Parkland Dedication Bylaw Update and Parkland Acquisition Strategy

Guelph’s total population is forecast to grow to approximately 208,000 by 2051. As the community grows, we need more parkland to support the recreational needs of all residents.

The Parkland Dedication Bylaw sets out how much land or cash in lieu of land the City requires as part of new development or redevelopment projects. Land received creates new parks, and cash in lieu of land is used to buy land to expand our parks network.

Don’t know where to start with understanding the current Parkland Dedication Bylaw and its implications? We have a webpage for that.

It's time for an update

Recent changes to adjacent legislation have complicated our current Parkland Dedication Bylaw. We need to update our bylaw and create a Parkland Acquisition Strategy to:

• align City policies with the Planning Act,
• align the bylaw with the City’s Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) policies,
• simplify administration of the bylaw and deliver transparency, predictability and clarity about the process, and
• address Guelph's parkland targets.

The development of a Parkland Acquisition Strategy was recommended in the Park Plan and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The master plans identify that parkland dedication alone won't be able to meet the parkland targets set in the City's Official Plan and Secondary Plans.

The Parkland Acquisition Strategy will explore other tools that the City can use to reach parkland targets or recommend updating the targets to ensure residents have space for recreation as the city grows.

How can I participate right now?

We need diverse perspectives from the community, including developers, home builders, those who may need to work through the parkland dedication process, and community members who need access to parkland. We want to hear from everyone to find the right balance that supports population growth and our community well-being.

Check out the summary of what we heard in 2025.

We'll be back soon with more engagement for the community. Until then, please sign up to follow this project to receive information as it is released, and reach out to the project team to share your thoughts or learn more. Our contact information can be found in the "Who's listening" section below.

More information