BYLAW - Cultural Heritage Designation Town Park 49 Wells St - 20180410 - 606318The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number 6063-18
Being a By-law to designate a property to be of cultural heritage
value or interest (Town Park - 49 Wells Street).
Whereas subsection 29(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 0.18, as
amended, provides that the council of a municipality may, by by-law, designate a
property within the municipality to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas on November 14, 2017, the Council of The Corporation of the Town of
Aurora (the "Town") approved the recommendations of its Heritage Advisory Committee
to designate the property municipally known as 49 Wells Street, Aurora (the "Property")
to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas the Town Clerk caused notice of the intention to designate the Property
to be served on the owner of the Property and the Ontario Heritage Trust and published
in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality;
And whereas there were no objections to the proposed designation of the Property
served on the Town;
And whereas the Council of the Town deems it necessary and expedient to enact a by-
law to designate the Property to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora hereby enacts
as follows:
The Property described on Schedule "A" attached hereto and forming part of this
By-law be and is hereby designated to be of cultural heritage value or interest.
2. A statement explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of the Property and
a description of the heritage attributes of the Property are set out on Schedule
"B" attached hereto and forming part of this By-law.
3. The Town Clerk shall serve a copy of this By-law on the owner of the Property
and the Ontario Heritage Trust and publish notice of this By-law in a newspaper
having general circulation in the municipality.
4. The Town Solicitor shall register against the Property in the proper Land Registry
Office, a copy of this By-law including an Affidavit of the Town Clerk respecting
the giving of notice referenced herein to be attached to and forming part of this
By-law.
Enacted by Town of Aurora Council this 10t" day of April, 2018.
Geoffrey Dawe, Mayor
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
By-law Number 6063-18 Page 2 of 4
Schedule "A"
Description of Property
All and singular those certain parcels or tracts of land and premises situate, lying and
being in the Town of Aurora, in the Regional Municipality of York, municipally known as
49 Wells Street, and legally described as Lot 1 E/S Wells Street Plan 68, Lot 3 W/S
Larmont Street Plan 68, Lots 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 S/S Mosley Street Plan 68, Lots
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 N/S Metcalf Street Plan 68, Town Hall or Market Block Plan
68 Aurora except AU515, being all of PIN 03650-0056 (LT), including the parkland,
playground, sports field and all accessory structures.
By-law Number 6063-18
Schedule "B"
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
Page 3 of 4
The cultural heritage value of the property derives from its architectural, historical and
contextual values. Town Park has cultural heritage value as it is a very early example of
an intentionally planned municipal park located within one of Aurora's oldest
neighborhoods.
Established in 1867, Town Park has continuously served as a gathering place for
Aurora residents and visitors alike. Town Park is associated historically with local militia
and has hosted community -wide events, sporting events, musical performances, fairs
and markets throughout its existence.
Its park -like setting comprising of an open common, a band shell, playground and sports
field, bordered by a row of mature trees defines the character of the surrounding
residential neighbourhood.
The property has contextual value as being located within the first residential
subdivision in Aurora, known as Southeast Old Aurora, abutting the Aurora Armory and
the Wells Street Public School.
Historical or Associative Value
The original 1853 Plan for Aurora (formerly Machells Corners) comprised of lots for new
housing stretching from Yonge Street in the West to Berczy Street in the East. By the
mid-1860's, the lands comprising Town Park remained vacant, but were quickly
becoming a gathering place for Village residents. In November 1867, the Village of
Aurora purchased from John Mosley, the lots bounded by Mosley Street to the north,
Metcalfe Street to the south, Larmont Street to the east and Wells Street to the west.
The Village purchased the lands for $1,000. Town Park was the first public park in
Aurora.
Town Park has been a meeting place for Auroran's and tourists throughout its history.
The Town Park has hosted community -wide events, sporting events, musical
performances, fairs and markets. Examples of such events include the Aurora Horse
Show, Victoria Day & Dominion Day celebrations and the Aurora Farmer's Market.
Town Park has also hosted prominent politicians, including Edward Blake and Sir Wilfrid
Laurier, for visits to the York North riding.
Architectural Value
Town Park serves as a very early example of an intentionally planned municipal park.
Town Park has historically been used as a recreational open space for Aurora citizens
and a parade ground for the Queen's York Rangers.
As baseball grew in popularity, both a hardball diamond, and a softball diamond were
created at Town Park. The hardball diamond was located between the Armoury and the
Band Shell, and a softball diamond still exists in the southwest quadrant. By the mid
1960's the hardball diamond was removed.
By 1950, the first permanent Band Shell was constructed on the lands, which was
donated by the Aurora Lions Club and located at the northwest quadrant of the Town
By-law Number 6063-18
Page 4 of 4
Park. The Band Shell would be constructed in two phases: the first was the concrete
stage completed in 1950 and the second was an arched roof, supported by curvilinear
steel beams, this phase was completed in 1962. By 2001, the original Band Shell was
removed and replaced with a larger Band Shell constructed circa 2002.
The park is lined with mature deciduous trees including Sugar Maple, Red Oak, Ash,
Norway Maple and Silver Maple around the perimeter of Town Park. Many trees located
around the perimeter of Town Park are over 100 years old. Other tree species in Town
Park include Hackberry, Locust, Chestnut, Freeman Maple, White Oak and Pear Tree.
Contextual Value
Situated within the heart Southeast Old Aurora neighborhood, Town Park can be
considered a well-known landmark that has defined the residential character and history
of Aurora.. Centrally located between Yonge Street and the railroad made Town Park a
natural place to greet and host visitors and dignitaries. Town Park is contextually linked
to the surrounding neighborhood as it serves as a recreational use for the Southeast
Aurora residents. Town Park is contextually linked to the identity of Aurora as it serves
as a focal point for frequently occurring concerts, events, festivals and markets attended
by residents from across the municipality and beyond. Town Park was utilized as a
parade ground for the Queen's York Rangers between 1874 and 2014, therefore is
contextually linked to the Aurora Armoury and Aurora's military past. Furthermore, Town
Park is contextually linked to the former Wells Street Public School for its use as a play
area from 1892 to 2010. Town Park continues to serve as an important gathering place
for the community. Events, markets, festivals and celebrations continue to attract
residents and visitors.
The current configuration of the east -west walking path and trees leading from Wells
Street into the Town Park is symmetrical with the main entrance to the former Wells
Street Public School. This creates a significant vista looking west towards Wells Street.
Description of Heritage Attributes
• The overall park setting, including the natural landscape of the existing park
• Its location in the core of the Southeast Old Aurora Neighbourhood, adjacent to
the Aurora Armoury and the former Wells Street Public School.
• Its orientation to the Wells Street Public School, which forms a significant vista
• The presence of a Band Shell
• The presence of a Baseball diamond
• Playground