Mulock Park News and Updates

The Town of Newmarket’s specialist heritage roofing contractor, Roof Tile Management Inc. has started replacement of the original slate roof on the Mulock House. The original natural slate roof lasted over 150 years, but now needs to replaced to protect the building interior. The existing painted slate shingles will be replaced with a natural green slate to maintain the heritage character and maximize service life of the roof. The building roof will also be upgraded with a new ventilation layer and improved insulation. This is part of the Town’s commitment to reducing building energy use by more than 50 percent.

This roofing work is the last part of the planned State of Good Repair work on the House, following prior attic and electrical upgrades. Work is expected to begin after Victoria Day, and continue through the autumn of 2023.

During the week of November 28, the Town is completing subsurface utility engineering on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Mulock Drive. This is exploratory to confirm locations of existing utilities, and plan for the future entrance bridge and beacon art installation.

From Tuesday, November 29 through to Friday, December 2 there will be minor lane closures on Yonge Street:

🚧 The southbound right-turn lane on Yonge Street and one westbound through lane will be closed at the Yonge and Mulock intersection from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. each day.

The work is expected to take two days; however it is weather dependent.

York Regional Police will be on-site each day to assist with lane closures. For questions, please contact info@newmarket.ca or 905-895-5193.

• Creating systems to protect trees
• Wrapping up design fieldwork
• Conducting soil investigations
• Selection of an architect firm to design the house for its future use.

Click to read more!

Boots on the Ground

• Creating systems to protect the trees: The Town is committed to picking a design that protects as many trees as possible, and replaces what is removed. Our arbourists are wrapping up a comprehensive tree hazard assessment (TRAQ). This framework systematically assesses tree condition, identifies potentially at-risk trees, and plans for their protection or replacement. Plus, we're looking to use the wood from any trees that are removed in the decor, art and landscape!
  
  
• Wrapping up design fieldwork: The Town is conducting various investigations for site approvals required by different levels of government. As part of this work, we are taking measures to protect the trees. Some trees already slated for removal due to their condition and location may be impacted early, and we are working to minimize the number.
  
  
• Conducting soil investigations: To assist in finalizing design of foundations and retaining walls, you may have noted a drilling rig on-site to conduct additional geotechnical investigations. These are soil investigations to confirm the strength, water content, and other characteristics of the earth as part of design.

And behind the scenes from the design desk:

• Mulock House Architect Selected: the Town of Newmarket has completed an open competition to select an architect for the final “adaptive re-use” of the Mulock House. Adaptive Re-Use means we are adapting the current, historical home to fit modern building requirements and create a space that can be used for various types of programs. We are excited that +VG Architects have been selected to work with Town staff to design the renovation of the Mulock House. +VG is a GTA-based firm with extensive experience in creating beautiful spaces that blend historical character and modern function. The Mulock House design team is already working closely with the park design team and our partners including the Art Gallery of Ontario. Construction is expected to be complete so that the Mulock House opens together with Mulock Park in 2025.

The Town of Newmarket is very excited to announce an official partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) that will see artworks and exhibitions from the AGO’s Indigenous and Canadian collections displayed at the historic Mulock House when the Mulock Park is expected to open in 2025.

“The Town’s partnership with the AGO, an internationally recognized museum, is a giant leap forward in establishing Newmarket as an arts and culture centre in the GTA,” says Newmarket Mayor John Taylor. “The AGO’s presence in Newmarket will not only provide a significant new cultural experience for our residents, but it will also play a part in our Economic Development Strategy to build a community that attracts tourism and economic opportunity connected to the arts.”

“The AGO is excited to expand our audience and make our exhibitions even more accessible through this partnership,” said Stephan Jost, Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario. “The AGO has a long history of loaning artworks and exhibitions from our collection to galleries and venues throughout Ontario. Thank you, Mayor Taylor, for inviting us to share works from our Indigenous and Canadian Art collections at Mulock House.”

The official announcement was made today on the Mulock property by the Town of Newmarket, representatives from the AGO, along with members of Newmarket’s arts and culture community and guests.

AGO exhibitions at Mulock House, Newmarket
This partnership will result in a five-year renewable program, featuring works of art loaned from the AGO’s Indigenous and Canadian Art collections. The AGO anticipates presenting two exhibitions per year. These will be installed across approximately 2,000 square feet of renovated space on the second floor of the historic Mulock house and select locations on the main floor.

Art comes to life in the Park
The breathtaking landscape of the Mulock Park, Newmarket’s own Central Park-inspired urban oasis, is the perfect backdrop to celebrate and appreciate the arts. Beyond the partnership with the AGO to exhibit works at Mulock House, Newmarket’s vision for Mulock Park is as a destination that will continue to increase the vibrancy of Newmarket’s arts and culture scene. Various forms of public art will shape this iconic space, creating a memorable experience that tells the story of the diverse history of the lands, starting with Indigenous Peoples, and looking forward to the future.

