Parks

Ward 2

Alexander Elisa Park bocce courts

The City of Vaughan is seeking feedback from the community to decide how to renew the existing bocce court in Alexander Elisa Park.

Take an online survey until Tuesday, July 15, to have your say!

An in-person Open House was held on June 24, at the Pine York Seniors Club, where we heard how you currently use Alexander Park and shared our ideas for how it can be improved. Materials from the Open House are now available online.

Ward 2

Emily Carr Secondary School artificial turf field and lighting

The City of Vaughan has partnered with the York Region District School Board to convert the existing grass soccer field at Emily Carr Secondary School (4901 Rutherford Rd.) to an artificial, multi-purpose sports field with lighting. Work is scheduled to begin by April and be completed by the end of the year. 

What is a multi-purpose field? A multi-purpose field is designed to support a variety of sports, including soccer, football and field hockey. What is an artificial turf field? Artificial turf is a synthetic surface that looks and feels like grass. Artificial turf provides users with an extended playing season, from spring to late fall. 

What is field lighting? Field lighting is a specialized lighting system used to illuminate a large outdoor area, such as a sports field, and provides users with extended permitting hours. Studies have been completed to ensure the field lighting being installed at the Emily Carr Secondary School does not shine into neighbouring homes and communities. 

Have any questions about the new field coming to Emily Carr Secondary School? Contact Marc Varone, Project Manager at the City of Vaughan, via email at Marc.Varone@vaughan.ca or by phone at 905-832-2281, ext. 3798.

Ward 3

Velmar Downs Park

The City of Vaughan is improving the playground, renovating the basketball court and adding a new shade structure to Velmar Downs Park!

An in-person Open House was held on Nov. 27 at the Al Palladini Community Centre to seek community input into the proposed plans for the park. Thank you to everyone who participated! Materials from the Open House are now available online. 

Want to learn more about what we heard? Read the engagement summary.

Community input collected helped to inform the Velmar Downs Park improvements final design. Construction in the park, which is at 30 Velmar Dr., is anticipated to begin by the end of 2025.

Vellore Woods

As part of the City of Vaughan’s Vellore Woods Community Improvements Program, compensation funding generated from local development will be allocated towards improving the area. This includes ecological restoration, natural area enhancements and upgrades to existing parks and trails – all to make the community more sustainable, enjoyable and accesible for current and future generations. The program focus area is bounded by Major Mackenzie Drive to the north, Weston Road to the west, Rutherford Road to the south and Highway 400 to the east. 

Improvements will include: 

• Trail improvements within the Vellore Tract Woodlot (100 Vellore Woods Boulevard) will include adding rest areas, interpretative signs and an accessible boardwalk.

• Restoration planting and ecological enhancements such as new planting within the following five parks throughout the community: Vellore Heritage Park (9541 Weston Rd.), Vellore Woods Park (335 Vellore Woods Blvd.), Hawstone Park (80 Hawstone Rd.), Starling Park (131 Starling Blvd.) and Comdel Park (60 Comdel Blvd.), as well as ecological enhancements to the existing natural areas within Vellore Woods.

• Adding a new shade structure to Hawstone Park is also planned to provide a gathering space for spectators of the existing sports fields. 

   

Materials from an Open House on August 15, 2024 are available online (PDF). Review a What We Heard infographic (PDF) to learn more about the feedback received. 

Ward 4

Maple Hill Park

The future Maple Hill Park will be located at the corner of Major Mackenzie Drive and McNaughton Road, at 1818 Major Mackenzie Dr. The park will be approximately 0.4 hectares (1 acre) or about the size of a mini soccer field and will serve current and future residents to the area as four new residential towers are coming soon to the community.

Maple Hill Park will include:

• a playground with terraced seating and a pergola.

• a lookout and gathering space with signature shade structure and feature seating.

• illuminated pathways and staircase.

• meadow plantings and more!

   

Review what's planned (PDF). For additional information, email steph.payne@vaughan.ca.

Ironstone Square

Located at 5 Bass Pro Mills Dr., this urban neighbourhood park is the latest part of a phased residential development in the Vaughan Mills community. The park is 1.6 hectares in size, bounded by Fishermens Way to the northwest, Jane Street to the east, the recent extension of Bass Pro Mills Drive to the south and a future extension to Romina Drive to the west. It is also conveniently located southeast of the Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre and a major transit hub that connects to the mall at Riverock Gate and Fishermens Way. 

Want to learn more about what we have planned for Ironstone Square? Review our plans online (PDF).

We're making improvements to local parks!

Want to learn more about park improvements across the city? Visit the park improvements webpage to find updates by Ward.

Improvements are coming to York Hill District Park, located at 330 York Hill Boulevard, in Ward 5. This project includes a partial redevelopment of York Hill’s “activity hub”. The hub houses secondary park pathways, two separate tennis court areas, a basketball court, four individual playground areas, a small shade shelter as well as an existing rebound wall. See the York Hill District Park Tennis Court Redevelopment Plan HERE! (PDF)

Tennis court redevelopment:

• Complete replacement of decommissioned triple tennis courts with one dedicated tennis court and four dedicated pickleball courts including new surfacing, fencing, and lighting.

• Complete renewal of active triple tennis courts including new surfacing, fencing, and lighting.

   

Additional "activity hub” improvements:

• Replacement and realignment of park pathways adjacent to tennis court areas.

• Construction of new seating areas including seating areas for each side of the new courts as well as a central gathering space with new shade tables and plantings.

• Removal of the existing rebound wall and replacement with a large picnic shelter in that area.

• Removal of the existing small shade structure.

   

Project timing: Construction is scheduled to begin in June of 2026 and be completed by the end of 2026. A phased construction approach will be implemented to minimize disruption to active recreation permits for existing tennis courts and baseball diamonds.

For more information contact mandy.wellsman@vaughan.ca.