Chopin Park

Chopin Park was established around 1946 but was then named Victory Park, in honour of the end of the Second World War. Local residents approached the Community Recreation Association for a park, who in turn approached the Oshawa Parks Board. An area was levelled for a ball field, and later for a swing set, slide, and basketball court.

Victory Park was one of the Neighbourhood Associations, and newspapers through the 1950s reported on the park happenings and the various team standings. However, park use reportedly dropped by the early 1960s.

In the mid-1960s, Oshawa’s Polish community was looking for ways to commemorate a millennium of Christianity in Poland. It was suggested to rename a park in honour of this anniversary, and Victory Park was identified as an ideal spot. Chopin Park was suggested as the name, in honour of Frédéric Chopin, Polish composer. The park was renamed and officially opened in September 1966 with over 100 people in attendance.

In 2009, Chopin Park was making headlines as it was proposed to sell a portion of the park to a neighbouring developer so to expand their parking lot. Area residents banded together, formed petitions, and lobbied the city to keep the park in tact. Ultimately, a compromise was reached where the park was to remain whole, and the developer could file committee of adjustment application to allow him to have fewer parking spaces than required under the bylaw.

The park was rededicated in 2011 after improvements, including replacing the Polish Millennium Monument. “Going forward, Chopin Park will continue to stand as a reminder of our joint efforts to preserve Polish and Canadian heritage,” said Art Slowikowski, president of the Oshawa region of the Canadian Polish Congress.