Mulock Park News and Updates

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.