Figure 21: Heritage Heights Preliminary Structure Plan

Figure 21: Heritage Heights Preliminary Structure Plan

Source: Heritage Heights Visioning Report, 2020

Southwest Brampton

The area referred to as Bram West or Embleton has been rapidly developing in recent years, leading to the interim South West Branch to serve short-term needs. The City of Brampton is currently proceeding with the first phase of construction for a new multi-use community centre at the Embleton Community Park. Although a library branch is not included in Phase 1 of the community centre’s construction, the City of Brampton Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP)17 identified that a library could be a synergistic component if combined with recreation and community services. The PRMP also supports provision of community program rooms as part of new civic recreation and library projects (whether new facility development or existing facility redevelopment), recognizing strong demand for programs across the City, as well as support for partnerships recognizing the potential benefits of sharing resources and expertise to deliver a holistic range of services for Brampton residents.

Previous City planning exercises have forecasted upwards of 70,000 persons living in Bram West by the year 2031, suggesting 42,000 square feet of library space could be required over the next 10 years. The optimal means of achieving this square footage would be to create a District Library at the Embleton Community Centre through its second phase of construction. Like the Gore Meadows Branch which has successfully been integrated into its multi-use community centre, a similar model would lend itself well in the southwest to create a one-stop destination for many activities and centralize common infrastructure (such as parking and program rooms) and costs. A District Library would reinforce the Embleton Community Centre as a major destination beyond its first phase focus on sports and recreation.

East Brampton

There is a sizeable gap located east of Torbram Road served only by the Gore Meadows Branch, leaving a void in between that branch and its nearest counterparts at the Springdale Branch and Chinguacousy Branch. To supplement the Gore Meadows Branch, one new Neighbourhood Branch at 10,000 square feet is recommended to improve geographic distribution. In 2017, the City purchased the Riverstone Golf Course clubhouse near the intersection of Queen Street and McVean Drive with a long-term vision of converting it into a community centre. This would provide a logical opportunity through which to explore integration of a library branch.

As an alternative, the City of Brampton Parks & Recreation Master Plan recommended that a new seniors’ centre be constructed in the City’s east end through which a public library branch could be considered to complement recreational and social offerings for area seniors. The PRMP envisioned that a library branch – along with other municipal and agency-delivered services - could provide valuable services to multicultural and newcomer populations that would use a seniors centre.18The PRMP recognizes the role that Brampton Library plays in addressing the needs of newcomers and sees this as being complementary to the parks and recreation services delivered by the City.