Mayor Bevilacqua announces opening of North Maple Regional Park (Phase One)
New
soccer fields and walking trails featured in first section of planned 900-acre
green space that will be larger than New York’s famed Central Park
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua hosted a special ceremony today to open Phase One of the North Maple Regional Park.
The new park
will be greater than 900 acres in total – larger than New York City’s Central
Park and more than twice the size of High Park in Toronto. Phase One features
200 acres of open green space, including two soccer fields with lighting and
spectator seating, 5 km of walking trails and a soon-to-be-completed park pavilion
with washroom and changeroom facilities.
More
than 20 years in the making, the initial concept for North Maple Regional Park was
developed in 2003 to support land acquisition by the City, and a revised park vision
was established through a community consultation process in 2013. Located on
the east side of Keele Street, between Teston Road and Kirby Road, the original
park concept covered 200 acres. In May 2018, Council endorsed expanding the
park vision to include the former Keele Valley Landfill and Vaughan Township
Landfill sites and adjacent open space valley lands, which are the headwaters
of the Don River watershed. Taken together, the entire green space encompasses more
than 900 acres, making it Vaughan’s most ambitious park development initiative
ever. North Maple Regional Park is envisioned to become a city-wide cultural
and recreational destination that will honour the surrounding natural
environment, celebrate the return of nature to former landfill areas and
feature a variety of year-round uses for all ages and abilities.
QUOTE
“North Maple Regional Park is Vaughan’s most
ambitious park development. Vaughan’s 900-acre North Maple Regional Park will
be larger than New York City’s very own Central Park, and more than twice the
size of High Park in Toronto. Presently with 5 km of trails, this park is an
ideal spot for seasoned runners, casual walkers and everyone who enjoys the
outdoors. The two new soccer fields will provide the opportunity for extended
seasonal play for a variety of sports and athletes. North Maple Regional Park
will become a year-round destination filled with recreational, cultural and
natural features, eventually transforming the former landfill areas into a
beautiful outdoor space for our residents and visitors to enjoy. Vaughan truly
is the green city.”
-Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
QUICK FACTS
- When combined, the entire lands make up more than 900 acres, which is larger than New York City’s Central Park (840 acres) and more than double the size of Toronto’s High Park (400 acres)
- Phase one includes:
- two FIFA-certified artificial turf soccer fields
- spectator seating
- entrance driveway and parking lot
- 5 km of trails and a lookout area
- lighting and signage
- landscaping
- A park pavilion that includes washrooms and changerooms, to be completed in December 2018
- Talks are ongoing with interested parties, including provincial and national sports organizations, on potential partnerships for the future of the park and what may be included in Phase Two
LEARN MORE
- Event photos to be posted on City of Vaughan website