Construction set to begin on Newmarket's iconic Mulock Park despite spike in cost
$64.2-million project funded through grants, development charges and reserve funds with no impact to property taxes

yorkregion.com
Dec. 5, 2023

It’s been talked about for almost six years. Now, construction of Newmarket’s iconic Mulock Park is set to begin.

Located at the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Mulock Drive, the park will be a 16-acre green oasis and community gathering space in the heart of a growing urban area, according to a town statement.

Aurora-based general contractor Matheson Constructors Ltd. will undertake construction from the end of this year to 2025, with the park expected to open in 2026.

Once built, the park will feature a skating trail, water features, a natural discovery playscape, a greenhouse conservatory and an artist studio with public art woven throughout the landscape.

The historic Mulock House will be home to rotating exhibits of Canadian and Indigenous artworks on the second floor, thanks to a five-year agreement between the town and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

“We are on the road to building something truly amazing for our community,” Mayor John Taylor said.

“Council is excited to see Mulock Park come to life and we are confident this substantive investment will be greatly valued by our current residents and future generations. Newmarket is taking another big step forward to ensure that this is one of the best places to live in all of Canada.” 

The park is the town’s most significant capital project and will become one of Newmarket’s largest parks and public gathering spaces, delivering much-needed green space and amenities to a growing community, the town statement said.

To bring the community’s vision to life based on today’s current market realities, council has approved an additional $16 million, bringing the park works to $64.2 million. The project will continue to be funded through grants, development charges and a variety of reserve funds with no impact on property taxes, the town said.

Early this year, the town acknowledged the cost of the project had spiked from its original estimate as construction material and labour costs jumped through the pandemic.

At the same time, the town said it had trimmed about $4 million from the budget by changing things like lighting and surface finishes, with the municipality saying it won’t affect the quality of the project.

“The town conducted a competitive bid process and secured the best possible market price for constructing the park. These tender results reflect current costs in the marketplace, which have shifted drastically due to inflation and rising construction costs,” the town said in its Dec. 4 statement.

“The Non-Residential Building Construction Price Index (NRBCPI) has increased 33 per cent since the original budget for Mulock Park was estimated in 2021. A recent scan of municipal recreation projects shows other local projects increasing by as much as 60 --- 110 per cent. The construction cost for Mulock Park has increased by 39 per cent, which is a lower increase than most other municipal recreation projects.”

After an extensive public consultation process, the town says the park will offer something for everyone, from active exploration to peaceful retreat, artistic expression, historic education and reflection.

It will feature a winter skate trail through the woods linked to a skating area, which converts to a summer water play feature. A greenhouse conservatory will provide a four-season indoor garden space, which is connected to a studio space for a rotating artist residency.

Visitors will also discover public art across the site. The great lawn will provide a natural canvas for open activities such as reading, picnicking, yoga and more and has the capacity to host concerts and events.

The ecology of the site will be adapted and linked by a network of paths and gardens while focusing on keeping it natural and taking care of the magnificent mature tree canopy, the town said.

The Mulock House is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and will be preserved, updated, and reimagined with a café, event space and AGO art gallery. The house is currently in the design stage and will be constructed under a separate and co-ordinated project, set to open alongside the overall park.