VMC Parks and Wayfinding Master Plan

The City of Vaughan is creating a vibrant city centre for people to live, work and play within its downtown core – the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC). With more people moving to the downtown core, there needs to be a focus on parks, schools, emergency services, and other social infrastructure required to ensure the community is well supported. In 2024 the City completed the VMC Parks and Wayfinding Master Plan. The plan consists of two components: the Parks Master Plan, which aims to guide the timely development of parkland within the VMC, and the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan, to help people move through the VMC’s public realm.

Parks Master Plan 

 

The VMC Parks and Wayfinding Master Plan builds on existing groundwork to enable the implementation of a diverse, multi-functional and seamlessly interconnected parks and open space network within the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and its greater surroundings. The document creates a framework that identifies: 

 

  • Anticipated demographic trends and gaps in existing parkland access that influence the open space network
  • The quantity, locations and sizes of parks, ensuring equitable access across all four quadrants of the VMC, culminating in the form of a preferred master plan
  • Provisions for and locations of active facilities with the goal of creating a robust, active parks network
  • Parkland Typologies, defining the character of parks and guiding their design
  • Circulation, focusing on connectivity to maximize the effectiveness and reach of parks and open spaces
  • Strategies to address the challenges of acquiring and delivering a complete parks and open space network that serves the community as the VMC reaches full build-out
  • Relevant policy documents and city initiatives coordinated with and used to inform the contents of the VMC Parks and Wayfinding Master Plan 

 

View VMC Parks & Wayfinding Master Plan, Parks Master Plan (PDF)

 

 

Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan

 

A comprehensive public realm signage and wayfinding system is a core service of a city of its residents, businesses and visitors. Fostering community well-being, the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan provides the tools to confidently and intuitively navigate through the VMC. The plans contents:

 

  • Utilize core wayfinding principles to establish a signage strategy to help pedestrians and cyclists traverse the VMC and locate key destinations, public amenities and local businesses and institutions 
  • Provide best practices for the placement of wayfinding signage to maximize its effectiveness
  • Identify key locations where signage will be most needed and provide the most impact 
  • Define a unique brand for the wayfinding in the VMC through a strong and consistent graphic language

 

Ultimately, six sign types were developed in response to a variety of conditions, prominence and modes of travel, to help those traversing the VMC. In addition, a signage pilot project was implemented in spring of 2024.

 

View VMC Parks & Wayfinding Master Plan, Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan (PDF)

 

 

VMC Signage Pilot 

 

An extension of the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan, the VMC Signage Pilot program was developed to include the design and installation of five signs located in the central core of the VMC. The signs feature visual cues such as maps, directions, colours and various symbols. The pilot signage aims to help simplify routes, and guide individuals walking or cycling in the VMC, making it easy to locate key destinations and institutions. Feedback provided from the pilot will be used to refine the strategy for future wayfinding signage in the VMC.

 

For more information, please contact Cory Gray, Manager, Parks & Strategic Initiatives, VMC at Cory.Gray@Vaughan.ca

 

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