Programming in the Park will include an artist studio space, public art installations and many opportunities for partnership with the local arts community and beyond. The many works of art throughout the Park will complement its natural elements, allowing art lovers and all visitors to experience the power of art and nature.

The Mulock House and lands
The historic Mulock House is a 12,000 square foot residence designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. The House is being preserved and adapted by the Town for uses that best serve the community based on extensive community engagement.

The Mulock House is part of the 16-acre future park site located at the northwest corner of Mulock Drive and Yonge Street in Newmarket. The home was previously owned by six generations of Sir William Mulock’s family.

Purchased by the Town of Newmarket in 2018, this landmark property has a storied past and bright future ahead as a central gathering space for the community and destination for Ontario explorers. A skating trail, conservatory greenhouse, nature-like riverine fountain, and Indigenous elements throughout the landscape are just some of the features planned for the Mulock property.

The Mulock house will be undergoing renovations starting in 2023. The house including art exhibits, together with the full park are expected to open for community viewing and enjoyment in 2025.

Why Newmarket?
Just north of Toronto, in central York Region, the Town of Newmarket is home to 90,000 extraordinary people. As one of the most densely populated communities in Ontario, Newmarket may be small in area, but BIG things are happening there, like the transformation of the landmark Mulock Park into Newmarket’s very own urban oasis. Newmarket is proud to be welcoming the AGO to the Mulock Park, as well an eclectic boutique hotel (The Postmark) - a first of its kind in York Region which will be located on the community’s award-winning Main Street. These are just some of the exciting highlights that are continuing to put Newmarket on the map. For more information, please view the backgrounder.

About the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. In 2019, the AGO launched a bold new initiative designed to make the museum even more welcoming and accessible with the introduction of free admission for anyone 25 years and under and a $35 annual pass. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.

The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Additional operating support is received from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts and generous contributions from AGO Members, donors and private-sector partners.

The vision for Public Art at Mulock Park is to celebrate the landscape through a lens of innovation to highlight stories across past, present and future that expand our understanding of nature and our relationship to the land. This vision will be realized through four key program components: embedded permanent art, art opportunities across the site, the artist studio and temporary programming.

The Mulock Park Public Art Plan sets forth a roadmap that will maximize the benefits of public art, creating an iconic space and a memorable experience within Mulock Park.

Plan development began in August 2021 and included extensive stakeholder engagement with an initial strategy present to Council in November 2021 and a Facebook Live public meeting to gather feedback from residents in December.

Council endorsed the plan for public art at Mulock Park which was presented by the Town’s specialized consultant, Rebecca Carbin from Arts + Public Unlimited (A+P) which was presented at the May 30 Committee of the Whole Meeting. A+P developed the plan in consultation with lead architects, PLANT Architects and Town staff.

For complete details, you can read the plan or staff report and watch the presentation.

The Mulock Park public art plan includes many opportunities for local, regional and international artists. In the spring, the design team invited professional artists to submit expressions of interest for three works to be embedded within architectural elements of the Park. Selected artists will collaborate with the team at PLANT Architect Inc. to develop concepts for application to the following architectural features of the park:

• Entrance Bridge (Balustrade/Guard Rail)
  
• Wet Plaza Interactive Water Feature (Drain Covers)
  
• Maintenance Building (Gates)

Public art at Mulock Park celebrates the landscape through the lens of innovation, highlighting stories across the past, present and future that expand our understanding of nature and relationship to the land.

The Call for Expressions of Interest on Akimbo is NOW CLOSED. Stay tuned for updated on the selected artists.

📰 Newmarket Era / Yorkregion.com article by Lisa Queen published September 29, 2020

“I think they reflect what’s possible here,” said the father of sons Nathan, 11 and Ben, 13, who’s been participating in public consultations shaping the site on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Mulock Drive.

Over the past year, based on the feedback of thousands of residents, five guiding principles are in place — making the property a destination place, keeping it natural, rooting the site in history while also looking forward, creating inclusive and accessible spaces and connecting it to the town.

Click here to read the full article.

📰Newmarkettoday.ca article by Kim Champion published October 21, 2019, reporting on the Harvest Picnic with a photo gallery captured by Greg King

"Hundreds of residents took advantage [on October 20, 2019] of an invitation from the town to take a one-time-only peek at the sprawling property and main floor of the heritage home, all of which is closed to the public during the development process.

The anticipation was palpable as long lines formed for a guided tour of the storied home, where Sir William Mulock, Canada’s first labour minister and postmaster general, entertained the likes of two former prime ministers, Mackenzie King and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and Guglielmo Marconi, an inventor who laid the groundwork for radio technology."

Click here to get read the full article.