5 things to look forward to in East Gwillimbury in 2020

Centre Street revitalization and UYSS news are some of things that are coming down the pike in 2020.

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 6, 2020
Simon Martin

A new year in East Gwillimbury will bring several new initiatives that will be noticeable for everyday residents.

Last year the town was starting to build its $16.7 new operations centre and several new parks. This year promises to bring a set of new things that East Gwillimbury residents should be aware of.

Centre Street Revitalization

In 2019 York Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney announced $2.2 million in funding to revitalize Centre Street in Mount Albert. “These funds will support our Mount Albert Centre Street improvements and assist with the continued revitalization of this downtown core,” Mayor Virginia Hackson said. Work on the project will include improvements to pedestrian connectivity through enhanced sidewalk linkages, bridge repairs, the addition of new lay-by parking spots, realignment of hydro poles, enhanced streetscaping, and resurfacing and reconstruction of the road.

New Location for the Farmers Market

When the East Gwillimbury Farmers Market opens up in 2020 it will be at a new location. After six years in the parking lot of the Lowe’s plaza at Yonge Street and Green Lane, East Gwillimbury council is moving the market back to the Civic Centre property on Leslie Street, where it first started in 2010.

“The hope is that people will come to the market on the way home as they travel along Leslie Street,” Hackson said. “I think this is a really good opportunity for our community. It’s within walking distance of residents.”

New Mount Albert and Queensville Parks

Along with parks in new neighbourhoods the town is undertaking the task of refurbishing old parks in established neighbourhoods. The first phase of the Mount Albert Park construction started last summer and includes a new pavilion/shade structure, skate zone and the junior and senior play area. The existing softball field will remain unchanged, as will the community centre. The hope is to finish up the first phase of construction this spring. Other things to look forward to in the future as part of Phase 2 include outdoor skating, increased parking and an amphitheatre/outdoor classroom. Major changes to the Queensville Park include replacing two tennis courts with three and replacing the shade structure.

A solution to the Upper York Sewage Solution (UYSS) problem

The rapid growth that is scheduled for East Gwillimbury is contingent on approval of the new sewage facility proposed to be built in Queensville. The region has been waiting since 2014 for approval from the Ministry of the Environment for the $715-million Upper York Sewage Solutions project that will service the municipalities of Aurora, Newmarket and East Gwillimbury.

“We are now in 2019 and there is no certainty on this project without an approval,” York Region director of capital planning and delivery Mike Rabeau said last year. The earliest a plant could be ready with an approval this year would be 2026. The delay has also caused the Holland Landing Sewage Lagoons to remain open for the foreseeable future, as their decommissioning is tied to the opening of the UYSS.

Rabeau said the region has already spent more than $80 million on the project through its various studies and detailed design. Some members of council raised concerns about that $80-million expenditure, especially without approval, but Rabeau said it is a calculated risk.

“We are positive that we are going to get the outcome,” he said.

Bye-bye beaver

The town has embarked on process to a design a new logo. They held a public contest in the fall to get submissions from the public for what the new logo would look like. The successful entrant will be awarded a $2,500 prize for their design concept. The town will own the rights to the design and may make any necessary modifications to the winning concept to ensure it meets the town’s brand standards. Ward 1 Coun. Loralea Carruthers said it is the time the logo changed.

“I have lived in East Gwillimbury for 25 years and have never seen a beaver,” she said.