'Something truly spectacular': Design presented for Newmarket's Mulock Arboretum

'You can start to visualize the park in your mind ... it's very exciting,' said Mayor John Taylor

Newmarkettoday.ca
Dec. 3

It's still years away from completion, but now the Town of Newmarket has a good idea of what the public park it wants to build on the Mulock property will look like.

PLANT Architect Inc., the consultants tasked with designing the new park, have presented their proposal for the Mulock Arboretum, which was met with unanimous praise from council yesterday.

After months of "playing defence" because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor John Taylor said that it is nice to see progress on a more forward-looking priority.

"You can start to visualize the park in your mind -- not totally, but I'm starting to get a picture in my brain because of the picture you are painting. It's very exciting," he said.

"We have a lot of work and a long road ahead of us. I'm sure all of us and the public would like it to be done in a month or two --  it won't be -- but I am more and more convinced it is going to be something truly spectacular."

PLANT founder Lisa Rapoport walked through the features for the arboretum and answered questions about the design, which is a combination of three different concepts presented earlier this year, and includes suggestions from public feedback sessions.

Rapoport said her team separated the property into 18 smaller areas, each with its own unique feel, then placed park features and amenities that would complement those spaces. The focus was to create a park that would satisfy Newmarket residents' desire for a space that would have a natural look and calming atmosphere.

"It's very nature-forward, peaceful, inclusive, which really summarizes a lot of what we heard," she said.

Landscaping and plants

The use of landscaping and plants is an important element of designing public greenspaces, and the Mulock Arboretum is no exception.

One of the significant features will be the large "gathering tree" just north of the proposed parking lot on Mulock Drive. The tree will serve as a landmark where people can meet up.

 A tree on the property has already been chosen to serve this purpose, but Rapoport recommended a second one be planted nearby when the park opens, so it will be fully grown by the time the current tree dies, possibly many decades from now.

The design also proposes gardens throughout the park, including an Indigenous medicine garden and community diversity demonstration gardens, which Rapoport said are meant to bring additional perspectives and voices into the overall design.

Also proposed are terraced gardens and a fruit orchard along the north side of the park, which will double as a recreational space and privacy screen for the nearby houses.

Three open greenspaces are proposed, the largest of which will be the Great Lawn near the Mulock manor house.

Recreation

The design calls for one main walking trail that will go through the arboretum in a large loop. This main path will have smaller side trails branching off through wooded areas and other parts of the park. The paths will be wheelchair accessible with sloped edges making it easy to get on and off.

One potential downside, depending on your point of view, is that the paths are not designed to accommodate both pedestrians and bicycles. In fact, Rapoport recommended the town not allow bikes inside the park other than on the main driveway around the house.

"I definitely think you should not allow (cyclists) through the middle of the park. Otherwise, the paths would need to be wider," she said.

"We wanted to get away with as narrow paths as we could, for the purposes of conserving the landscape, while still letting someone in a wheelchair walk beside someone with a stroller."

Taylor noted that idea may sit poorly with some residents and is something council will need to consider.

Other recreational facilities include a natural play area for children near what is now the entrance to Jim Bond Park, and a 460-metre loop through the forest that could double as a cushioned running track in the summer and an ice skating track in the winter.

Water features
The design proposes three potential water features for the arboretum.

One is to restore the existing fountain and incorporate it into a larger serene-feeling water feature to complement nearby gardens. 

In-ground water jets could be installed just north of the Mulock house, and a "meandering riverine" is proposed for the east side of the property. This would be a shallow, slow-flowing canal, deep enough for dipping one's feet, and pleasant to sit by.

Regional Councillor Tom Vegh pointed out that any water features will inevitably attract children to play in them, so a riverine should be designed with that purpose in mind. And, if so, having picnic facilities for parents nearby may be a good idea. 

Art installations

Incorporating public art is an important part of the overall design, which proposes having small permanent and temporary art pieces placed throughout the park for people to discover.

It also plans for a large "iconic" art installation at the main walking entrance on the corner of Yonge Street and Mulock, which will be seen by passing motorists.

A stage and seating will be placed inside one of the wooded areas as a venue for small performances. And one of the exterior walls of the Mulock house has no windows, so it could be used for an art installation, as well.

Buildings and amenities

The house at the centre of the property, which was once owned by Sir William Mulock, will be used to house multiple amenities, including a possible cafe with a patio, art gallery, or a beer garden.

A stage is proposed west of the house so the Great Lawn can be used for large events.

A public fire pit is proposed near the Gathering Tree, and a Zamboni shed and rental shop for the skating track in the winter.

One building could be converted into a conservatory (greenhouse) large enough to host events or class field trips. The former pool house could be turned into studio space for an artist-in-residence, who can work there while accepting visits from the public.

A parking lot is proposed for the southern edge of the property along Mulock, with up to 200 parking spaces. But this area is also a hydro corridor, so much will depend on what accommodations need to be made because of that fact. This is something the Town of Newmarket is already working on.

Impacts on the property

Although the goal is to preserve the natural beauty of the property as much as possible, Rapoport said several trees will need to be removed, but the plan is to reuse the wood to build amenities such as benches.

The parking lot location was chosen because that area had many trees in poor condition that need to be removed anyway.

Next steps

The designers will bring back a more refined design to the council in the new year, and another public feedback session planned for March.