A park would be the centrepiece of the new Whistle Bend subdivision.

That's if Aecom, the consulting firm responsible for coming up with the design of the new neighbourhood, sticks with that portion of the concept presented in each of the three options for the site at an open house and community cafe last Wednesday.

"Park space is important," consultant Doug Rose said in an interview, pointing out the same theme was echoed by the 50 or so residents who attended the evening cafe.

The cafe session saw participants break off into groups to explore the various features of each of the concepts.

Earlier in the day, consultants, including Rose, were also on-hand at the Old Fire Hall to go over the concepts and listen to comments with those who dropped in for the open house.

Among the three concepts, many favoured the town square idea.

That concept uses more of a grid pattern in the neighbourhood off Range Road to the east and next to the Mountainview Golf Course to the west.

The design includes a higher-density, mixed-use zone for residential and commercial buildings surrounding the central park.

Around the mixed-use buildings would be higher-density residential-only zones along with one community-use zone and a site for schools.

It's expected the neighbourhood will eventually need a high school and two elementary schools.

The town hall concept also includes another school area closer to Range Road next to the proposed Eagle Bay Park and another to the north.

Across the street from the Range Road school is a large commercial area and a community-use site.

Throughout the outer portion of the subdivision are lower-density residential areas and additional higher-density residential sites interspersed with the parks and trails surrounding many portions of the neighbourhood.

The town square proposal would allow for a population of 9,300 people over 197 hectares.

By comparison, the green corridors concept would hold a population of 11,100 over 233 hectares.

That design most closely resembles the idea developed throughout a five-day charette planning exercise held earlier, with more of a circular shape for the neighbourhood.

The roads would be laid out in a radial pattern through the neighbourhood.

In the green corridors concept, named for the parks and trails running between roads and developed spaces, there are three areas for each of the separate proposed schools spread throughout the subdivision.

There is also one commercial area, two community-use sites near the core of the subdivision with residential uses flowing from mixed-use in the main core, out to higher-density residential development in the middle and lower-density residential closer to the edge of the neighbourhood.

Combining concepts from both the town square and green corridors designs, the grand vista concept would allow for a population of 9,200 over 214 hectares.

Both roads into the community would take people through the commercial area.

Next to the park in the neighborhood's centre are two school areas on either side, while a third school site is near the north.

A community-use area would also be next to the park.

The mixed-use commercial/residential site is again near the neighbourhood's centre next to higher-density residential as well as lower-density residential sites to the north. Park space in the middle of the residential areas.

While the ideas were presented to those at last week's meeting and open house, Rose said the final plan will see portions of each concept likely incorporated into the preferred design.

The designs weren't displayed so residents could pick one over the others, he stressed. Rather, they were there to get ideas of what people liked and didn't like about each.

"It will be a collage," he said of the preferred design, which is expected to be released toward the end of the year.

Along with looking for lots of park space in the new neighbourhood, the consultant said he was surprised to hear that many residents also wanted a neighbourhood that would appeal to a variety of ages and income levels.

"There was a good buzz throughout the evening," Rose said of the community cafe.

It's expected the site will serve as the city's next major development area for the next 20 years.