Riverwood is Growing

The MacEwan Terrace Garden is now under construction until spring of 2011, Riverwood park usage, parking, programming and on site facilities will not be impacted.

Features of the garden will include:

• a variety of garden beds featuring perennials, ornamental grasses and specimen trees and shrubs;
• a new primary walkway leading diagonally to the MacEwan House;
• an accessible pergola featuring vines and perennials;
• seating areas with benches and low walls;
• decorative garden fencing and stone columns;
• a network of secondary paths and enhanced wetland edge;
• new directional and park signage;
• donor recognition signage to acknowledge those who gave to the Riverwood Fundraising Campaign.

The City of Mississauga will make every effort to minimize potential disruptions to the community and our partners through out the construction process.

Development History

During the spring of 2008, big strides were made by the Campaign for the Mississauga Garden Park and the City of Mississauga towards the creation of gardens on the MacEwan Terrace at Riverwood. Working with Landplan Collaborative Ltd., the lead consultant for the design of these gardens (including the development of a wayfinding, park sign and donor recognition system) a preliminary garden concept was presented to City Council during the May 14, 2008, General Committee meeting. City Council gave enthusiastic support to the preliminary concept.

At the beginning of June, 2008, in the MacEwan Barn, Campaign donors were given the opportunity to preview the garden design concept and the architect’s drawings. Following this event, the City shared the garden plan and drawings with the public.

The design process for the MacEwan Terrace Garden will incorporate recognition elements to acknowledge the numerous donors to the Riverwood Campaign who supported the vision of creating a spectacular garden for all Mississauga residents to enjoy, now and in the future. All recognition elements will be installed during the final stage of the MacEwan Terrace Garden construction.

In the spring of 2009, Jill Goldie from the City of Mississauga and Rod MacDonald of The Landplan Collaborative Ltd. presented the MacEwan Terrace Garden design drawings to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and Facility Design Subcommittee (FADS) for review and comments. The plans were very well received and information shared at these committee meetings is being co-ordinated with the detailed design drawings.

Landplan submitted an application to Credit Valley Conservation for a permit to construct in May, 2009.  A two-step tender process for garden construction was initiated in early July, 2009, with the City requesting submissions from landscape general contractors to be considered for pre-qualification. The City has determined a short list of three qualified contractors and, in September 2009, the qualified contractors will be invited to tender on the garden construction documents. Garden construction is scheduled to begin in November, 2009, with completion in 2010.

Ongoing updates will be provided as the City proceeds through the garden development process and information can be accessed through the City’s website at www.mississauga.ca/parks or by calling 905-896-5328.