Lands previously donated as part of Glenway West development talks, construction could start next year
The Town of Newmarket is preparing to bring a new natural area for the community to enjoy at a former section of the Glenway Golf Course.
The town will transform its property at 320 Alex Donor Dr. The project is in the design stages, with the town considering elements like a new trail, a pollinator garden, a play area and area for nature exploration with boxes for birds, butterflies and bats.
While those elements are still years away, the town is closing a section of Alex Donor Drive June 16 to 18 to make stormwater management improvements in the area.
“The goal of this project is to improve stormwater management, protect watercourses, reduce phosphorus levels, enhance natural features, and add trails for residents,” the town said in a public notice.
The town presented to the community May 6 about the upcoming project in a public information session. The town is partnering with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority to make improvements at the property, located between Alex Donor Drive and Bathurst Street.
Marianneville Developments donated the lands in question in 2017, as part of the development approval conversations with the town. A 2017 report said that the developer also agreed to design and construct trails and related works at its cost on the lands.
“We are pleased that these discussions have resulted in the owner agreeing to donate these lands to the town for public use, maintaining them as open and green space, and enhancing the connectivity of our trails and parks,” Councillor Christina Bisanz said at the time in a 2017 news release.
Years later, work is getting underway. The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has undertaken multiple site investigations “to characterize the current site conditions and effectiveness of the ponds in their current state,” according to the town.
Besides working to create a trail in the area, the town also plans to retrofit ponds on the property and restore wetlands and woodlands in parts of the property.
The town said on its website that the project budget is not yet finalized. However, it expects to fund the project through multiple sources, including conservation authority offset funding programs, development charges, the stormwater charge and possibly provincial funding sources. The town said that the trail portion of the project will still be provided by Marianneville Developments, per the prior agreement.
The town said that 60 per cent of the detailed design work is complete as of May 2025. A project timeline indicates the project could go out to tender in the fall, with construction between 2026-27, pending various approvals.
More information and project updates are available at heynewmarket.ca/alexdoner.
