Discover. Explore. Achieve. Realize. [PDF]
Official Opening with Mayor & Council, Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stay tuned for more information.
Check out the construction progress!
Oak Ridges Community Centre – 12895 Bayview Avenue
The Oak Ridges Community Centre will serve as an important centre for recreation and leisure for residents of Richmond Hill and especially for residents in the immediate area.
The Oak Ridges Community Centre will be a landmark facility within an integrated site and will be a leading edge example of environmental sustainability. The building design will provide support to and complement the ecologically sensitive park design. Building design and future operations will recognize LEED initiatives and pursue a "silver" certification as a minimum. The community centre will be located to enjoy the dramatic views of Lake Wilcox while the architecture will turn it into a sensitive visual amenity within the waterfront setting.
The planned 56,000 square foot Oak Ridges Community Centre will include the following amenities:
- six-lane leisure pool, including a slide component, a separate teaching tank and change rooms;
- Ecological Centre, providing educational programs and activities related to the environment and the Oak Ridges Moraine;
- fitness studio and aerobics room;
- gymnasium (7,000 sq. ft.);
- kitchen;
- two General Program rooms;
- Seniors'/Youth Program room; and an
- administration area.
Oak Ridges Community Centre Concept Design Presentation [PDF]
Recreation & Culture Programs and Services
As a result of your response to the community centre program needs assessment, a variety of programs, activities and services have been planned for the community.
Designed for discovery and education, the Eco Centre will provide a variety of resources and reference materials on ecological and environmental based initiatives, the natural and cultural history of the Oak Ridges Moraine and Richmond Hill Watersheds.
The Fitness Centre and Aerobic Studio at the Oak Ridges Community Centre is state-of-the-art and focuses on health, wellness and active living. You can sign up for a fitness membership, drop in and try a wide variety of aerobic and aquafitness classes or register for specialized programs like CycleFit, Zumba, Yoga and Pilates.
The six-lane, 25-metre leisure pool features a waterslide, beach entry children’s teaching tank, change rooms and a sauna. Recreational swims, instructional lessons, leadership and certificate programs are just a sampling of what will be offered.
The college-sized gymnasium is state of the art with hardwood sprung floors lined to accommodate basketball, volleyball and badminton. In addition to these three main sport activities, a variety of general sport and active programming will be offered. The gymnasium is situated beside a full kitchen facility, suitable for community events and private function rentals.
There are two general program rooms and one older adult and youth program room where general programs will take place such as dance, arts, crafts, photography, cooking and computer use.
No matter the needs are, this unique facility will offer programs for all ages including preschool, children, youth, adult, older adult and families.
To learn more about the program offers, watch for the 2012 Spring/Summer Community Recreation Guide being delivered door to door and available online in February 2012.
Community Centre & Park Master Plan
 The Town’s Vision for the Oak Ridges Community Centre and Park is that it will be a leading example of environmental stewardship and will provide ecological benefits to the Oak Ridges Moraine and Lake Wilcox. Efforts throughout project development will be directed to achieving a sensitive balance between needed recreational services and the natural site features.
On February 13, 2006 Richmond Hill Council approved a Master Plan for the design and construction of a new Oak Ridges Community Centre and waterfront park on a 54-acre Town-owned parcel land bounded by Bayview Avenue to the east, North Lake Road to the north, Old Bayview Avenue and Lake Wilcox to the west and future Sandbanks Drive connection to Bayview Avenue to the south. The site includes the small wooded kettle to the south of future Sandbanks Drive, the existing Sunset Beach and Jessie Vanek Parks, and certain lands owned by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority currently used for parking purposes. Project plans also include the segmental closing of a local road to create a contiguous lake-front attraction with 675 metres of shoreline.
Oak Ridges Community Centre and Park Master Plan: Part A - Background Summary Report [PDF]
Oak Ridges Community Centre and Park Master Plan: Part B - Preferred Master Plan and Guidelines [PDF]
The new community centre and the waterfront park are planned to provide needed recreation facilities to better serve the growing community of Oak Ridges. At the same time, the planned Oak Ridges Moraine Ecological Centre and the waterfront park will provide a regional focus for the site.
Environmental Sustainability Special consideration will be undertaken throughout the design and development process to preserve and enhance the significant natural features of the site. To ensure an optimal balance between the site’s development and the natural features in the area, plans for the community centre and waterfront park will incorporate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) initiatives, working towards Silver LEED Certification. LEED certification demonstrates the Town's commitment to achieving our environmental goals and ensuring that the community centre is performing and being operated in an efficient and cost effective manner. It will also ensure that residents will benefit from a community centre and waterfront park that imposes reduced natural resource consumption and a minimized strain on local infrastructure, resulting in a safe and healthy environment for our community to enjoy. Therefore, the approved Master Plan for the redevelopment of the site will respond to the natural environment, as well as the social and recreational needs of the community. Other projects that are indirectly related to the Oak Ridges Community Centre and waterfront park project include, the construction of new road works (Bayview Park Lane and Sandbanks road extension) and a hypolimnetic withdrawal project, which will treat the bottom waters of Lake Wilcox to eliminate phosphorus accumulation and improve the habitat potential of the lake in accordance with the approved Lake Wilcox Remediation Strategy [PDF].
Waterfront Park/Lake Wilcox Shoreline Restoration Project
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