DDO Ongoing Projects

The DDO Park includes the 40 hectares (approximately 100 acres) of land that was protected from development.

DDO Park Master Plan

The DDO Park Master Plan sets out a vision for the future enhancement, management and programming of the DDO Park.

The Master Plan was developed through a process that involved extensive public consultation and was approved by Council on September 26, 2016.

• DDO Park Master Plan
• Minutes of Settlement
• DDO Principles and Options Report

DDO Woodlot Restoration Project

Woodlot restoration and removal of dead/hazardous trees will be taking place in the David Dunlap Observatory (DDO) Park over the next few years.

Why is this work being undertaken?

Preserving and enhancing natural areas is one of eight key principles in the DDO Park Master Plan. There are currently many trees on the property which are in poor and/or hazardous condition due to infestations and storm damage. As a result, the forest is in poor health and vulnerable to undesirable plants which grow aggressively and have the ability to destroy the park's unique environment.

Richmond Hill is developing and implementing a long-term plan to restore the woodlands to a healthy forest. Work will include:

• Hazardous tree and debris removal
• Herbicide treatment
• Tree planting
• Monitoring

While this work will change the appearance of the forest, it is a temporary and necessary step to create space for new native trees that will enhance the DDO Park.

2020 woodlot restoration activities

Over the last two years, a wide variety of native trees and shrubs (evergreens and deciduous) were planted by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to replace the dead trees and invasive plants that were previously removed. The plantings will help to enhance the natural buffer, improve the natural aesthetic of the area and provide habitat for local wildlife as the trees grow over time.

In 2020, the TRCA will continue to monitor the plantings in the phase 1 area and will spot treat invasive plants with herbicide (Monday May 11 to Friday May 15; weather permitting) in order to control their spread and decrease competition with more desirable plantings.

View the DDO Park Phase 1 Woodlot Restoration Map 

Observatory Hill Subdivision

In April 2010, Corsica submitted Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to Richmond Hill for the DDO property. The original proposal submitted by Corsica included 833 homes spread out across the majority of the DDO site. The proposal was rejected by Council and Corsica appealed this decision to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

Through the OMB's mediation process, five parties to the appeal (City of Richmond Hill, Corsica Developments Inc., Toronto and Region Conservation, the Region of York and the DDO Defenders) reached an agreement for the future of the property.

The agreement proposed that 56 per cent of the property (the western portion) would become a public park while the development of 530 homes would be allowed on the eastern portion of the property. The agreement is illustrated in the Settlement Plan. 

The Settlement Plan preserves all of Richmond Hill's cultural heritage interests, provides for a large public park, and protects most of the natural features on the site. On May 1, 2013 the OMB released their decision in support of the Settlement Plan calling it "good planning" and "in the public interest."