Park and trail planning

Guelph has over 1000 hectares of parks and open space where you can find over 150 km of trails and paths, and heritage features including Allan Mill, Goldie Mill, IODE Fountain, Blacksmith Fountain, Riverside Floral Clock Gardens, John McCrae Gardens, Speed Skating Rink Façade, Guelph Farmers’ Market, and the Boathouse.

Park planning and revitalization

• Crane Park revitalization
• Emerald ash borer (EAB) plan
• Guelph Trail Master Plan
• Orin Reid Park Master Plan
• Park Plan
• Parks and Recreation Master Plan update

Parkland Dedication Bylaw

Guelph’s Parkland Dedication Bylaw ensures that our parks and open spaces grow along with the rest of the city.

When considering planning and development applications under The Ontario Planning Act applicants may be required to provide land for parks or payment in lieu of parkland.

Funds collected through payment in lieu of parkland help the City:

• Purchase new parks
• Build, improve or repair recreational buildings
• Purchase equipment for parks and recreation spaces

Parkland Dedication Bylaw review

The City has initiated an update of the Parkland Dedication bylaw and is creating a Parkland Acquisition Strategy. Together, the bylaw and Parkland Acquisition Strategy will assess long-term cash-in-lieu revenue projections, the City’s ability to meet Official Plan parkland targets and other strategies to support the community’s recreational needs. Learn more about this review.

Trail Planning

Guelph has over 1000 hectares of parks and open space where you can find over 150 km of trails and paths.

• Guelph Junction Railway Multi-Use Trail
• Hadati Creek: A critical link
• Speedvale underpass trail

Park, Trail and Open Space Manual

The Park, Trail and Open Space Manual helps guide how parks, trails and open spaces are planned and built in Guelph. These spaces are important; they make the city more fun, healthy and welcoming. As Guelph grows, it’s important that these spaces grow too. The manual explains the steps and guidelines the City follows, based on local and provincial legislation and policies.

• Park, Trail and Open Space Manual

You can find more information about how the Park, Trail and Open Space Manual is used to design and construct public spaces in the Appendix section. Each Appendix is included in the manual, and available below:

• Appendix A: Glossary
• Appendix B: Policy Documents
• Appendix C: Drawing and Submission Standards
• Appendix D: Recommended Native Plants
• Appendix E: Facility Fit Study Terms of Reference
• Appendix F: Project Close Out Checklist (Development)
• Appendix G: Project Close Out Checklist (Park Capital Projects)
• Appendix H: Standard Drawings for Park, Trail and Open Space Construction
  • Limestone Screening Pathway
  • Asphalt Pathway
  • Transition between Limestone and Asphalt
  • Light Duty Concrete Paving
  • Play Area with Engineered Wood Fibre
  • Play Area with Rubber Tile
  • Play Area Accessible Ramp on Inside of Curb
  • Play Area Accessible Ramp on Outside of Curb
  • Trail Barrier Gate
  • Property Demarcation
• Appendix I: Trail Mitigation and Compatibility Guideline