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

Businessinsider.com
September 24, 2018
PR Newswire

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.

"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