message Welcoming the Markham YMCA from the mayor New facility scheduled to open in Winter of 2005 IN THIS ISSUE

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Leonard Morrison
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VOLUME ISSUE 1 JUNE 00 Welcoming the Markham YMCA New facility scheduled to open in Winter of 005 On June 1, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for the 60,000-square-foot Markham Family YMCA being

1 VOLUME ISSUE 1 JUNE 00 Welcoming the Markham YMCA New facility scheduled to open in Winter of 005 On June 1, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for the 60,000-square-foot Markham Family YMCA being constructed near Highway 07 and Kennedy Road. This facility, built in partnership with the Town of Markham, consists of an indoor swimming pool, fitness area, gymnasium, running track, meeting rooms, change rooms, and various facilities and programs for personal growth and development. The development proposal also includes the restoration of the heritage house that exists on site, with the intent to use the structure for various programs offered by the YMCA. The YMCA is committed to demonstrating energy conservation and responsibility to the environment. The future YMCA will connect to Markham District Energy, providing an energy efficient building, and will implement new technologies to promote on-site groundwater infiltration, reduce water consumption within the building, promote waste reduction and encourage energy conservation. The $6-million capital campaign for the Markham YMCA kicked off in February 00 has been generously supported with leadership gifts from our business community and community organizations. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Cathyann White, General Manager, Markham Family YMCA at ext. 6 or log onto the Markham YMCA website at message from the mayor The groundbreaking ceremony for the new YMCA took place earlier this month. When it opens next year, this stateof-the-art facility will not only enrich Markham Centre but also the entire community. This month we also unveiled the winning design for the central park that will be located in the heart of our new downtown. The winning submission, which is featured on the inside of this newsletter, incorporates the feedback and suggestions from Markham residents who joined us for a workshop in April or took part in our on-line opinion poll. As part of Council s ongoing commitment to involving residents in the decision-making process, we are now running a new opinion poll. I encourage you to visit our website ( and tell us what you think of the winning design concept for your new park! Sincerely, Mayor W. Donald Cousens Celebrating the YMCA groundbreaking are (from left to right): Cathyann White, General Manager, Markham Family YMCA; Jody Greenlaw, Associate Director Advancement, Faculty of Social Work, U of T; Scott Haldane, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Toronto; Markham Mayor, Don Cousens; Ed Kilroy, President, IBM; Susan Waterfield, Chair of the Board,YMCA of Greater Toronto; Markham Deputy Mayor Frank Scarpitti; Rudolph P. Bratty, Q.C.,The Remington Group. Photo: Stefanie DeRisio IN THIS ISSUE Leading-Edge Park Design Landmark Design Unveiled Transportation Update Markham District Energy Receives Grant

Landmark in the heart of Markham Centre Public consultation brings the vision to life Over the last twelve years, Markham Centre has been developed through extensive public input and feedback.

The Remington Group provided $100,000 to fund the public workshop and design competition for Markham Centre s central feature.

More than 85 participants, including the Mayor and some members of Council, community group representatives and residents took part in a design charrette at the Civic Centre on April.

The workshop results provided the following directions: Work with the natural features to make the landscape reflective of the seasons and take advantage of the park s unique location beside the

2 Landmark in the heart of Markham Centre Public consultation brings the vision to life Over the last twelve years, Markham Centre has been developed through extensive public input and feedback. The design for the new central park in the downtown area continues Markham Council s tradition of inclusiveness. The Remington Group provided $100,000 to fund the public workshop and design competition for Markham Centre s central feature. Remington also and made a $-million commitment toward the cost of the winning design, working drawings and construction of the $6-million park. More than 85 participants, including the Mayor and some members of Council, community group representatives and residents took part in a design charrette at the Civic Centre on April. The results of the workshop were consolidated and forwarded to the consultants who then competed to design the winning concept. The workshop results provided the following directions: Work with the natural features to make the landscape reflective of the seasons and take advantage of the park s unique location beside the Rouge Valley lands. Make the park a memorable place with a unique sense of identity that reflects Markham s heritage and cultural diversity and looks forward to the future. Provide convenient access by integrating rapid transit services, pathways and bicycle trails into the design. Include special features such as large-scale public art and sculpture. Provide flexible programming spaces for different activities throughout the year. Blend the park into the surrounding commercial, retail and residential areas to provide a seamless transition between buildings and parkland. Make the park an inviting and safe place that people will want to visit. Create a focal point for a meet-me-there place that is visible from a distance. Markham also conducted an on-line survey to give residents who were not able to attend the workshop an opportunity to share their views about creating a sense of place. The survey results indicated that the park should be a place that: Could be used year-round as a preferred destination to stage big events and celebrations, and provide a venue for cultural activities such as music, art, theatre and dance; Makes visitors feel part of the natural environment; Could be accessed by walking or by bicycle, with parking close by; Features relaxing areas with shade under a canopy of trees, a fountain or water feature and areas to sit on the grass and have lunch, watch activities, visit with friends and family and be close to nature; Provides a comfortable area in which to walk after dinner or bring visitors on the weekend; Offers activities for residents of all ages. The Design Competition finished on May 10. The winning entry was selected by a jury comprised of 11 members, including two Councillors, two members of the Markham Centre Advisory Group, two members of Town staff, two representatives from The Remington Group and three design professionals. The winning submission named Landmark is featured on the inside spread of this newsletter. Thanks for participating in our on-line survey Our thanks to the many Markham residents and business representatives who participated in our on-line survey, sharing their thoughts about the park design. Survey results will be posted in July. In the meantime, if you didn t participate and would like to share your comments, please them to markhamcentre@markham.ca

Markham s Transportation Plan gets the green light Four-point strategy will keep traffic moving!

