Landscape architects invited to submit Village Green designs

Five landscape architectural firms were invited in early May to submit a design concept for the Creemore Village Green.
The community’s wish list for this space was clearly expressed in the Design Brief and Report by small, the consulting form that led the public consultation, and provided the criteria for selecting these firms.
Four key ideas are essential to the redesigned Village Green space:
• Connector. The community wants an active hub, gathering space, and community nerve centre.
• Placemaker. The community wants the space to showcase what is unique, valued and local.
• Attractor. The community wants the space to spark new experiences, encourage multiple visits and promote activity.
• Landmark. The community wants the space to increase regional tourism through new programming and a unique design.
Practical solutions are required to bring these concepts to life. Because the best possible design for the Village Green is of utmost importance to the Creemore Community Foundation (the Foundation) as to well as the community, only firms with portfolios demonstrating experience such creating practical solutions were selected to submit a request for proposal (RFP).
• Socially inclusive spaces that serve all members of a community such as Creemore’s villagers, the rural population, and weekenders.
• Multi-functional, multi-season landscapes that support horticultural gardens, cultural activities, children’s play, and quiet meditative settings.
• Projects that serve as a revitalization catalyst of commercial sectors of a shopping street by serving community groups such as farmers’ markets and BIA districts.
• Updated spaces that are compatible with and honour heritage architecture and landscapes and buildings
• Sustainable environments and ecologically sensitive solutions by environmentally-accredited staff.
• Public places that “sell” the locale with landmark or iconic qualities and therefore become desired destinations.
• Spaces that encourage more public life by supporting everyday life functionality.
Firms with such experience are generally larger firms recognized as leaders in the field. Although some have questioned whether such firms would be interested in a small project like the Village Green, Stuart Lazier of the Foundation clarified that this is a “unique project that has a Design Brief, municipal partnership, and monies to finance construction. The biggest challenge will be fitting our demanding timeline into their already busy schedules.”
This project also presents a unique challenge to the selected firms by asking them to confront the conditions facing small towns with a shifting rural economy across the country. This provides an opportunity to develop leadership in an environment outside their usual sphere.
Laurie Severn, Build Team member and BIA president, notes that “the BIA is looking for a new first. Creemore had one of the first craft breweries and one of the first local product farmers’ markets. The Village Green is a symbol of renewed investment in small communities and forward thinking – another first.”
Proposals were due on May 15. The Build Team plans to make a recommendation of one firm to the Foundation by May 24.
For further information, please contact Sass Dempsey at sass.dempsey@gmail.com or 705-888-7729.

Inese Bite is a Landscape Architect and Chair of the Creemore Village Green Build Team.