Greenspace Strategic Plan Phase 3
Parks and greenspaces are essential to our health and well-being; they help us live active lives and connect with nature and each other.
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge that the City of Vaughan is situated in the Territory and Treaty 13 lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We also recognize the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee. The City of Vaughan is currently home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit people today. As representatives of the people of the City of Vaughan, we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and live in this territory.
Section 1: Introduction
Vaughan is experiencing significant growth.
Between 2016 and 2021, Vaughan grew by 16,870 people for a population of 323,103!
It is expected that Vaughan will reach a population of 576,200 by 2051. Much of this growth will occur through the development of more apartments and condominiums.
This increased growth places pressures on our greenspaces in the following ways:
- Increased land values make it more challenging for the City to buy new parkland.
- Greenspaces experience higher levels of use due to a growing number of residents.
- There are fewer opportunities to acquire new greenspaces due to lack of land availability.
As Vaughan transforms, it's critical that we continue to plan, build, and enhance our system of greenspaces to meet the needs of a growing population and preserve this cherished natural resource.
Greenspaces are Essential to Life in Cities
Greenspaces are needed to support a livable, vibrant, and great city. They are important community spaces that offer a range of benefits, both tangible and intangible, such as improved physical and mental health, and stronger social connections. Numerous studies have shown that greenspaces have a positive environmental, economic and cultural impact on communities.
Together, these factors help contribute to Vaughan’s overall appeal, health and enjoyment. The following graphic highlights some of the values and benefits of parks and greenspace.
What is the Greenspace Strategic Plan?
The Greenspace Strategic Plan is a document that:
- Identifies current and projected greenspace gaps
- Establishes priorities for improving and expanding the greenspace system
- Creates a framework for greenspace levels of service
- Proposes decision-making guidelines for building new greenspaces
Over the past year, the City of Vaughan has been developing a Greenspace Strategic Plan. The Plan will set a clear direction for the planning, development, and implementation of greenspaces across the city as it grows.
Help us finalize the Greenspace Strategic Plan!
Curious to learn more? Keep scrolling to learn about the draft Greenspace Strategic Plan and how we’ve incorporated your feedback to get here.
Want to join the conversation? Complete the public survey or drop by a pop-up event to share your thoughts on the draft plan.
Section 2: How We Engaged
The draft Greenspace Strategic Plan is a product of extensive community engagement, carefully balancing different perspectives from over 1250 residents, special interest groups, and stakeholders along with input from City Council and staff. As a result, the shared vision and goals of Vaughan residents will help guide future provision of parks and greenspaces over the next 30+ years.
Scroll right to view photos from the first and second phase of engagement showing the open houses, pop-up events, and community walk.
Overview of Engagement
In Phase 1 (Fall 2023), we spoke to over 650 Vaughan residents through engagement activities including an online survey, pop-ups, and a community walk through Marita Payne Park.
In Phase 2 (Spring 2024), we heard from over 600 Vaughan residents through engagement activities including an online survey, open houses, and a virtual Park Forum.
Engagement by the Numbers
Across all of these engagement activities, we’ve gathered a lot of input about residents’ vision, priorities and preferences for parks and greenspaces in Vaughan.
What We Heard: Key Findings from Engagements
Across two phases of engagement (with more to come), we heard the following key takeaways:
In Phase 1, participants identified five main areas of focus for the Greenspace Strategic Plan: | In Phase 2, participants described their preferences, priorities, and values for Vaughan’s greenspace network: |
|---|---|
Amenities: Respondents would like to have access to more passive and active recreation amenities, such as dog parks, naturalized spaces, pickleball courts, and cricket fields. Connectivity: Respondents appreciated Vaughan's existing walking and biking trails, but would like to see them better connected. Expansion: Respondents wish to see more parks, especially near growth and intensification areas. Maintenance: Respondents hope to see maintenance and operational improvements be prioritized. Natural features: Respondents value parks for their natural features and trails, and would like to see these features enhanced. | Greenspaces for all: Participants wish to see Vaughan’s parks and greenspaces serve as spaces for all ages and abilities. Emphasize the “green” in greenspace: Throughout all engagement activities, participants emphasized the significance of Vaughan’s natural spaces for tree canopy cover and wildlife habitats. Keep it local: Participants identified which park amenities (like playgrounds and passive spaces) are important to have closest to home. Health benefits are key: Participants, especially youth, emphasized the role that parks and greenspaces play in their physical and mental well-being, as well as social connection with peers, friends, and family. |
Your feedback has guided the Plan up to this point! Click the buttons below to read the full What We Heard Reports for Phase 1 and 2.
