City of Windsor Parks Department

Willistead Park Public Meeting

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

5:00 p.m. to 7:00pm

Willistead Park Classification

Willistead Park is designated a Regional Park under the City’s Parks Master Plan. Regional Parks are the largest parks in our park system. They have the broadest range of amenities and uses and are designed for the greater Windsor/Essex population including visitors, tourist and guests to the area.

Willistead Park is designated a Heritage Site under

the Ontario Heritage Act .

Willistead was the first heritage designation in Windsor, with its

By-law passed by Council on January 12, 1976. The

designation was revised with By-law No. 149-2012 on October 15,

2012, to include building and property features. The Windsor

Heritage Committee advises Council on proposed changes to

the property

Purpose of Today’s Meeting

The City of Windsor Parks Department is requesting your feedback to help us gain valuable information regarding your hopes and aspirations for Willistead Park. We are here to listen to your ideas and concerns regarding the park and to collect information on future park development needs.

The City of Windsor Parks Department is here to discuss with the community :

1. Items being proposed to the Heritage Committee in early 2015, including:

• Enhancements of the FOUR existing gates

• Alteration to re-establish a pedestrian gate to the main entrance on Niagara St.

• Rehabilitation of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Fountain

• Restoration of the South Garden Parterre

2. Arboretum Concept for the tree planting that has occurred this Fall

3. Process for any Future work in Willistead Park

RATIONALE:

A. To comply with directives established in designation By-laws passed by Council in 1976 and 2012, which designated the property and the manor as heritage features.

B. To become compliant with the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) 2005, S.O. 2005, CHAPTER 11 which requires Public Sector Organizations (including the City of Windsor) to make public spaces barrier-free by January 2016.

C. Ensure the longevity of this civic Heritage Resource for all Windsorites

1. Initiation of a Proposed Project a) Issued Identified by City

Inspections b) Private citizens Proposal c) Direction of the Willistead

Board of Directors d) Budget Item from City Council

2. Development of Conceptual Ideas 3. Application to the Heritage

Committee a) Recommendations which may

or may/not include Public Consultation

4. Primary Public Consultation to review proposed concepts

6. Heritage Committee Meeting a) 2nd opportunity for Public input

through Delegations b) Recommendations for

1. Further revisions, or 2. Proceed to Council for

resolution, or 3. Denial

7. Council Meeting Agenda a) 3rd opportunity for Public input

through Delegations b) Approval

i. Direction how to proceed including

ii. Conditions not limited to: Prioritization Procurement process Timeframes Upward budget

c) Or Council Recommendations to revise and Defer or Non-approved

5.NEXT STEPS: a) Summarize Feedback from Public

Consultation b) Review with Willistead Board of

Directors c) Establish preliminary cost estimates d) Make appropriate Revisions to

Heritage Committee Application

1904 to 1906, Manor buildings erected by Edward Chandler Walker (1851-1915) son of Hiram Walker (1816 - 1899) Tudor-Jacobean Revival-style, during Edwardian Period by Architect

Albert Kahn Consisting of Manor House, Coach House, Gate House on 6.2 hectare

property

1910, Main Gates Carriage way Pedestrian gate

1914-1915, Property improvements Fences and Gates by Architects Stahl Kinsey & Chapman Neo-Grecian Porch relocated from Hiram Walker’s Manor house in

Detroit

1921, Donated by Mary Walker (E.Chandler’s Widow) to Town of Walkerville Manor becomes Walkerville Town Hall And, Walkerville Public Library (until 1978) Coach house became Police Station

1935, Walkerville amalgamated with the City of Windsor

1958, Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain relocated to south end of Manor from Railway Station

1959-1975 Manor repurposed as Art Gallery Art in the Park established 1971

1976, Heritage Designation of Buildings & Park Site 1978, Manor restorations begin

1981, Manor repurposed as Banquet Hall Parking lot and unit pavers installed to formalize existing paths

1994 - 1996, Paul Martin Sr. Gardens

2000, Park Improvements Vintage Lamp Standards installed Gardeners Shed Landscaping

2005, Rotary Wheel installed North of the Manor

2012, Revised heritage designation by-law 2013, Pathways re-established

To comply to AODA standards & Year-round accessibility Council Direction to address Gates and Queen Victory Fountain

2011-2014, Gate House restoration work

2014, Proposals for Park restorations

Willistead Park Aerial Photo 1949

North Gate And Gate House

East Gate (Devonshire)

West Gate (Chilver)

Greenhouse & Vegetable Garden

Coach House

Manor House

Parterre

South Gate (Richmond)

Willistead Park Aerial Photo 2013

North Gate And Gate House

East Gate (Devonshire)

West Gate (Chilver)

Coach House

Manor House

Celtic Cross Garden & Queen Victoria Fountain

South Gate (Richmond)

Willistead Park Proposed Site Layout

North Gate And Gate House

East Gate (Devonshire)

West Gate (Chilver)

Coach House

Manor House

Restored Parterre & Fountain

South Gate (Richmond)

Recent Pathway

Improvements

Willistead Park Arboretum Proposal

North Gate And Gate House

East Gate (Devonshire)

West Gate (Chilver)

Coach House

Manor House

Restored Parterre & Fountain

South Gate (Richmond)

Recent Pathway

Improvements

When debuted in 2015 the Arboretum will showcase 400+ trees of 125 Cultivars

Pere Marquette Railway Station & Victoria Fountain (source Detroit Yes! Photo circa 1910)

The Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain and Horse Trough, moved to its present location south of the manor house in 1958, is currently located in a high-traffic area at the junction of five paths. The proposed path layout includes the construction of a small plaza around the fountain to protect the limestone base from salt, mechanical damage and vandalism. The surrounding plaza will consist of a natural stone paving. The area would only be accessible to pedestrians and mobility devices. Along with improved lighting near the fountain, the proposed removal of the 3 Globe Norway Maples through the reconstruction of the south parterre garden will help improve sight-lines from the Manor itself to ward off unwanted activity.

