City Centre

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

Pickering explores new City Centre concept

The City is undertaking a detailed review of the potential features and amenities for a new mixed-use City Centre and invites members of the public to help shape the project by providing input through the survey below.

Community Feedback

Thank you to everybody who shared their feedback through the community survey. Input received will help inform a business case with updated designs, financial model, and recommendations on preferred partnership and governance structures for the City Centre concept, which will be presented to Council in 2024.

This is an important step forward in realizing a bold vision for a vibrant, connected, and walkable downtown, where municipal service and program delivery, arts and culture, and residential intensification come together as the heart of the City.

The City Centre planning started in 2017, however previous designs were based on a joint development model which is no longer feasible. The City is currently exploring options to develop the City Centre by focusing on lands it already owns and deliberately reusing as much of the previously completed work as possible to avoid starting from scratch. View a timeline of the project here.

Next Steps
1. KPMG, informed by input from the community, will develop a business case with updated designs, financial model, and recommendations on preferred partnership and governance structures for the City Centre concept.
2. Council will be presented with the opportunity to approve the recommendation for preferred concept and approve proceeding to procurement and finding the right development partner.

Facilities on the Park

The new City Centre vision presents a ‘Facilities on the Park’ concept, which means that the Esplanade South roadway will be relocated a little further south, to allow for the proposed facilities to be constructed adjacent to Esplanade Park, creating scenic views of green space.

The proposed facilities and amenities for City Centre include:

  • new Central Library
  • new Community Centre with dedicated seniors & youth spaces
  • new Performing Arts Centre
  • expanded City Hall administration space
  • new Public Square
  • new connected green spaces to create a ‘campus’ concept – one on the west side of Glenanna Road (description below) to offer year-round activities and one south of the current Central Library which will offer gathering opportunities and possible event space
  • residential development – to be located above the Library and Community Centre

New parkland dedication on the west side of Glenanna Road

CentreCourt, a private developer, has recently announced a 55-acre mixed use community slated for the existing Pickering Town Centre Mall and surrounding lands.

As part of the development application process, the City negotiated that CentreCourt will convey ten percent of their land to the City for parkland (Developers are required to convey five per cent of their development or redevelopment land to the City for parkland or other public recreation purposes).

This new park, and amenities within, will be located on the west side of Glenanna Road, adjacent to the private development and across from the Pickering Civic Complex, and will be owned and operated by the City of Pickering. Precise timing for design and construction have yet to be determined, and remains subject to Council approval as part of future capital budgets. A rigorous public and stakeholder consultation process is anticipated to ensure that community feedback is incorporated into the park design. View CentreCourt media release for project details.

Please note, all images on this page are concept only.

Browse some of the preliminary preferred concepts of City Centre

Concept only

Concept only

Concept only


Pickering explores new City Centre concept

The City is undertaking a detailed review of the potential features and amenities for a new mixed-use City Centre and invites members of the public to help shape the project by providing input through the survey below.

Community Feedback

Thank you to everybody who shared their feedback through the community survey. Input received will help inform a business case with updated designs, financial model, and recommendations on preferred partnership and governance structures for the City Centre concept, which will be presented to Council in 2024.

This is an important step forward in realizing a bold vision for a vibrant, connected, and walkable downtown, where municipal service and program delivery, arts and culture, and residential intensification come together as the heart of the City.

The City Centre planning started in 2017, however previous designs were based on a joint development model which is no longer feasible. The City is currently exploring options to develop the City Centre by focusing on lands it already owns and deliberately reusing as much of the previously completed work as possible to avoid starting from scratch. View a timeline of the project here.

Next Steps
1. KPMG, informed by input from the community, will develop a business case with updated designs, financial model, and recommendations on preferred partnership and governance structures for the City Centre concept.
2. Council will be presented with the opportunity to approve the recommendation for preferred concept and approve proceeding to procurement and finding the right development partner.

Facilities on the Park

The new City Centre vision presents a ‘Facilities on the Park’ concept, which means that the Esplanade South roadway will be relocated a little further south, to allow for the proposed facilities to be constructed adjacent to Esplanade Park, creating scenic views of green space.

The proposed facilities and amenities for City Centre include:

  • new Central Library
  • new Community Centre with dedicated seniors & youth spaces
  • new Performing Arts Centre
  • expanded City Hall administration space
  • new Public Square
  • new connected green spaces to create a ‘campus’ concept – one on the west side of Glenanna Road (description below) to offer year-round activities and one south of the current Central Library which will offer gathering opportunities and possible event space
  • residential development – to be located above the Library and Community Centre

New parkland dedication on the west side of Glenanna Road

CentreCourt, a private developer, has recently announced a 55-acre mixed use community slated for the existing Pickering Town Centre Mall and surrounding lands.

As part of the development application process, the City negotiated that CentreCourt will convey ten percent of their land to the City for parkland (Developers are required to convey five per cent of their development or redevelopment land to the City for parkland or other public recreation purposes).

This new park, and amenities within, will be located on the west side of Glenanna Road, adjacent to the private development and across from the Pickering Civic Complex, and will be owned and operated by the City of Pickering. Precise timing for design and construction have yet to be determined, and remains subject to Council approval as part of future capital budgets. A rigorous public and stakeholder consultation process is anticipated to ensure that community feedback is incorporated into the park design. View CentreCourt media release for project details.

Please note, all images on this page are concept only.

Browse some of the preliminary preferred concepts of City Centre

Concept only

Concept only

Concept only


Page last updated: 05 Sep 2023, 12:17 PM