Lake Wilcox is a 54 acre (22 ha) parcel of land comprising of diverse natural systems on the eastern shores of the largest kettle lake in the Oak Ridges Moraine. Dillon led a multidisciplinary team of biologists, architects and water resource engineers in the preparation of a master plan to accommodate the development of a $10M community centre and park to accommodate a range of active and passive park facilities on the shores of Lake Wilcox.
The design approach of the development is a leading example of environmental stewardship. Development strategies struck a balance between the architectural and recreational demands of the area, retention of natural features and enhancement of the site’s ecology. The master plan’s urban and environmental guidelines ultimately ensured that all principles of sustainability were adhered to.
The Lake Wilcox Park project is based on “environment first” principles. It demonstrates initiative in protecting, preserving and enhancing the inherent natural resources of the complex Oak Ridges Moraine, while balancing the recreational needs of the community on the waterfront parkland setting. The project establishes a vision for the area to enhance and protect the site ecology and character, while defining the level and location of site facilities and recreational use.
Key components of this work included:
• Nestling of the new community centre into the existing slope
• Removal of a vehicular travel-way at lakeside in support of a pedestrian promenade
• Multi-purpose promenade intended to provide park visitors with an uninterrupted lakeside experience directly adjacent to an ecologically restored shoreline.
Dillon’s landscape architecture and environmental design personnel assumed responsibility for all consulting services and the retention of necessary subconsultants, leading the preparation of a comprehensive vision and master plan for the site. Subsequent to the master plan, Dillon was retained to complete the implementation of the lakefront promenade and the associated parkland development.
