Located in the heart of downtown Collingwood, 84 Hurontario Street represents a unique opportunity to shape a vibrant, shared public space for residents, businesses, and visitors.
A Brief History
In early 2023, the Town of Collingwood acquired the property at 84 Hurontario Street. Recognized as a rare opportunity to secure a key downtown parcel, Council moved forward with the purchase to preserve the space for public use.
Status Today
Today, 84 Hurontario Street is an active interim community space.
Following initial site improvements in mid-2023, the area was made safe and accessible through the installation of a temporary asphalt surface over the existing concrete by the Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA). Since then, a number of features have been installed by the BIA with support from a federal grant to support public use and small-scale programming, including:
- A central pedestrian pathway with green space elements
- Planters and seating areas
- A bike rack and small storage shed
- A large-scale “Postcard Mural”
Over the past two years, the site has supported community use, programming, and seasonal activations, helping inform how the space functions operationally and how it may evolve in the future.
What’s Next
The Town of Collingwood is working with Envision Tatham to guide the next phase of planning and design for 84 Hurontario Street. This work builds on Council direction and support from the Downtown Collingwood BIA to explore formalizing the site as a public open space that supports downtown activity, programming, and everyday community use.
Council direction:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Downtown Collingwood BIA Board of Directors request Council consider 84 Hurontario Street be formalized as a public open space;
AND THAT funds be allocated for consideration in the 2026 budget deliberations to action the item to further explore and develop the property.
The project will move through four key stages: stakeholder engagement, visioning, design, and construction documentation. Design objectives will be informed through stakeholder engagement, operational experience gained through the site’s interim use, and feedback gathered during public presentation opportunities.