Approved by City Council, the redevelopment of Bridgepoint Health will begin this fall. This new state-of-the-art facility will be connected to the Old Don Jail which, like the club house, is being preserved.

The Old Don Jail will house the new Bridgepoint Collaboratory for Research and Innovation in complex chronic disease. The campus will also include a new park and pedestrian/cycling paths to Riverdale Park.

Aerial photograph of clubhouse relocation Click image for larger pdf version

Plan of clubhouse relocation Click image for larger pdf version

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To handle the move, Bridgepoint worked with a firm that has expertise in moving heritage buildings, Laurie McCulloch Building Moving. The club house was moved over land in the spring of 2009 to prevent disruption to TTC streetcars and traffic in the area.

Identifying the location of park features, ranging from buildings to tree placement is a team endeavour planned with the expertise of arbourists, landscape architects, heritage preservationists, archaeology specialists, and of course park staff who know the patterns of use and are familiar with community needs.

For public safety, a small part of Riverdale Park has been fenced off where the club house currently sits so work on its basement can begin. The club house will be fully restored by the City, with the work to be completed in 2010. The club house will eventually have a new use, and there will be public engagement on this future use. It will not be used as a lawn bowling club so bowling greens are not required. The club house will be tucked into the corner at the park service road and Broadview Avenue and is surrounded by a large amount of flat land that will continue to be available for recreation use such as soccer or tai chi. The location makes is a practical location for its future use; it is easily accessible year round by walkers, cyclists and close to a pair of streetcar stops.

The planned route for the spring move was (see map above) selected to have the least impact on trees in the park. In total, 11 trees were removed; 9 of those trees were dying. These trees will be replaced with 65 new trees (native species such as maple and beech) as part of a major replanting planned for Riverdale Park.

Riverdale Park is 17.86 hectares or 44 acres in size. The club house, once completed, will be 345 sq. metres or 3,714 sq. ft.

Project Update