It’s the tale of two letters, both sent confidentially to city council this spring regarding potential future uses of the former Ontario Reformatory lands.
In one, the area’s three top elected officials – MP Lloyd Longfield, MPP Mike Schreiner and Mayor Cam Guthrie – explained they don’t support a national urban park proposal for the site “at this time” due to potential other public uses for the property.
In the other, dated one day later, Guelph General Hospital’s board of directors addressed “recent discussions surrounding the potential use of the Ontario Reformatory lands for a future site of a new hospital.”
Either potential use of the provincially owned York Road site, if ultimately approved, is likely several years away.
Hospital CEO Mark Walton recently told GuelphToday he hopes GGH receives approval in the coming months to formally begin planning for a new, larger or second hospital. That process includes site selection.
There is no specific timeline for urban park approvals, a Parks Canada spokesperson shared.
Asked about the intent behind the hospital board’s letter to council, which doesn’t make specific reference to the urban park proposal, Walton said it was meant “largely to avoid speculation.”
“Our desire is not to create any sort of controversy with respect to land use,” said the CEO. “The reformatory lands represent a parcel of land that we would evaluate, but it would be evaluated alongside any other parcel of land that could be considered for use by a hospital as well.”
It has not been identified as the preferred site, Walton stressed, acknowledging the property appears to meet at least some initial criteria such as size, serviceability and road access.
Upon request, both Walton and Guthrie recently provided a copy of the letter to GuelphToday.
Meanwhile, Urban Park Guelph proposes the former reformatory property be declared a national urban park – an initiative announced in the 2021 federal budget to create a network of 15 urban parks throughout the country.
The group sees it as a way to preserve the historic reformatory property, advance Indigenous reconciliation and maintain public accessibility.
The letter from Guthrie, Schreiner and Longfield states, “When a new call for proposal is issued in the coming years we will revisit our community plans for this land.”
However, a Parks Canada spokesperson told GuelphToday via email it’s “not stopped accepting proposals” since the program’s inception in 2021.
“Parks Canada is still accepting proposals and welcomes interested parties to contact the national urban park project team,” wrote spokesperson Megan Hope. “It is too early to communicate when the future sites will be identified.”
Earlier this month, Parks Canada and St. John’s, Nfld. announced plans to establish a national urban park there, but a specific location has yet to be determined.
Guelph city council has not taken a stance on the proposed national urban park at this time, but Coun. Erin Caton told GuelphToday they’re planning to bring forward a motion of support in the coming months.
“It’s a huge opportunity for us not only to maintain greenspace but to get the funding to do that,” said Caton, noting the city’s current “budget crunch” as various projects are delayed and altered in an effort to lessen property tax increases.
“We’re … crafting a motion that would help them get the municipal support that they need as a part of the mandate from Parks Canada.”
That motion will be put forward in September, Caton said.
Coun. Carly Klassen confirmed her intent to second the support motion.
“We should certainly be considering it,” Klassen said of support for the park plan. “Something like a national park is interesting for a small community.”
