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2.0 OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

The guidelines outlined in this section are intended toensure the planning and design of Open Space Systemsare consistent with the City’s overall civic designobjectives.

In addition to their role as a key structural element ofthe community, the Open Space System performsseveral principle functions. These are:

• Establishing the character of neighbourhoods,

• Enhancing the built environment, and

• Providing both passive and active recreationalopportunities within the various types of openspace and the different categories of parks.

The design of the Open Space System and itscomponent parts, namely Parks, Open Space Links,the Mulit-Use Trail System, Natural Features andStormwater Managment Facilities, must be thoughtful,deliberate and support a balanced vision for recreation,urban design, natural systems and community identity.In particular they must be designed with considerationof ‘Green Design’ principals outlined in the City’s AssetManagement Proposed Greening Policy.

Valleylands

Parks

Open Space Links

Multi-Use Trails

Stormwater Management Facilities

Woodlots

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2.1 Parks

The City of Brampton has established a hierarchy ofparks, to meet the varying social and recreational needsof residents. Their location and programming shall bedetermined by the City based on the assessed needand population. Parks shall be designed toaccommodate an approved municipal recreationprogram while supporting and enhancing the publicrealm.

City of Brampton Parks include:

Parkettes (Village Squares)• Size should be a minimum of 2.0 acres

Neighbourhood Parks• Size ranges from 2 - 3 acres

Community Parks• Size should be 25 - 30 acres

City Wide Parks• Varies - Size is generally 100 acres

Environmental Parks• Size varies

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Housing Fronting onto Parkette

Parkette Feature

Village Squares - Typical Plans Edges of the Parkette

2.1.1 Parkettes (Village Squares)

Parkettes provide central common green space withinneighbourhoods and key social gathering places forresidents. They should be designed as VillageSquares.

Design Guidelines:

• Parkettes shall be planned as focal points for theneighbourhoods.

• The street pattern shall ensure that Parkettes havea minimum of two street frontages.

• Streetscapes along Parkettes should be designedas Primary Streets within the community.

• Streetscapes along the R.O.W. should be designedto reinforce an urban (formalized) relationshipbetween the open space and its adjacent land use.

• Houses should front onto Parkettes to create visuallyattractive ‘edges’ to these spaces.

• The landscape along the street frontage, includingcanopy street trees, should be complementary onboth sides of the street.

• Entry/Access points should be located con-veniently and incorporate civic design themingsuch as the use of heritage roses to reinforceBrampton’s image as a Floral City.

• Hard and soft landscape elements and featuresshall be integrally designed and define and articulateactivity areas, circulation, entry points, seating andgathering areas.

• Parkette features should be located as focal pointswithin and to terminate view corridors into the space.

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2.1.2 Neighbourhood Parks

Neighbourhood Parks provide a central common greenspace within neighbourhoods and key recreational andsocial gathering space for residents.

Design Guidelines:

• Neighbourhood Parks shall be planned as focalpoints for neighbourhoods; preferably located atthe corner of two streets.

• When a Neighbourhood Park is associated with aschool, the school block and school building shoulddominate the intersection of the two streets.

• The street pattern shall ensure significant frontageof the park on adjacent streets to promote viewsand reinforce their focal nature.

• Streetscapes should be designed to reinforce theadjacent streets as Primary Streets within thecommunity and an urban relationship betweenopen space and built form.

• When bordering a school or residential areaNeighbourhood Park frontage is required to be 50-80m; however frontage on streets is preferred on atleast two sides.

• Co-ordinate facilities, design and layout withadjacent school(s).

• Playgrounds should be designed as major focalelements within parks.

• No on-site parking shall be encouraged.

• Entry/Access points should be located convenientlyand incorporate civic design theming such as theuse of heritage roses to promote Brampton’s imageas a ‘Floral City’.

Neighbourhood Park / School - Typical Plan

Park Edges

Park Entrance

Park Features

Active Outdoor Amenity

• Hard and soft landscape elements and featuresshall be integrally designed and define and articulateactivity areas, circulation, entry points, seating andgathering areas

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2.1.3 Community Parks

Community Parks provide active indoor and outdoorrecreational and social opportunities for residents.

Design Guidelines:

• Community Parks shall be planned as focal pointsfor the community, generally located at theintersection of arterial roads or major thoroughfares.

• The street pattern shall ensure significant frontageof the park on adjacent streets to promote viewsand reinforce their focal nature.

• Streetscapes should be designed to reinforce theadjacent streets as Primary Streets within thecommunity and an urban relationship between openspace and built form.

• Community buildings shall be located close to themajor intersection to reinforce Community Structureand civic identity.

• Entry/Access points should be located convenientlyand incorporate civic design theming.

• Parking shall be accommodated on-site withminimum exposure to the street.

• Hard and soft landscape elements and featuresshall be integrally designed and define and articulateactivity areas, circulation, entry points, seating andgathering areas.

• The design vocabulary of the hard and softlandscape components shall be consistent andco-ordinated with the character of the community,the surrounding houses and other open spacecomponents.

