Bradford begins construction on Celebration Square

Anyone who has passed by Bradford’s library recently may have noticed some construction fences and machines digging up earth.

That’s because the shovels are in the ground to create the Celebration Square.

Council members, city staff and Hawkins Contracting broke ground Wednesday afternoon, July 17, on the $3.27 million project to transform the 6,000-square-foot open lawn directly west of the Bradford West Public Library Gwillimbury, at 425 Holland. St. W. in a concrete plaza with meeting and event space, a covered stage with back wall, a water walk, year-round seating, tree and shrub plantings, plus light poles 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 neighbors and friends,” Mayor James Leduc said in a news release.

While the city is still working with the fire service to determine maximum capacity, it is anticipated that there will be enough space for public events such as the Bradford Farmers’ Market, Music in the Park, outdoor movies and even private event rentals , like Rib Fest, which could generate revenue for the city and should be able to get liquor permits because of the design, including fencing.

“It adds a lot more to the portfolio of what we can do safely in Bradford and will benefit all the businesses along this stretch as they have a fantastic opportunity for people,” Ward 4 Coun. said Joseph Giordano.

The councillor, in whose ward the site is located, said he had been “pushing hard” for the project since he was elected in 2022 and “couldn’t be happier” to see construction start on something that not only will “significantly” impact on the neighborhood, but which “benefit the whole city”.

Even when not being used for specific events, Giordano hopes the space will take on the character of an Italian piazza, where people can gather causally and sit outside, plus have the library and recreation center “just steps away ”, would facilitate bring the programming outside in good weather.

As part of the Nov. 7 council discussion, Ward 5 Councilman Peter Ferragine expressed concern about the heat on such a large concrete platform, but on Wednesday Steve Neely, the city’s construction project manager, noted that, in addition to the existing trees lining the boulevard, the plaza design also includes the planting of more locust trees throughout the city. south and west, as well as native shrubs such as berry bushes to the north and east, including around a new water feature that has bubbles and steam to help people cool off.

“The water feature itself is such a nice thing for all the little kids,” Giordano said, adding that residents requested a water feature or splash pad during the last election campaign and hoped it would help people enjoy better than a space it estimates. less than five percent per year is used.

He also proposed the possibility of including water-permeable sections in the concrete to improve drainage, but Neely explained that staff determined that the storm pond on West Park Avenue had sufficient capacity to handle storm water from the plaza, and Terry Foran, director of community services, previously explained that the full fitout provides better accessibility for residents and is better able to accommodate vehicle traffic for loading or unloading at events.

The market is also planned to include eight light poles 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 ticks all the boxes.”

If all goes well, the market is expected to be completed by the end of May 2025 and available in time for summer programming, some of which will be moved this summer to the Bradford and District Memorial Community Center at 125 Simcoe Rd., where construction could start as early as April 2025 on the new town hall project.