Newmarket, Ontario - Historic Downtown

Historic Downtown

For over 100 years, the Downtown area has acted as a hub of commerce and cultural activity. Today, this historic area acts as the social and cultural centre of the Town and offers residents and visitors alike numerous shopping and dining options. Recent investments have been made to improve the aesthetics and function of the historic Downtown area. These investments include:

• In 2003, Newmarket completed approximately $3 million of streetscape and infrastructure improvements along Main Street South.
• In 2009, the Town received $3.4 million from the Build Canada Fund for renovations to the Old Town Hall. These funds will allow a number of major renovations that will restore the cultural landmark to its former glory and provide a new and improved venue for numerous community activities.
• In 2010, construction began on a new rapid transit service called vivaNext which will greatly enhance the look and functionality of Yonge Street and Davis Drive. This will provide increased transit options in the Historic Downtown area and provide Newmarket's residential and business community with a convenient, reliable, fast alternative to driving.
• In 2011, an urban park called "Riverwalk Commons" was created east of Main Street South, north of Water Street. This park is an innovative multi-use, multi-season recreational and cultural space for community events. This park hosts a pond that converts to an ice skating rink in the winter, a new Community Centre, a dedicated Farmer's Market area, a performance area with canopy, new landscaping and trail extensions connecting the existing Fairy Lake Park and Holland River Trail systems. This space has strengthened the role of historic Downtown as the cultural centre of the community.
• In 2011, extensive renovations were completed to the Newmarket Community Centre & Lions Hall, located in the Riverwalk Commons. These renovations included complete external refinishing as well as internal changes to make the facility more accommodating for community programs.
• As of March 2012, the Town of Newmarket is in the final stages of establishing a "Heritage Conservation District" for the downtown's Main Street South. This status will protect and officially recognize many of the historic sites and buildings along Main Street.