Phase 2 "What We Heard" Report coming soon!
Scroll to the right to view park posters created by students from high schools in Vaughan as a part of Phase 1 public engagement.
Section 3: Greenspace Strategy
The Future of Vaughan’s Parks and Greenspaces
Embodied by the values and priorities of residents and community groups, the following draft vision statement for the Greenspace Strategic Plan highlights the City’s commitment to celebrating parks and greenspaces as valued community and ecological assets.
The draft vision statement establishes long-term direction for Vaughan and describes the desired future state of the City’s parks and greenspaces.
Greenspace Goals
To realize the vision, the Greenspace Strategic Plan is guided by eight goals. These goals can be achieved through strategic actions and programs to improve Vaughan's greenspace network over time.
The Draft Greenspace Strategic Plan
The final Greenspace Strategic Plan will include background research and context, mapping and analysis work to understand the current greenspace network, acquisition priority areas, policy and planning recommendations, and much more.
But before the plan can be finalized, we need community feedback on three key topic areas that form the basis for Phase 3 Engagement:
- Improving greenspace connectivity: How we’ll build connections between and within parks and greenspaces.
- Growing our greenspace network: How we’ll prioritize the expansion of the greenspace network in areas of the City that need it most.
- Diverse greenspace experiences: How we’ll provide amenities and facilities (i.e., sports fields, play structures, benches) that create a cohesive greenspace system.
Details on how to get involved can be found at the end of the StoryMap!
Topic Area #1
Improving Greenspace Connectivity
Vaughan is fortunate to have an extensive park and greenspace network, supported by natural areas and trails. Given the anticipated population growth expected in Vaughan, there is a need to improve connections to parks to provide greater access for all residents.
Throughout engagement we regularly heard that park and trail connectivity were key priorities for residents highlighting the need for improved connectivity from residential areas to local parks and greenspaces. Many residents cited the importance of creating safer connections to parks for children, seniors and those with barriers to mobility.
Improving Connections from Residential Areas to Greenspaces
The Greenspace Strategic Plan addresses the need to provide greater connectivity and is setting a goal to provide parks and greenspaces within 500 metres of every resident.
The Greenspace Strategic Plan also builds on and supports recommendations for improvements to pedestrian and cycling trail infrastructure outlined in the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan to achieve this goal.
Improving Connections to Greenspaces City-Wide
The Greenspace Strategic Plan builds on the City's existing plans for city-wide greenspace connectivity by introducing Circuit 51 - a vision to create an interconnected network of greenspace by 2051. Circuit 51 takes inspiration from paths and nodes that make up a circuit board in a computer chip. It envisions an interconnected network of parks, trails and waterways that create a unified greenspace system.
The vision includes four key components:
- Connect rivers, ravines and creeks
- Connect major parks and greenspaces
- Connect protected lands
- East-west connections
Connect Rivers, Ravines and Creeks
Enhance greenspace access and habitat rehabilitation efforts along corridors such as the Humber River in the west, the Oak Ridges moraine northeast, and Black Creek in the south.
Connect Major Parks and Greenspaces
Create a network of parks throughout the city comprised of destination and regional parks that provide gateways into the greenspace network.
Examples of these include North Maple Regional Park, Sonoma Height Community Park, and Vaughan Grove Sports Park.
Connect Protected Lands
Continue collaborating with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), public agencies and school boards to enhance access to protected and ecologically sensitive lands such as the grounds of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the Kortright Centre for Conservation and more.
East-West Connections
Continue city-wide improvements to multi-use recreational trails and paths that provide east-west connections between greenspaces and natural heritage networks.
Topic Area #2
Growing our Greenspace Network
Throughout engagement, we heard that residents want to see more parks, especially in areas of the city experiencing rapid growth and intensification, such as the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC). The GSP is addressing this by providing the City with a framework for identifying and prioritizing areas for greenspace growth and acquisition.
The following eight lenses or “focus areas” were used to assess potential gaps in Vaughan’s existing greenspace system and identify areas in need of better access to parks.
- Park Walking Distance Gaps: Where are the areas that do not have access to a park within 500m from home?
- High Youth Population: Where are the areas where 25% or more of the population is 18 years old or younger?
- High Older Adult Population: Where are the areas where 25% or more of the population is 65 years old or older?
