A new park is set to be named after Innisfil’s longest-serving mayor.
The park being constructed at 25th Sideroad and Lockhart Road as part of the Innisvillage development will be named Jackson Park in recognition of Brian Jackson, who was head of council from 1998 to 2010.
Mayor Lynn Dollin — who served as councillor during Jackson’s tenure — put his name forward and called the recognition “well deserved.”
“To serve that long in the big chair is not an easy task, and he should be commended,” Dollin said during council’s March 12 meeting. “I would acknowledge it was through some pretty tumultuous times in Innisfil, and we needed a strong leader.”
Jackson was on hand at the meeting and was offered the floor to speak to the honour.
He was humble in his remarks, saying his genuine honour was to be in the chambers and observe the work the current council is doing, especially given current events.
“It’s wonderful to see local democracy in action considering what’s going on around us and our neighbours,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see you folks working hard to make Innisfil a wonderful spot to live and work and raise a family.”
He also emphasized the importance of recreational spaces in the community and expressed his eagerness to see the park bearing his name grow.
“Parks are a critical component of making a community, and I look forward to watching that community over the next few years as it grows and develops,” Jackson said.
However, the park construction and naming has not been straightforward.
The developer of Innisvillage, Parkbridge, recently approached the town to accelerate the construction timeline of the park, hoping for it to begin this summer. Following proper procedure, construction would be pushed back at least another year, staff reported to council.
But having the developer construct the park would fall outside the eligibility criteria for single or sole-source awarding under the town’s purchasing bylaw. Council decided instead to waive the requirements in this case so that residents can enjoy the new amenity sooner, and cost increases due to inflation or tariffs could be mitigated.
“Accelerating the construction timeline aligns with the community and Council's strategic goals for expeditious development of recreational spaces, thereby enhancing community facilities more quickly,” the staff report stated. “By fast-tracking the park construction with the developer's assistance, the park construction can occur in 2025, and town resources can continue to be allocated to other essential capital projects.”
Under the town’s park naming policy, the primary naming option for the park would be based on geography: in this case, likely Lockhart Park. Concerns were raised that this could cause confusion with Lockhart Lakeside Park, so other options were put forward, including Middlemass Park or Lamb Park, which would reflect nearby streets and honour veterans from the area.
Jackson wasn’t on the approved list as a potential street name, staff reported, but could be considered as a “council-directed name” as per the naming policy.
The 2025 budget for the new development parks program is about $6.1 million, funded from development charges. About $3.5 million is specifically allotted for Jackson Park.