Queen Victoria Fountain with Pipe Rail (source Walkerville Times Photo circa 1954)

Queen Victoria Fountain and Celtic Garden at terminus of the Willistead Tree Allée (2014)

Existing Condition

Proposed Rehabilitation

GOALS: 1. Restore Fountain with a setting complementary to that which existing in the

original location at Pere Marquette Railway Station. 2. Provide a setting for park users to ENJOY the fountain 3. Integrate the Fountain with its immediate park surroundings 4. Rehabilitate the South Garden to better reflect the original design as a parterre 5. Make the paths accessible 6. Restore the original curbs(now buried) and staircase to the Manor 7. Low ornamental fence surrounding both the garden and fountain to aid in

protection

15

Proposed Queen Victoria Fountain Restoration

Proposed Parterre Garden Restoration

Parterre Garden (1921) looking south side of Willistead Manor showing; parterre pattern, established tree allée, circular pool or garden, wide walks, and existing peripheral edge (Walkerville Times Photo courtesy of Southwestern Ontario Digital Archives).

Willistead Parterre Garden (1926 )showing details of original garden and steps (Walkerville Times Photo, courtesy of Southwestern Ontario Digital Archives)

Current Celtic Cross Garden with narrowed walks and remaining three of four Globe Maples planted in the 1980's.

The proposal for the landscape south of the Manor also includes, restoring the Parterre Garden as shown archival photography from the 1920s. This will require changing the Celtic Cross Garden located between the fountain and the manor house. Restoration will also result in wider accessible pathways than currently exist (see above) but more characteristic of the original plan (see images to the left). The horse trough near of the fountain would become the centerpiece of the restored garden, where a bird bath once stood (see top left image) . Removal/relocation of the poorly placed globe maples in the Celtic Cross Garden will also restore the southern vista from the manor down the allée of trees, as well improve sight-lines from the Manor to Fountain for improved security.

Willistead Parterre Garden (c1914 )showing details of original garden and steps (Walkerville Times Photo, courtesy of Southwestern Ontario Digital Archives)

Original North Gates at Niagara c. 1910 showing pedestrian gate near gate house (Photo from Detroit Publishing Company)

Proposed North Gate Plan

Current North Gates widened for motorized vehicles.

Concept Drawing of Main (Niagara Street) Gateway looking North

Concept Drawing of Main (Niagara Street) Gateway looking South

The proposal is to restore a separate pedestrian entrance with a small plaza to the east of the main gate linking directly to the path system with an accessible route to the manor; eliminating potential conflicts with vehicles. The proposed gate would include two metal posts with materials similar to the original fencing, with small peaks at their tops. Existing limestone columns would not be altered or relocated, and would remain the dominant visual feature of the north entry; the secondary metal posts would be functional but not call attention to them.

17 ft

Existing : West Carriage Gate along Chilver

Proposed West Gate

Enhancement Plan

Other entrance gates will include: Small plazas proposed to be installed at each entrance (with the exception of the coach house pedestrian gate) to provide a transition from the park paths to the city sidewalk. The plazas would contain relevant signage for the park and accessible information. The materials for the plazas will consist of concrete banding and natural stone infill paving. No new gate locations are proposed along the perimeter fencing.

24 ft 6 in

Exisitng East Pedestrian Gate along Devonshire Rd.

Proposed East Gate

Enhancement Plan

Concept of East (Devonshire Road) Gateway (Similar exterior treatment to be seen on South (Richmond Street) Gate

13 ft

17 ft

Existing : South Pedestrian Gate along Richmond

Proposed South Gate

Enhancement Plan

Concept of South (Richmond Street) Gateway

Furnishings: Benches and interpretive signage to be placed at the proposed plazas would provide rest areas as per the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the City’s Facility Accessibility Design Standards (FADS). Benches and trash/recycling receptacles will be standardized Walkerville BIA design

21 ft

21 ft

Willistead Park Conceptual Site Features & Amenities

East Gate – Devonshire (2) •Walker Portico •Paul Martin Gardens •Hiram Walker’s executives’ homes development •Architecturally significant residences east of the Park

South Gate – Richmond (2) •History of the Park itself •Park trees and continued restorations on the site •Architecturally significant residences south of the Park

West Gate – Chilver (3-4) •Former Greenhouse and Vegetable Gardens •Coach House •Carriage access from Chilver •Architecturally significant residences on west of the Park

North Gate - Internal Signs •Willistead Manor •Gatehouse •The Arboretum

North Gate - External Signs •The Gates •St Mary’s Church •Architecturally significant residences along Niagara or north of the Park

Interpretive Signage Interpretive markers both external to the site and internal to the grounds at the gateways, would demonstrate the relationship of that entrance or immediate grounds and their

relationship to Willistead Manor, the Walker Family as well as, other important architecture, people and events in area, in close proximity to a particular entrances. Some suggestions for

interpretative plaques are as follows:

Park Benches Similar to the other alterations recommended, the use of natural stone paving to achieve an accessible surface would be the most appropriate and help connect the gardens of the manor house to the periphery of the park. Associated with all four of the gateways would be ancillary park amenities including standardized Walkerville benches and trash receptacles, as well as modest vegetative plantings where warranted

City of Windsor Parks Department

THANK-YOU FOR

ATTENDING

the Willistead Park Public Meeting

Please remember to complete your feedback

questionnaire so we may understand your approval rating of the proposed enhancements.