- Asphalt and drainage work is underway at 6240 Main Street, part of Stouffville’s Downtown Urban Plaza project.
- The future plaza will transform the southern portion of the parking lot into a multi-use public gathering space.
- Lost parking will be offset through a lease and rehabilitation plan for 0 Library Lane lands.
- Designed by Stouffville resident Riley Rogers, the plaza draws inspiration from the Town’s logo.
- Planned features include shaded seating, a games area, a performance space, and a retrofitted shipping container.
- The project aims to enhance the Downtown, support local commerce, and create a new community hub.
- Stouffville’s goal is to open the new amenity in summer 2026, with 6240 Main St. parking spaces reinstated in the interim.
Asphalt work is underway in front of the 55+ Club as Stouffville moves ahead with its Downtown Urban Plaza project. The surface upgrades are the next step in transforming a section of the community’s core into an engaging and diverse public space.
The plaza will replace the southern portion of the 6240 Main St. parking lot, converting parking spaces into a welcoming and uniquely-Stouffville destination. Saying the project “reimagines existing infrastructure for greater community benefit,” the Town has leased land at 0 Library Ln. to help offset lost parking spaces.
“The Town carefully examined the impact of converting this space from parking to public use,” the project website explains. “To ensure parking availability remains sufficient, the Town has secured a lease at 0 Library Ln., which will be rehabilitated to replace displaced parking spots.”
“This ensures that both residents and visitors will continue to have convenient access to downtown amenities while benefiting from a new public space,” the site adds. While the Town aims to replace all parking spaces that will be lost to the plaza, the final plan may result in slightly fewer than a one-to-one replacement ratio.
Continuing through Nov. 14, the asphalt work will also improve site drainage in preparation for the future plaza. Access to the 55+ Club, the parking lot, and nearby businesses and residences will remain open, though portions of the lot are being used for staging construction materials.
Town officials describe the placemaking project as a key investment in Downtown vibrancy, intended to draw visitors to Main St. while providing a central hub for community activity.
The conceptual design for the new urban space was created by Stouffville resident and University of Guelph Landscape Architecture student Riley Rogers. By overlaying the Town’s logo across the site, Rogers used its negative space to form a pathway effect that divides the plaza into distinct gathering zones.
The design also ties to Julia Prajza’s mural on the adjacent 6242 Main St. building, creating a cohesive visual connection between the two landmark elements. Rogers, who initiated the concept as part of his academic portfolio, has granted the Town full permission to develop his vision into a permanent community feature.
Stouffville’s logo was used as inspiration for the plaza’s design | Town’s Urban Plaza Concept document
Once complete, the plaza will offer a mix of interactive and passive spaces meant to draw people to Main St. for recreation, commerce, performances, and community events.
“Introducing an Urban Plaza at 6240 Main, as well as the one at Civic Square planned for 2026, will activate the Village of Stouffville in a way never contemplated before,” Mayor Iain Lovatt said in comments to Bullet Point News. “Creating memorable plazas, for residents and tourists alike to enjoy all the Village has to offer, is part of an evolving placemaking strategy for the Downtown.”
As envisioned in the concept drawings, the site will include a mix of green space, seating, and open areas that encourage both spontaneous use and organized programming. Features include an entrance garden, a variety of seating options including picnic tables and Muskoka chairs, and a games area.
Showing residents playing cornhole, Rogers’ concept also introduces an interchangeable field that could accommodate a range of activities. A patio platform, as well as a retrofitted shipping container complete with rooftop seating, could provide opportunities for performances and small community gatherings.
Both the Mayor and the Town have noted that the renderings are preliminary, and the presented rooftop seating may not be feasible. However, Lovatt said he hopes the container’s interior space will be able to offer concessions.
With detailed design and site preparation now underway, the Town will focus on finalizing construction timelines. Staff will also work to create a slate of seasonal programming that ensures the new plaza becomes a year-round centrepiece.
The new amenity has been given a $215,000 budget through a placemaking initiative in Stouffville’s 2025 capital plan, with a goal of opening in summer 2026. The southern parking spaces in the 6240 Main St. lot will be reinstated until the Town is ready to convert the site.
