City officials are looking to get their hands part of the former Ontario Reformatory lands in hopes of turning a couple small ponds into a formal stormwater management facility – one of 15 new facilities planned throughout the city leading up to 2051.
The site in question sits at the southern end of Industrial Street, directly across York Road, east of Victoria Road. It’s part of the former Royal City Jaycees Park (not the larger ponds directly associated with the former reformatory).
A staff report released in January states city officials confirmed the pending purchase of the property last summer, but that deal has yet to go through.
“The city is in ongoing discussions with the property owner, and cannot comment further at this time,” said Colleen Gammie, city project manager overseeing an updated stormwater management master plan.
"Given that these are active discussions, we are unable to provide any specifics at this stage of the process," added Catherine Tardik of Infrastructure Ontario, which manages properties on behalf of the provincial government.
In order to be converted into a stormwater management pond, Gammie noted “some vegetation” would need to be removed due to construction, but the January report states it “would require clearing.”
“Best practices for preservation and restoration will be followed at the time of detailed design and construction,” Gammie said, referring to the ponds’ inclusion in plans to widen that section of York Road beginning next year.
The site is part of the heritage cultural district study underway for the former Ontario Reformary property, which could see the area granted protections under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Gammie previously explained to GuelphToday that surface ponds there “do not currently perform a stormwater treatment function” as they weren’t designed in that way.
“The plan would be to retrofit the existing ponds to be able to have the desired quality and quantity function,” said Gammie.
That work, Gammie added, would be done in coordination with the York Road widening initiative. Efforts in that area – from Victoria Road to the city’s eastern border – are expected to begin next summer and be completed by winter of 2026.
Though the process doesn’t require public consultation regarding the stormwater management ponds plan, Gammie noted neighbourhood residents will be approached for input. Surface ponds will see an additional level of engagement.
