Foundation seeks landscape architect for “village green”

The Village Green Build Team, a committee of the Creemore Community Foundation, met for the first time on May 3 to begin Phase 2 of the redevelopment of the former TD Bank property and the adjacent municipal lands currently occupied by the Horticultural Gardens and the Station on the Green.
The Build Team agreed to use the term Creemore Village Green as the working name during this phase of the project.
Public support for an active green space resulted in the preparation of the Village Green and TD Lands Design Brief and report by small, a public consultation firm. Click here to read the full design brief.
The design brief includes community consultation input from the TD Lands Community Consultation Committee (TLC) and additional information received from various stakeholder groups in Creemore.
The Foundation issued a request-for-proposal (RFP) to five landscape architectural firms on May 1.
According to Inese Bite, the chair and spokesperson for the Build Team, all firms invited to submit an RFP “have experience creating landmark, immersive, four-season, multipurpose, and multigenerational public spaces.” Three of these firms are based in Toronto, one in Collingwood, and one in Vancouver (with a Toronto office). All will respond to the Foundation by May 15. The Design Brief will inform their work and response to the RFP.
The Build Team will determine selection criteria, based on the Design Brief, to assess each firm’s response. The goal will be to find the firm best able to incorporate the community vision. Experience with creating landmark designs that provide connections to other village attractions, showcase what is unique in the community, promote activity, attract a wider range of visitors for experiences that generate multiple visits and longer stays, support community spirit and an active retail environment is key.
The Build Team expects to recommend one landscape architectural firm to the Foundation by June 1; preliminary designs are expected in July. A stakeholder comment period will follow with a community presentation for final input on the Village Green design in late summer.
The Foundation’s goal is to have various agreements in place as well as Clearview Township Council approval by the end of July. The Foundation has committed to source and use all local contractors, employees, and suppliers to build a sustainable Village Green.
Stuart Lazier, spokesman for the Foundation, stated, “the purpose of the Foundation is to enhance the ambience, heritage and natural beauty of our village. We believe that building upon Creemore’s considerable charm and history will make the village more appealing to both residents and visitors while creating a stronger retail environment and a healthier community. We expect that our carefully programmed activities will have a catalytic and beneficial effect on the well-being and vibrancy of the entire Clearview community. The public viewed a Village Green, not only as a unique and beautiful space, but also a place for new activities like small concerts, gatherings, picnics or just relaxing in a lovely setting thereby supporting our commercial businesses.”
For further information, please contact Sass Dempsey at sass.dempsey@gmail.com or 705-888-7729.

Judi Parker is president of Creemore Horticultural Society. She was the organization’s representative on the TD Lands Consultation Committee and remains its representative on the build team.