Grant Program: Cultural Infrastructure Program

Project Summary: Markham Museum – Master Plan – servicing & landscaping

A Site Development Master Plan has been developed for the Markham Museum to guide future growth and development including building locations and landscaping principles. The Master Plan supports family and children-oriented programming and is based on various functional, cultural, heritage, and environmental themes that will improve and enhance the ultimate user experience at the museum. The focus on examining settlement in Markham to the present day will create community engagement across a wide demographic. The Museum will be capable of connecting to the most diverse community in Canada in its entirety.

The Site Development Master Plan is anticipated to be completed in phases as follows:

Phase 1: includes all essential works site development works directly associated with the Ward Building renovation and the new Collections Building. This work will enhance site accessibility and will enable us to partner with a theatre group currently separated from the museum.

Phase 2: will include all essential site works to improve the museum’s immediate function, event programming, pedestrian accessibility, visitor experience and overall visual and thematic character. Works would include improvements to pedestrian circulation and accessibility, way finding, storm water management, education, interpretation, event planning, family and children’s programming, and tree planting. The site will be positioned to serve the community effectively and much better able to plan for future growth and development.

Phase 3: will include all other site related elements that support the overall site development vision including improvements to the village streetscape, village green, historical village area, water play area, village farm complex, wetland demonstration area, train station and train ride area, orchard area, reforestation area, over-flow parking and other associated environmental, historical and agrarian experiences.

The end users are residents of Markham and the Greater Toronto Area as well as visitors who will visit the Markham Museum to participate in its many and varied programs and events. At this point, the operational master plan reflects that the museum will be operating many programs in partnership with community groups. The site development will be done through civic engagement that will ensure that the needs of the entire community can be addressed and future programming can be planned effectively.

Timeline: Most programs require completion in 2 years and the timeline can be broken into the following phases:

Phase 1: site works to be tendered as part of the Ward Building and the Collection Building project

Phase 2: 2009 (prepare working drawings and hire contractor); 2010 – 2011 (two construction seasons)

Phase 3: 2011 – 2012 (two construction seasons)

Costs: Total cost of $6,900,000 and will be implemented in phases overtime based on priority needs and available funding as follows:

Phase 1: $1,700,000

Phase 2: $2,200,000

Phase 3: $3,000,000

Total: $6,900,000

Benefits:

The benefits to the community and Town are significant. Markham Museum will continue to grow and develop as unique family and children oriented educational and cultural facility that represents and showcases Markham’s cultural diversity and history of the settlement experience. Markham is committed to the Markham Museum and implementation of the Site Development Master Plan will significantly enhance the visitor experience and demonstrate how Markham’s natural, cultural and human history can be interpreted and experienced through built form and landscape improvements.