On Saturday, June 3, representatives of Geranium, together with Town of Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas and Members of Council, and area residents will celebrate the official opening of a new central park in the Highland Gate neighbourhood of Aurora that has been built in concert with Geranium’s Allegro development. The ribbon-cutting event will begin at 9:45 a.m. at the park entrance on Cranberry Lane. This rain-or-shine ceremony will mark a milestone for the approximately 21.3-acre park, the design of which has been a collaboration among Town staff, Geranium and neighbouring residents.
The new Allegro homes by Geranium are tucked into enclaves within the Highland Gate community that extends between Bathurst Street and Yonge Street and connecting with downtown Aurora. Residents in the first phase have moved into their homes and construction of the next phases is underway. Geranium’s transformation of the former golf course site includes the preservation of mature trees, the significant enhancement of natural features on the property as well as adding approximately 7.5 kilometres of new public trails. Some 50 acres of open space parkland and environmentally protected lands are being placed into public ownership for the enjoyment of the community.
“This is a milestone in the making of our Allegro development and we’re delighted to be sharing this beautiful greenspace with Aurora’s residents, as part of the initial phases of the development process,” says Cheryl Shindruk, Geranium’s Executive Vice President. “We have worked closely with the Town of Aurora and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority to ensure the park meets or exceeds environmental requirements, such as floodplain storage, restoration planting and ensuring no net negative impact to the property’s natural heritage features. To ensure we had a park design that the community desired, we formed a working group and invited neighbouring residents to participate. The result of this collaboration is a park that offers something for all ages from active playground space to passive open areas, trails, ponds and wetlands as well as a meditation circle,” adds Cheryl.
“I’m incredibly proud to have this new beautiful, shared space that residents and visitors can enjoy for years to come,” said Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas. “We know how important accessible greenspaces are to Aurorans, as they bring so many benefits to our overall health and wellbeing. I want to thank Geranium for working closely with the community to help bring this new park to Aurora.”
The new park includes junior and senior playground areas surrounded by an armour stone seat wall, a meditation circle, bridge crossings, and a boardwalk that is nearly one kilometre in length with LED lighting which is timed to turn on at dusk and turn off at 11pm. Over seven kilometers of trails meander throughout the park, including a 3m-wide asphalt spine trail with light standards and a 2.4m-wide granular secondary trail. Enhancing the experience are trail signage and benches with Bench Fit signage. Geranium is planting hundreds of coniferous and deciduous trees, shrubs, and other vegetation.
At an early stage, Geranium committed to improve the creeks within the park block. The Tannery Creek system is being reinstated to its original natural condition with a healthier ecosystem. Working alongside the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, the federal Department of Fisheries, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Town of Aurora, Geranium created a strategy to rehabilitate the creek. The plan included removing dam structures to improve its function, re-aligning the creek to allow for the natural passage of fish, and diverting water from the pond so cold-water fish can safely inhabit it during the summer months.
Allegro is a master-planned residential development comprised of 157 exceptional single family detached residences being built in phases. Geranium has created a portfolio of residences set on 52- and 61-foot lots as well as lot-specific designs, with a choice of exterior architectural styles reflective of Ontario Country, English Manor, and Beaux Arts. Thirteen different model types of two-storey and bungalow-with-loft options range from approximately 3,100 sq. ft. to up to 6,000 sq. ft. Allegro homes offer four or five bedrooms, each with ensuite or shared ensuite baths. Magnificent private loggias at the rear of the homes expand the living space providing a connection with the outdoors. Many model types offer optional floorplans which when combined with a wonderful selection of standard and upgrade finishes, creates opportunities for each residence to be customized. Geranium’s behind-the-walls construction ensures a long-lasting well-built home.
Allegro is woven into an existing established neighbourhood with mature trees and amenities already in place. The site is close to both Wellington Street and Yonge Street for shopping, restaurants, schools, parks, and services. For commuters, Highway 404 is minutes to the east; Highway 400 a short drive west; and two regional GO Transit stations – one on Wellington Street and one on Bloomington Road – providing train and bus service.
