There is an emerging concept that cities globally should strive to be a “15-Minute City”. That is a city in which, wherever you live, everything you need is located within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. While European in concept, many Canadian cities such as Vancouver and Ottawa, as well as American cities such as Portland, Detroit, and Seattle, are also looking for similar solutions. 15-minute cities are built from a series of 5 minute neighbourhoods, also known as complete communities or walkable neighborhoods. The concept has been described as a return to a local way of life. The climate crisis and global COVID-19 pandemic are combining to accelerate consideration and implementation of this concept in many locations.
I believe that Newmarket may be the only 15-minute town in Ontario and perhaps in Canada. At less than 39 square kilometres, Newmarket is geographically very small by municipal standards making it compact, very walkable and bikeable. As we continue to grow and we continue to add amenities we need to think about striving to enhance our ability to move around Newmarket on foot and on a bike. We need to build on the popularity of the Tom Taylor Trail and expand the existing 44-kilometre trail network in town by adding more trails, multi-use paths and bike lanes.
We are now completing the engineering work for an off-road multi-use path (MUP) that will run the full length of Mulock Drive. We also need to make sure that new developments have retail and/or live-work units. I can assure you that while we may find our town busy at times, this energy and density is our strength. We are a model in Ontario for a 15-minute city and how people living in our town can walk to retail and restaurants and recreation which is located all along Yonge, Davis, Leslie, Mulock and of course downtown. I think most people love a good walk and especially if a good dinner and a glass of wine are at the other end! As Newmarket evolves and prospers keep in mind the 15-minute city and the high quality of life it enables.