The frontage features a series of Green Rooms—a collection of distinct landscape settings containing a host of new park programs and functions oriented to the community. These landscaped ‘rooms’ contain plantings based on a selection of iconic trees that are well-adapted to the Waterloo region and which hint at the botanical diversity to be discovered within the park’s inner landscape. The plantings are emblematic of the future arboretum envisioned as part of the Master Plan for the west side of the park. The park frontage showcases the new design initiative as it engages the street, culminating with a welcome plaza, which celebrates the festival use and provides a legible park entrance, leading visitors into the heart of Waterloo Park.

The distinct green rooms include: Beacon Hill, the Welcome Terrace, the Sand-Willow Play Garden, the Redwood Reading Room, the Cherry Community Room, the Birch Room, the Action Sports Room, the Conifer Garden, and the Trellis Gate and Stormwater Channel. Each room is defined by a particular botanical character and offers programming that allows visitors a wide array of choices for different types of passive and active recreation.

The clear identity of the Festival Area is augmented by a fleet of lightweight chairs and ‘W’ picnic tables, designed specifically for Waterloo Park to provide a recognizable, flexible, and personal seating experience in the park.