South-end park being renamed to honour slain OPP officer

Batteaux Park in south-end Barrie will be renamed in memory of Ontario Provincial Police officer Grezegorz ‘Greg’ Pierzchala.

By direct motion Wednesday night, city council approved renaming the Mapleton Avenue park, near Ardagh Road.

“Everybody knows about the story and as a community we have to recognize him,” said Coun. Nigussie Nigussie.

“The legacy that you’re trying to create through this park I think is incredibly fitting,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall.

Pierzchala, 28, was shot and killed last Dec. 27 while responding to a call for a vehicle in a ditch just west of Hagersville, about 40 minutes south of Hamilton.

A 28-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman are charged with first-degree murder in relation to the shooting.

Born in Toronto, Pierzchala grew up in Barrie and attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School, which is located across the street from Batteaux Park.

He had been with OPP for just more than a year and had been notified he had passed his 10-month probation period just hours before his death.

Ontario Police College fitness testing-type equipment will be installed in the park at a cost not to exceed $25,000 and funded from the city’s re-investment reserve.

Coun. Gary Harvey, who works in law enforcement, said the park will be special.

“This will be a unique place, because with the addition of this testing-type equipment … it will then become a place where people, whether they want to be a police officer or maybe even a firefighter, because the fitness testing is somewhat similar, it will be a gathering place for those that are interested in the emergency services and it will be a place that will be very different than any other," he said. 

Harvey says he knows of several parks named after Ontario police officers killed in the line of duty.

“But that little added piece will separate it from the rest and will kind of put, I believe, our city on the map for doing that on behalf of the fallen officer,” he said.

Harvey also noted this greenspace is directly across the street from the high school Pierzchala attended. 

And at 7.5 acres, Harvey said it’s the largest park in Ward 6, which Nigussie represents. It has community gardens, playground equipment and a soccer field.

City staff will work with Pierzchala’s family and OPP to determine an appropriate unveiling date.