of agricultural and natural lands that support wildlife, with wetlands adjacent in the north. Stillwater Creek runs through Wesley Clover Parks.

Wesley Clover Parks offers five soccer fields for active recreational activities. In response to the increased risk to player safety from hardened and dry playing fields during extreme summer heat events, Wesley Clover Parks is proposing to install a well and underground irrigation system for the four fields that use natural grass. This project aims to sustainably irrigate the fields and minimize the reliance on tanker trucks to deliver high volumes of water during dryer times in the soccer season.

To meet the specific irrigation needs of the playing fields, the project proposes drilling a well immediately adjacent to the fields. A pump will be installed in the well and connected to the electrical box through an underground trench. An underground irrigation system, directly supplied by the new well, will enable efficient and reliable watering of the fields, ensuring a safe and playable environment, even during high-temperature periods. 

The proposed project would take place on leased National Capital Commission (NCC) lands and is subject to a federal land use, design approval under the National Capital Act. The proposed well and irrigation installation will adhere to federal standards and be subject to any necessary approvals, including water conservation measures and responsible resource use.

Once approbations received, construction is anticipated to begin in early spring 2025, with the well and irrigation system expected to be operational before summer 2025. This will reduce the environmental impacts associated with the current truck-based irrigation method. The construction process will prioritize responsible drilling practices and minimize any environmental impact on adjacent ecosystems. Installation of the irrigation system will be done with mechanical equipment. The laydown area for this activity is situated on Wesley Clover Parks lands and designated to be contained within the adjacent parking lot. Limited interruption of activities during the spring months is anticipated, and any coordination of events will be handled by the Wesley Clover Parks group. Impact on vegetation will be limited to the existing natural grass surfaces of the soccer fields. No tree or other vegetation removal is anticipated for this project.

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Latest update

June 16, 2025 – The public comment period on the project is closed. The National Capital Commission is considering comments received to help inform its determination on whether the carrying out of the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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Contacts

National Capital Commission
Environmental Assessment
40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5A8
Email: IA-EI@ncc-ccn.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Ottawa (Ontario)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Water Management
    • Recreation and Tourism

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-05-16

  • Proponent

    National Capital Commission

  • Authorities

    • National Capital Commission

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89071

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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