Park Facilities

Park Amenity

Community Park - Typical Plan

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2.5 Stormwater Management Facilities

Stormwater Management Facilities shall be designed asmajor landscape features and integral components ofthe Open Space System. They should be designed withreference to the design criteria set out in the City ofBrampton Green Gateways Design Guidelines forStormwater Management Ponds.

Stormwater Management Facilities provide other ben-efits to the community by:

• promoting sustainability and providing habitat,enhancing ecosystem structure and resilience(different eco-regions, native plant species, etc),and conveying and detaining stormwater on site,

• providing passive recreational opportunities,

• providing interpretive / educational opportunities,and

• augmenting the extent of the community’s greenareas and their associated microclimatic benefits.

Residential Edge

Engineered Structure

Pedestrian Look-out / Point of Interest

Design Guidelines:

• The location of Stormwater Management Facilitiesshall be determined by stormwater engineers inconsultation with Urban Design professionals andCity staff.

• Existing wetlands should be incorporated into theplanning and design of SWMs; however, provinciallysignificant wetlands shall not be permitted to beused as part of SWM facilities; any water from SWMsentering non-significant wetlands must receive atleast primary treatment beforehand.

• The street pattern shall ensure significant frontageof the SWM on adjacent streets to promote viewsand reinforce their focal nature within the community.

• Provide opportunities for passive recreation withparticular attention to safety and access issues.

• Co-ordinate the landscape components, such aslook-outs, seating areas, fountains and gazebos,with the overall character of the community.

• The palette of colours, forms and materials of thesecomponents shall also be co-ordinated to beconsistent with the character of the community.

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2.1.4 City Wide Parks

City Wide Parks provide green space at the City scale.

Design Guidelines:• City Wide Parks shall be planned as focal points

for the City of Brampton.

• City Wide Parks should be designed as majordestinations for residents of and visitors to the City.

• The planning and design of City Wide Parks shallprovide passive and active recreation opportunitiesfor residents and visitors.

• City Wide Parks will be located along arterial roads,preferably located at the intersection of major streetsto act as gateway features to communities and theCity.

• City Wide Parks may be designed as stand alonefacilities or as part of the Open Space System.

2.1.5 Open Space ‘Environmental Parks’

Open Space ‘Environmental Parks’ are a uniqueenvironmental legacy reflecting the sustainablity of thecommunity and offering opportunities for natureinterpretation.

Design Guidelines:• Open Space ‘Environmental Parks’ shall be planned

as Open Space Links.

• Open Space ‘Environmental Parks’ shall providepassive recreation opportunities for residents.

• Open Space ‘Environmental Parks’ should connectto the Open Space System and be located within oradjacent to valleylands whenever possible.

• Open Space ‘Environmental Parks’ will includeinterpretive elements such as signage andeducational elements.

Community Park Typical Plan Park Feature - Arboretum Area of Interest - Fishing Pier

Fauna Interpretive Signage Naturalized Areas

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2.2 Open Space Links

Open Space Links should be planned and designed tofacilitate continous, uninterrupted movement through andenhance the use of Open Space Systems withincommunities. These Open Space Links should also linkcommunities and the larger City.

Open Space Links may include:• Utility easements• Hydro corridors• Trans Canada pipeline easements• Expanded boulevards within the R.O.W.

(along Primary Streets, adjacent to OpenSpace, and Valleylands)

• Green Connectors / Trails

Policies and design standards for easements should beobtained from relevant jurisdictional authorities -including the City of Brampton, Hydro-One Brampton,cable, gas and telecommunications companies.

Design Guidelines:

• The planning and design of Open Space Links shalllink communities and the larger city.

• The planning and design of Open Space Links shallpromote accessibility and visibility of the Open SpaceSystem.

• Locate and design Open Space Links to mitigateundesirable views, and the noise and pollutionassociated with Arterial Roads.

• Provide opportunities for both passive and activerecreation such as walking, hiking and cycling.

Woodlot Entrance

Trans Canada Pipeline - Pedestrian Link

Utility Corridor

Open Space Link /Expanded Boulevard - Typical Pan

• Provide frequent openings and access points alongOpen Space Links.

• Design the landscape to create visual interest,provide shade and define entrances, seatingopportunities and reinforce views.

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2.3 Mulit-Use Trail System

Pedestrian and Bicycle Trails are the primary means ofaccess to and through the Open Space System. Trailsshall be provided within the plan to enhance accessibilityand ease of circulation. Most of these trails are to beprovided along Primary Roads which form the basicstructure for access to the Open Space System. AlongPrimary Roads, pedestrians shall be accommodatedwithin an allowance for sidewalks and cyclists withindesignated bicycle lanes. A City Trails Master Plan iscurrently under development and identifies theopportunity for developing multi-use trails.

2.3.1 Pedestrian Trails

The following guidelines shall apply to Pedestrian Trailsat the Block Plan stage:

• When not accommodated along Primary Streetstrails shall be incorporated into the design ofValleylands and Open Space Links.

