The town of Aurora has secured more than 28 acres of new parkland since 2018, marking the largest expansion of public green space in a generation. Mayor Tom Mrakas announced the milestone, which includes the purchase of several key properties to help protect local wildlife and expand the town’s tree canopy.
The largest acquisition includes the Henderson Forest at 672 and 684 Henderson Drive, which the town purchased for $2.5 million using the Town of Aurora Parkland Reserve Fund. This site became a focal point for the community after residents fought a four-year battle to prevent estate home development on the land. The effort culminated in a January 2021 decision by the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, which officially rejected the development plans.
The protected forest is now part of a protected natural heritage area designated under the provincial Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. The land serves as a habitat for snapping turtles and endangered bat species, and it features sensitive woodland and local watercourses. In addition to the forest, the town’s recent land acquisitions include a 16-acre property on Yonge Street, which contains the historic Aurora Pet Cemetery, and an approximately 4-acre site formerly owned by the York Region District School Board on George Street.
Alongside these land purchases, Aurora has seen its urban tree canopy grow to 34%, a six-percentage-point increase over the last decade. According to Mayor Mrakas, this puts the town among the leaders for tree canopy coverage in the York Region. To build on this progress, the town council has unanimously approved a commitment to reach a 40% tree canopy target by 2035.
