Ontario
Population: 210,281
- Richmond Hill is above the average for natural parkland as a percentage of total parkland at 65%
- Richmond Hill is one of 50% of cities with a community park group program.
- Richmond Hill is one of 50% of cities that have a policy to waive permit fees for groups that show financial need.
- Richmond Hill is initiating a review of their parks plan in 2021 to further explore the integration of climate resilience elements into the city’s park system, and to improve access to linear parks and greenway systems for residents and workers along the Yonge Street Growth Corridor.
- A Section 37 Agreement with the developer of a mixed-use condo development (the first of such agreements in Richmond Hill) will result in the development of Sunnywood Local Park, complete with a playground, fitness equipment, and a multi-use pathway connecting the Linear Strata Park and nearby bike lanes.
- Richmond Hill extended seasonal use of certain park facilities in response to COVID-19, including keeping six tennis courts and all pickleball courts open through the winter to allow for winter recreation.
5.0
ha parkland per 1000 people
1043 ha of total parkland
65%
of total parkland is natural area
683 total ha
6%
of parkland is environmentally significant/protected
64 total ha
10%
of total city land is parkland
10,100 ha of total city area
2
dog parks
8
Community gardens/urban farms
1.52 ha per 1000 people
Parkland provision goal (distance to park / ha per 1000 people)
0.9
volunteers / 1000 people
183 total
4
community park groups
Yes
Policy to waive permit fees for groups with financial need.
$33
Parks operating budget per person
$6,889,200 total
$4,254,400
Total parks capital budget
5%
Provincially legislated tools available for parkland dedication, acquisition and/or development
Municipalities are able to require up to 5% of the land area of a residential development for parkland or, through an alternate rate bylaw, one hectare in land per 300 units or the equivalent in cash-in-lieu of one hectare per 500 units. Municipalities are also able to require 2% of commercial or non-residential development for parkland or the equivalent in cash-in-lieu. Municipalities may also fund eligible parks improvements through Development Charges and may choose to collect funding for parkland through a Community Benefits Charge, but overlap between these tools must be avoided.
¹There are an additional 935 ha of natural parkland owned by conservation authority and province. ²Decrease from last year due to reclassification of lands. ³Discounts between 30-50% ⁴Decrease from 2020 due to transfer of staff costs from parks operations to the Snow Windrow Program. ⁵Excludes staff salaries.
