Transformed space will be breath of fresh air on Newmarket's Davis Drive

'We want to create a space where people can sit and relax'

Yorkregion.com
August 21, 2018
Teresa Latchford

The Town of Newmarket is looking at a little breathing room along Davis Drive.

There is a small, triangular piece of property located just to the west of the Church of Christ property at 230 Davis Dr. that the town wants to transform into a little piece of paradise, according to capital projects parks development co-ordinator Michael Ashworth.

“With all of the traffic and business on Davis Drive, we want to create a space where people can sit and relax,” he said.

While there are still many details to be worked out when it comes to the final design of the space, the town recently held a public open house to display and collect resident feedback on the presented design concept.

The concept includes a number of benches, shaded areas, an ample theatre space that could accommodate the occasional small gathering, coloured paving, artificial turf, planting areas, bike ring, gathering tables, retaining wall and a connection to a proposed trail leading to Haskett Park.

“The comments collected are being reviewed,” Ashworth said. “We are trying to include as many of the public’s suggestions in the design when they are feasible.”

The town is aiming to have the final design completed and enter the construction contract bidding process underway, come the fall.

Under the same project umbrella is the construction of a new trail and rehabilitation of the parking lot at Haskett Park to include 72 spaces, two of those being accessible spaces.

“Currently it is an unmarked lot with people spreading out as they park,” he said. “If we reorganize and set the spaces, many more cars can be accommodated.”

The paved and lit trail would start at Haskett Park, cross Queen Street and connect to the head of the breathing space. It would include a number of benches along the way.

Work on the trail is expected to being next year.

For all three projects, $2 million has been budgeted. However, that full amount may not be needed once each of the projects have been fully designed and costs updated, Ashworth said.

Information panels, 3D drawings and information about all three projects are available at Newmarket.ca.