Major New Park Officially Opens in Mississauga

Mississauga | Ontario | Latest News | Lifestyle | New Openings |

Published June 10, 2018 at 10:54 pm

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If you love being outdoors, you’ll be glad to know that a major new park has officially opened in Mississauga – just in time for summer!

It’s true – the Hancock Woodlands officially opened on Sunday June 10 at 11 a.m.

The Cooksville area park, located off of Camilla Road near The Queensway at 2151 Camilla Road, is actually a historic property and former commercial nursery that was originally owned by Leslie and Dorothy Hancock.

According to the city, the property was owned and operated as a commercial nursery by the Hancock family from 1930 until 2010, at which time the city acquired the land for the park.

The park’s construction is finally complete, and a host of new amenities will be available there, including a natural playground, a unique tree garden, an urban orchard, rain gardens, walking pathway loops, shade shelter and perennial and ornamental grass displays.

It’s also home to the Ecosource Hancock Community Garden, where residents can grow their own food.

The entire property spans 2.727 hectares (6.738 acres) and boasts 1.309 hectares (3.235 acres) of wooded space full of naturalized plants and trees.

According to the City of Mississauga, the park was rejuvenated in partnership with The Riverwood Conservancy and Ecosource Canada.

You might be wondering – who is the Hancock family?

The Hancock family is actually fairly iconic, boasting enormous influence on Canada’s horticultural industry by pioneering the Rhododendron project in the country. They have also received international acclaim for their contributions to landscape architecture and urban planning.

According to the city, this property has been continuously occupied by members of the Hancock family since Leslie and Dorothy Hancock–who met in Nanking, China in 1923–first took it on in the first part of the 20th century. The property was home to the couple and their three children, Macklin, Don and Marjorie. Even now, family members continue to occupy three residences adjacent to the nursery property.

Throughout the 1930s and 40s, the nursery slowly expanded with the additions of the outbuildings, including the shed, the header house (1936), and three glass roofed greenhouses (1937). According to the city, the shed and greenhouses were bermed into the sandy ridge, providing natural cooling and installation throughout the year.

Mayor Bonnie Crombie and members of Council were in attendance at the grand opening this past Sunday, as well as members of the Hancock family, Friends of Hancock Woodlands, and some other special guests.

Have you visited the park yet?

Photos and information courtesy of City of Mississauga

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