2025 Budget: Council, staff and the community work together to shape the future of the community
Council and Town of Newmarket staff began the 2025 budget engagement process to plan for the future of the community. The goal is to continue to find the balance between keeping municipal taxes low, while maintaining the high level of services that make Newmarket a top place to live in Canada, investing in our assets and preparing for the future.
From now through November, residents can get involved in the process and provide feedback to Council.
- Committee of the Whole – Review of capital and rate-supported operating budgets: Monday, October 21, 2024
- Committee of the Whole – Review of the tax-supported operating budget and fees and charges: Monday, November 11, 2024
- Committee of the Whole – Presentation of the draft budgets: Monday, December 2, 2024
- Council meeting – Council approval of the 2025 Budget: Monday, December 9, 2024
Watch the presentation from Committee of the Whole on September 30 to hear more or visit newmarket.ca/2025budget.
Town takes multi-faceted approach to increase parking in thriving downtown area
Over the past two decades, the Town, local businesses and building owners have invested over $30 million in the revitalization of Main Street South, leading to the continued growth of Newmarket's downtown as a top dining, shopping and entertainment destination in York Region. The continued investment in the vibrancy of Main Street has led to Main Street being voted the best in the country.
Recognizing the high demand for additional parking to accommodate visits to the thriving downtown, Newmarket Council continues to move forward with a multi-faceted approach to parking and wayfinding. This effort will result in an additional 240 new parking spaces in the downtown, including 40 new parking spaces on Church Street added earlier this year.
This summer, a temporary granular parking lot was created in the location of the former Keith Davis Tennis Club, with plans to build a modular parking structure in that location. Through its innovative artificial intelligence (AI) Loop (Parksense+) Parking Pilot Program, the Town collected extensive data which showed that parking inventory in the downtown consistently exceeded the demand for day-to-day use, including peak times. After careful analysis of the business case and the parking data collected, staff began to examine a more fiscally responsible approach to adding parking in the downtown.
The Town is moving ahead with a cost-effective solution to pave the existing granular parking lot adjacent to the P3 area (north end of Riverwalk Commons), adding an additional 150 permanent parking spaces to the downtown, including lighting.
The new proposed parking plan is more financially responsible, less disruptive and will deliver more parking spots in the downtown for a fraction of the price. The Town will investigate creative options to add an additional 50 parking spots in downtown Newmarket to meet the target of 200 new spaces. The work to pave the granular lot is expected be completed by June 2025.
The Town will also continue its enhanced enforcement program, which has successfully reduced parking infractions. As part of the broader parking strategy, ongoing efforts will include wayfinding improvements, expanded parking monitoring using AI technology, and annual reporting to Council on parking patterns to ensure the downtown area's parking needs are met efficiently and sustainably.
Read the Staff Report to learn more about parking in downtown Newmarket.