• Combined pedestrian / bicycle trails shall be pavedwith a suitable hard surface material.

• Primary trials shall be 3.0m wide and secondary trailsshall be 2.4m wide.

• In general Trails should not be sited in low-lyingareas. Where they do occur in low-lying areas,bridges, culverts and swales should beimplemented as support systems.

• The intersections of trails with the street R.O.W’sshall be designed as trail entrances and may includesite furniture and features consistent with thestreetscape design.

Valleyland Trails

Trail Entrance

• Pedestrian connections should be provided throughand to residential areas to facilitate accessibility andpromote visibility and safety.

• Trails should be linked to key destinations andaccessible parking areas.

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2.3.2 Bicycle Trail System

The City’s objective for the planning and design of theBicycle Trail System is:

To promote the development of a safe and efficient roadand path system that accommodates bicycles forrecreational and utilitarian trips as referred to in theCity’s Pedestrian and Pathway Master Plan.

Design Guidelines:

• Link the Bicycle Trail System with sidewalks.

• Parking areas should be provided at convenientlocations along the Bicycle Trail System.

• Incorporate the Bicycle Trail System withcomponents of the Open Space System such asOpen Space Links and Valleylands.

• Site and link the Bicycle Trail System with the StreetNetwork.

• Provide opportunities for dismounting and restalong the Bicycle Trail System.

• Incorporate signage which identifies the designatedBicycle Route, enables wayfinding and promotesand enhances the community image.

On-Street Bicycle trail

Bicycle Trail within a valleyland system - Typical Plan

Signage

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2.4 Natural Features

Natural Features should be preserved and enhancedwithin the Block Plan as part of the Open Space System.These include valleylands, naturalized channels andwoodlots.

2.4.1 Valleylands

Valleylands occur as part of the natural landscape ofthe site and should be preserved and enhanced wherethey occur. These areas should form one of the orderingelements of the Community Structure.

The benefits of these natural features are that they:

• Enhance the visual appeal of the community - byproviding significant variation in landforms, and

• Provide special recreational opportunities suchas bird-watching, hiking, biking, etc.

Design Guidelines:

• Integrate Valleylands as part of the Open SpaceSystem.

• Existing wetlands should be incorporated into theplanning and design of the valleylands.

• Provide opportunities for passive recreation.

• Provide a safe continuous Multi-Use Trail within theValleylands.

• Provide frequent access points and significantstreet frontage to promote views and accessibility.

• Streetscapes along Valleylands should be formalizedand designed to provide an appropriate transitionbetween the open space and its urbansurroundings.

Signage

Bridge Connection

Pedestrian Entrance

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2.4.1.1 Naturalized Channels

Naturalized Channels form part of the Valleylands Sys-tem.

Design Guidelines:

• Naturalized Channels should be located abuttingScenic Drives (refer to V - 3.1.3).

• Naturalized Channels with housing abutting bothsides should incorporate a trail/maintenance trail.

• The layout and alignment of Naturalized Channelsshould be curvilinear whenever possible.

• The design of Naturalized Channels should be co-ordinated with Stormwater Management Facilities.

• Focal points should be created within/alongNaturalized Channels and may include landscapefeatures, entrance nodes and vista blocks.

• Frequent and intermittent access points areencouraged along the length of the NaturalizedChannels.

• Planting and landscape features should be utilizedto mitigate the engineered appearance of thesespaces.

• A variety of visual and spatial experiences shouldbe created through the arrangement and composi-tion of soft and hard landscape elements.

Street Edge

Point of Interest

Naturalized Channels

Naturalized Channel - Typical Plan

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2.4.2 Woodlots

Existing Woodlots should be preserved and enhancedas integral components of the Open Space System.Woodlots have several important benefits for plannedcommunities; they:• provide an immediate natural backdrop or setting,• enhance the visual character and appeal of the

community,• contribute to the community’s green areas and

their associated microclimatic benefits, and• promote sustainability by preserving habitat, and

plantings of variable age and species type.

Design Guidelines:

• For detailed guidelines refer to the City’s WoodlotDevelopment Guidelines.

• In general woodlots shall be acquired and preservedby the City as part of their policy to identify, define,protect and preserve environmentally sensitiveareas.

• Lots backing onto Woodlots will not be permitted tohave direct access.

• Woodlots should be designed as part of the OpenSpace System.

• Woodlots should be incorporated as the terminusfor views and vistas.

• Trails through Woodlots should be considered atthe Block Plan stage; in principle, pedestrian accessshould be limited and provided only where there isno long term impact to the existing vegetation.

• Streetscapes adjacent to Woodlots shall bedesigned to reflect an urban character andincorporate such items as formal street treeplanting, interpretive signage and other sitefeatures consistent with the Streetscape designvocabulary.

Wood Lot Edge - Typical Plan

Woodlot Entrance at Street

Woodlot Incorporated into parkland

Wood Lot Edge at Street

Woodlot Terminus