A NEW PARK IS OPENING

 IN WARD 5!

Come to the Grand Opening!!

 On Sunday, August 17th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM

You are invited to attend the grand opening and celebration of this great public space! 

We have wonderful plans for the day, including the official ribbon cutting, entertainment and refreshments. The day is being sponsored by The City of Vaughan and Liberty Development Corporation with the participation of Smart Centres and the merchants in the area.

A New Form for a City "Park"

 On Sunday August 17^th a new and unique "park" will be officially opened by the City of Vaughan. Located north of the new condominium buildings and the commercial development at Centre and Bathurst, this new public space  has been designed as an urban park. Of special note is that the park is being built with substantial financial assistance from a local developer. 

Liberty Development Corporation, led by its President, Fred Darvish, has been extraordinarily generous in helping to develop the community in this area. Not only has the company assisted a local synagogue in acquiring the land they needed to build their building and helping to raise funds for   its construction, they have provided the City with 5 acres of parkland,   along with a direct contribution of $350,000 to assist in building a unique urban space for the residents of the area.  

All parks (and most infrastructure such as roads and sewers) in the City are built from the development charges levied on developments that take place. The Liberty contribution is above and beyond the normal development charges levied. 

As the plan for the park was developed, city staff considered the size, location, density of population and urban form of the area that the park would be built in. It was decided that we needed to consider a new model that would act as a prototype for future urban parks in the City. With the funds provided by Liberty, we have had the opportunity to build to a higher standard, integrating features that we might not have been able to provide otherwise.  

The traditional parks that we build are located in suburban subdivisions with a majority of single family homes. They are predominately oriented to families. They consist of large open areas, playing fields and such amenities as tennis courts, soccer pitches and baseball diamonds. This park is located in an area that is much more densely populated with a somewhat older population. It is very much an urban neighbourhood that   is being built in the Thornhill Town Centre. The types of recreation for the demographic living here is different than our norm. As we continue to intensify our urban areas with a greater mix of high density throughout the city, this type of recreational space, "urban park," will become more common. In many ways this "park" is a prototype for a new type of facility for the people of Vaughan. 

 The "park" will be a focal point for the neighbourhood.  As an urban park, amenities such as the junior/senior playground and large steel pergola were located next to the street corners where they would help to activate the street, have a strong visual impact and draw people into the park. The materials and finishes of the park were selected to compliment the materials and finishes of the nearby buildings. This approach results in a more unified appearance and helps to reinforce this precinct as a distinct neighbourhood in the City. 

The centre of the park is a large oval-shaped green area intended for unstructured play and community events.  The "green" is defined by a perimeter walkway connecting various features together and ringed by   oak trees.  

 Almost 2 acres of the site is a remnant woodlot which was in very poor condition.  A number of improvements have been made to both ensure its long term sustainability and allow it to function as a unique natural feature of this urban space. As part of the opening ceremony, a plaque revealing the new name for the "square," "green," or "commons" will be unveiled.  

I can be reached at 905-832-8585 ext 8349 or by email at alan.shefman@vaughan.ca

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