🥾 Boots on the Ground: Preparing the site for construction

Tree protection fencing has been placed around trees and their roots to ensure they are protected during construction. Some of the fencing will even remain after the park opens to allow nature to re-establish itself in reforested areas. This is an important part of the Town’s tree stewardship strategy which will keep the site natural, increasing the total tree cover for coming generations.

Selective tree removal is nearly complete. The Town is protecting as many trees as possible, and replacing every tree removed with more than three new trees. The site may look more open now, during the construction process. Rest assured it will not only be restored, but much improved. New trees will be planted at the end of the project. You can find out more about the thoughtful tree stewardship strategy for Mulock Park in this article.

A temporary chain link fence has been installed to secure the work site and keep the public from entering an active construction zone.

Geothermal Well testing on the Great Lawn. People passing the Mulock Park site may have seen the tracked drilling rig located on the future Great Lawn. The Mulock House, Greenhouse Conservatory, and Artist Studio will be heated and cooled using an environmentally friendly ground source heat pump system. Temperature measurements taken at this test well will help the Town’s engineers adjust the system to work correctly.

Some building demolition and revitalization. The existing pool house and garage will be demolished as they are at the end of their service lives. The garage site will be the location for the new Greenhouse Conservatory. The existing stable will be restored and converted into the artist studio. The stable will undergo selective, careful demolition to preserve key elements. Nearby residents can expect some noise when the pool house and garage come down.

Earth-moving and excavation is expected to start later in March. All trucks are required to use Yonge Street or Mulock Drive for access. Neighbours may experience some noise, dust, and vibration, depending on the weather. We are working with the Contractor to minimize these impacts. Soil excavated on the site will be used to build new landscape features, saving on trucking costs and impacts.