The Town of Aurora retained HKLA to provide full landscape architectural design and contract administration services for the development of a new neighbourhood park on Hartwell Way, from concept design through to final acceptance. The project carried an overall budget of $1.5 million. The scope included coordination with available survey information, review of existing site conditions, and alignment with the Town’s construction schedule and approval processes.

Our understanding of the project emphasized the creation of a naturalized, interpretive neighbourhood park that would serve as a welcoming gateway to the adjacent Aurora Wildlife Park and Provincially Significant Wetland. The design intent focused on innovative, nature-based play, educational opportunities, and strong integration with the Town’s trail system and broader natural heritage network. The overall approach balanced recreational use with environmental stewardship, reinforcing the idea that visitors are guests within a living ecological system.

Located on Hartwell Way, this park provides a variety of amenities for visitors of all ages. The park features a distinctive playground constructed primarily from wooden logs, a natural rock amphitheatre designed to support group learning and gatherings, and a Trail-Head Plaza equipped with a shade structure, play-themed tables, and seating. Shade sails and seating are distributed throughout the park, while a network of pathways connects the site to the Town’s trail system and the David Tomlinson Nature Reserve, improving accessibility and encouraging exploration. Additional amenities include community gardens that allow residents to grow plants and participate in local greening initiatives, as well as an open lawn area suitable for relaxation, play, and informal gatherings.