Rapid transit will feature comfortable vehicles, off-board fare equipment to speed boarding at stops and convenient connections with YRT, GO Transit and TTC.

Five stops are planned to serve Markham Centre.

3 Markham s Transportation Plan gets the green light Four-point strategy will keep traffic moving! RAPID TRANSIT SERVICES TO START NEXT YEAR Construction is underway for rapid transit services to begin in the fall of 005. Rapid transit will feature comfortable vehicles, off-board fare equipment to speed boarding at stops and convenient connections with YRT, GO Transit and TTC. The buses will offer frequent service (every 5-8 minutes during peak periods) and be equipped with GPS systems that will enable real-time scheduling updates at shelters. Five stops are planned to serve Markham Centre. When fully operational, rapid transit services are expected to reduce travel times by as much as 0 per cent during peak periods over conventional transit. Although the construction may cause some delays as a result of temporary lane reductions and traffic signal disruptions, it will result in an exciting new level of transit service that will benefit families and businesses throughout the community. For more information, visit ROAD IMPROVEMENTS NOW UNDERWAY The following projects have been included in the Town of Markham s 00 capital budget: Enterprise Boulevard construction from Kennedy Road to the Unionville GO line; Helen Avenue extension from Kennedy Road to Enterprise Boulevard (Helen Avenue to be renamed YMCA Boulevard); Birchmount Road extension through to Enterprise Boulevard under Highway 07 (construction begins 005/06); Rodick Road construction of Highway 07 overpass (Yorktech Drive to 1th Avenue). The Remington Group is starting the construction of Enterprise Boulevard from Warden Avenue to the GO line. Markham Council is also actively working with York Region to widen Warden Avenue from Highway 07 to Apple Creek Boulevard in 005, and Highway 7 from First Markham Place plaza to the Unionville GO line. NEW POLICIES TO INCREASE TRANSIT RIDERSHIP New residential development will be built along the rapid transit line to provide convenient access. New developments will link into bicycle trails and pedestrian walkways. Surface parking areas will be reduced and a strategy to promote structured parking will be introduced. A number of roads in Markham Centre will have dedicated bike lanes. There will also be a dedicated lane through the Civic Plaza and along Clegg Road. Markham is studying the Highway 7 corridor to make recommendations to encourage development along this corridor to support rapid transit. Transit-friendly development is characterized by higher densities and fewer parking areas. EDUCATION & SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO REDUCE AUTOMOBILE USE Representatives from the Town of Markham and from businesses located in Markham Centre (including IBM, Motorola, Hilton Suites) have been meeting for several months to address traffic congestion, transit services, flexible work schedules and carpooling. The purpose of this Transportation Management Initiative is to make it more convenient for employees to travel to and from work and to reduce the number single-occupant vehicles on our roads during peak periods. The Town of Markham, the Town of Richmond Hill and the Region of York have establish a similar Transportation Management Association in the Highway 0 and Highway 7 employment districts. Visit for more information.

LANDMARK A New Urban Park for Downtown Markham multi-disciplinary team of professionals from the fields of landscape architecture, architecture, public art and environmental engineering A have won

The design named Landmark by Janet Rosenberg and Associates Landscape Architects with Oleson Worland/Taylor-Smyth Architects and Fela Grunwald Fine Arts was unanimously selected by the Competition

It features a strong environmental approach while at the same time bringing art and culture together to create a memorable and dynamic urban space.