- Transit Access: Where are the areas within a 500m walking catchment of existing transit stops?
- Low Income Areas: Where are the areas where 5% or more of households are low income?
- 2051 Population Density: Where are the areas where population density is expected to exceed 4,000 people per square kilometre by 2051?
- 2051 Park Area Per Person: Where are the areas where park area per person will not reach the City’s goal of 2 hectares per 1,000 people in 2051?
- District Parks: Where are the areas where residents do not have access to a district park within 2.5 kilometres from home?
Greenspace Priority Areas
The eight focus areas are being used to produce a map that will help identify parts of the city with a greater need for parks and greenspaces, shown below.
Topic Area #3
Diverse Greenspace Experiences
As Vaughan grows and becomes more urban, the way people use greenspaces and the role that greenspaces play in people's daily lives is changing.
Throughout engagement residents shared their desire for park amenities such as off-leash dog areas, gardens, farmer’s markets, social amenities and winter activities. This is in line with broader trends in greenspace use in cities across Canada which show an interest in greenspaces as places for building community, enhancing accessibility and equity, supporting health, combating climate change, and more.
Diversifying Greenspace Types
Vaughan currently has five park types (Public Square, Urban Park, Neighbourhood Park, District Park and Regional Park), each with a different functionality serving various areas in the city.
The Greenspace Strategic Plan reviewed Vaughan’s existing greenspace typologies to ensure they continue to meet the city's needs and to clarify the amenities and features offered in each.
A New Park Type: Destination Parks The Greenspace Strategic Plan proposes a new park type, Destination Park, to keep pace with changing greenspace use trends and the needs of a growing City.
Destination Parks provide unique experiences, amenities and attractions designed to draw visitors from a broader geographic area. They can serve to protect natural and cultural resources, host educational programs and provide spaces for physical activity, passive recreation, festivals and city-wide events. The Destination Park will offer flagship recreation and premium sports facilities, trails and passive uses, outdoor learning and cultural programming while providing opportunities to protect and enhance natural heritage systems.
These park types will work together to create a greenspace network that serves all of Vaughan's residents.
Public squares, urban parks, and neighbourhood parks are intended to provide local greenspace access, while regional and destination parks accommodate larger-scale activities.
Section 4: Future Greenspaces
The three topic areas will work together to create an inter-connected greenspace system that achieves the goals of the GSP.
The GSP ultimately supports greenspace provision and access on a neighbourhood level through the following ways:
Section 5: Next Steps
The City of Vaughan is looking for your help to shape the Greenspace Strategic Plan!
Now that you’ve learned more about the draft plan, we would love to hear your thoughts.
There are plenty of opportunities for you to share your thoughts between October 17 and November 8, 2024.
Complete the online survey:
Through the online survey, you can learn more about the components of Phase 3 of the Greenspace Strategic Plan like setting targets, park types and partnerships, and share your feedback to shape them!
Join us at a pop-up event:
There will be two pop-up events where you can drop-in for a free refreshment, learn more about the key components of the Greenspace Strategic Plan, speak to a member of the project team, and tell us what you think!
- Pop-up event #1: Monday, October 28, 4-7pm at Vellore Village Community Centre
- Pop-up event #2: Tuesday, October 29, 4-7pm at North Thornhill Community Centre
Visit one of our display locations:
- Ansley Grove Library (350 Ansley Grove Rd.)
- Civic Centre Resource Library (2191 Major Mackenzie Dr. W)
- Dufferin Clark Library (1441 Clark Ave. W)
- Father E. Bulfon Community Centre (8141 Martin Grove Rd.)
- Garnett A. Williams Community Centre (501 Clark Ave. W)
- Maple Community Centre (10190 Keele St.)
- North Thornhill Community Centre (300 Pleasant Ridge Ave.)
- Pierre Berton Resources Library (4921 Rutherford Rd.)
- Vellore Village Community Centre (1 Villa Royale Ave.)
- VMC Library (200 Apple Mill Rd.)
Thank you for your interest in the City of Vaughan's Greenspace Strategic Plan!
Following this phase of engagement, we will summarize and incorporate your feedback into the final version of the Greenspace Strategic Plan.
We’re looking forward to celebrating the approval of the Plan with you in Winter 2025.
For more information on the Greenspace Strategic Plan and future opportunities to get involved, visit vaughan.ca/GreenspacePlan .
Scroll right to view more park posters created by students from Vaughan schools as a part of Phase 1 public engagement.
