Anyone passing by Bradford’s library recently may have noticed some construction fencing and machinery digging up earth.
That’s because shovels are in the ground to create Celebration Square.
Members of council, town staff and Hawkins Contracting officially broke ground Wednesday afternoon (July 17) on the $3.27-million project, which aims to transform the 6,000-square-metre open lawn directly to the west of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library at 425 Holland St. W. into a concrete town square featuring gathering and event space, a covered stage with rear wall, a water walk, year-round seating, tree and shrub plantings, plus lamp posts with electrical outlets.
“I am excited to see this project come to life and look forward to seeing the public square become a destination for our community to connect with neighbours and friends,” Mayor James Leduc said in a news release.
While the town is still working with the fire services to determine maximum capacity, there’s anticipated to be enough space for public events, such as the Bradford Farmers’ Market, Music in the Park, Outdoor Movies and even rentals for private events such as Rib Fest, which could generate revenue for the town and should be able to obtain alcohol permits thanks to the design including fencing.
“It just adds so much more to the portfolio of what we’re able to do safely in Bradford and it will benefit all the businesses along this stretch, because they have a fantastic opportunity for people,” Coun. Joseph Giordano said.
The councillor, in whose ward the site is located, said he’s been “pushing hard” for this project ever since he was elected in 2022 and “couldn’t be happier” to see construction get underway for something which will not only “significantly” impact the neighbourhood, but which “benefits the entire town.”
Even when not being used for specific events, Giordano hopes the space will take on the character of an Italian piazza, where people can causally gather and sit out, plus having the library and leisure centre “just steps away,” would make it easier to bring programming outside in good weather.
As part of council’s Nov. 7 discussion, Coun. Peter Ferragine expressed concerns about heat on such a large concrete pad, but on Wednesday Steve Neely, the town’s manager of construction projects, noted that in addition to the existing trees lining the boulevard, the square’s design also includes planting several honey locust trees to the south and west, as well as native shrubs such as serviceberry bushes to the north and east, including around a new water walk that has bubblers and misters to help people keep cool.
“The water feature alone is such a beautiful thing for all the young children,” Giordano said, adding residents had requested a water feature or splash pad during the last election campaign, and he hopes it will help people better enjoy a space that he estimates is used less than five per cent of the year.
He had also floated the possibility of including some water-permeable sections to the concrete in order to improve drainage, but Neely explained staff had determined the storm pond across West Park Avenue had enough capacity to handle the storm water from the square, and Terry Foran, director of community services, had previously explained that full hardscaping offers better accessibility for residents and is more capable of accommodating vehicle traffic for loading or unloading at events.
The square is also planned to include eight lamp posts with electrical outlets, reducing the need for noisy generators during events and making the space even more welcoming.
Taken together, Giordano said the plan “just checks off all the boxes.”
If all goes well, the square is expected to be complete by the end of May 2025 and available in time for summer programming, some of which was moved this summer to the Bradford and District Memorial Community Centre at 125 Simcoe Rd., where construction could begin as early as April 2025 on the new town hall project.