4 LANDMARK A New Urban Park for Downtown Markham multi-disciplinary team of professionals from the fields of landscape architecture, architecture, public art and environmental engineering A have won Markham Centre s first national park design competition. The design named Landmark by Janet Rosenberg and Associates Landscape Architects with Oleson Worland/Taylor-Smyth Architects and Fela Grunwald Fine Arts was unanimously selected by the Competition Jury as the winning design. Landmark is a stunning and bold solution that is at the fore-front of contemporary park design. It features a strong environmental approach while at the same time bringing art and culture together to create a memorable and dynamic urban space. The park design competition focused on a 10-acre urban park in the heart of Markham s new downtown on lands currently owned by The Remington Group. The three design teams that competed were: Fleisher Ridout Partnership Inc. with Alan Tregabov Architect; PMA Landscape Architects with Natale and Scott Architects, and; Janet Rosenberg and Associates with Oleson Worland/Taylor-Smyth Architects. After a gruelling four weeks, the three teams submitted their anonymous design submissions which were evaluated by the eleven-member Competition Jury chaired by George Dark, OALA, FCSLA, a partner in Urban Strategies Inc. The jury recommended the winning team that will be hired by the Town to undertake all necessary work to fully develop and refine the winning park design. Detailed design development will occur over the next year, based on input from all stakeholders, including the landowners, the Town and the public. Janet Rosenberg and Associates Landscape Architects, as lead consultants, have won numerous national and international design competitions including City Crossing Winnipeg International Competition (00) and Toronto Design Competition for the Harbourfront Parks and Open Space System (00). They have been honoured with numerous national awards for their work including three professional awards in 00 from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects for their work at Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, Barrel Warehouse Park in Waterloo, and Muskoka Sands Taboo Photo: Stephanie Lake 1 The Winning Design Team: Janet Rosenberg + Associates Landscape Architects/Oleson Worland Architects/Taylor-Smyth Architects with Fela Grunwald Fine Arts PRIMARY PATH NETWORK illustrates the network of pedestrian and bicycle paths. URBAN TREESCAPE illustrates the planting grid for boulevard and park trees LANDMARK Markham Centre s Landmark will be located in the centre of The Remington Group development, situated between Warden Avenue and Kennedy Road, north of Highway 07. Key to Features 1. Great Lawn. Birch Grove. Panoramic Lookout. Café Culture 5. Symbolic Civic Sculpture 6. Horticultural Fields 7. Solar Canopy: Shade Structure 8. Tributary Promenade 9. Symbolic Wheat Circle 10. Water Circle 11. Plaza 1. Plaza Wall 1. Environmental Art 1. Pedestrian Bridges 15. Common Ground Amphitheatre 16. Orchard 17. Tributary Naturalization Area 18. Environmental Technology Centre Landmark the new Markham Park captures the spirit of Markham and its diverse community, creating a gateway to the Rouge River. Landmark brings together Markham s present cultural heritage, its rural past and its technological future. The plaza is the heart of the Park a place for congregation, events and festivals. The shade structure provides shelter with photovoltaic panels on the roof generating the energy for the Park s lighting. Circular elements define the main features of the Park: A great lawn surrounded by a Birch grove; An amphitheatre; A skating rink/wading pool; An orchard; A symbolic wheat field and; Public art pieces. The proposed interpretive centre with a green roof acts as an anchor within the Park connecting it to the Rouge River Watershed system. A clear network of paths unify the Park s elements with the surrounding urban fabric. The path system includes the tributary promenade, pedestrian bridges and a lookout platform. Landmark will help to define the future of Markham, presenting a bold statement of civic pride by combining art and nature, tranquility and activity and the past with the future. Design team: Janet Rosenberg + Associates Landscape Architects/Oleson Worland Architects/ Taylor-Smyth Architects with Fela Grunwald Fine Arts

5 Markham District Energy receives $1.5 million grant Markham District Energy Inc. (MDE), a partnership established in 00 between Markham Hydro and the Town of Markham, will receive Green Municipal Investment funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The Green Municipal Fund was established to help municipal governments fight climate change and improve air, water and soil quality. Markham will receive a $1.5 million grant and a $.0 million loan to support the expansion of MDE to provide a sustainable energy solution in Markham Centre. District energy is efficient technology. Its benefits are a very important part of what will attract high-quality, new businesses and buildings to Markham Centre. MDE s system uses a leading-edge, natural gas cogeneration system and high-efficiency boilers and chillers. Because of the modular, thermal distribution design, the system is easy to expand and is cost effective. It is expected that more than 90 per cent of the planned square footage in the new downtown area will eventually be connected to the District Energy system. When fully developed, the system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 50 per cent (the equivalent of 60,000 tonnes of CO per year). MDE is currently providing power to IBM and Motorola, and there are plans to bring Tridel s newest residential complex, the YMCA and the Civic Centre on line next year. Markham District Energy Inc. President Bruce Ander (left), Markham Mayor Don Cousens (right) and Richmond Hill Councillor Brenda Hogg, representing the National Board of Directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), announced that the FCM s Green Municipal Funds (GMF) is investing $5.5 million in MDE for a major capital expansion of its district energy service to the Markham Centre development. Photo: Stephanie Lake For more information, contact: 5 Low-CostTIPS to conserve household energy use Corporate Communications, 101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham Ontario LR 9W Tel: Fax: Website: Use energy-efficient lighting and turn off the lights when you vacate the room. Only run the washing machine, dryer and dishwasher when you have full loads. Air dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher s drying cycle; hang laundry to dry. Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Keep your household temperate moderate: You ll save money if you turn the thermostat down a few extra degrees in the winter and up a few extra degrees in the summer.

Report to: Development Services Committee Report Date: April 24, 2017

Report to: Development Services Committee Report Date: April 24, 2017 SUBJECT: Cornell Rouge National Urban Park Gateway - Report on Design Charrette and Next Steps PREPARED BY: Lilli Duoba, MES, MCIP, RPP, Manager, Natural Heritage (ext. 7925) REVIEWED BY: Marg Wouters,