Highview Park was named for its location, near Highview Public School, and the site was acquired by the Parks Board on Feb. 18, 1965. Although some playground equipment was installed in 1987, a major redevelopment in 1991 is what really made Highview Park something special.
The redevelopment of the park began in 1990, when a neighbourhood citizens committee formed and began discussing some ideas for fixing up the 40-year-old park. Originally, it was hoped that maybe there could even be a few toys included in the park for handicapped children. The committee began meeting with city staff, discussing their plans for Highview Park, and working out exactly what would be done. This went on for about 50 meetings, as both groups worked together to finalize the designs.
When Highview Park opened on July 6, 1991, there were more improvements than simply the addition of a few toys for handicapped children. A $50,000 play structure was added so that children with and without handicaps could play together. This play structure actually turned out to be the largest of three such accessible structures in the city. The park also had a new play shower for children which, it was decided, was more hygenic, more accessible and cheaper than putting in a wading pool would have been.
The committee also made some changes concerning ball fields. The three fields which had been on the site before were removed and hills were put in their place so that a lighted pathway could be installed. One baseball diamond was left, but it was purposefully made smaller than the standard diamond, to discourage organized teams from taking over the beautiful park.