Jury Lands Foundation – October 2019 Update
Repurposing the buildings and lands, commonly referred to as the war-time Camp 30 and the Boys Training School, as a commercially successful and imaginative new type of park is the goal of the Jury Lands Foundation (JLF). It would be modelled on successful Distillery District and Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto.
The site is historically and architecturally significant for Canada and Ontario. These lands were a portion of the farm donated to the Province in the 1920’s by J.H.H. Jury. The Foundation takes its name from this prominent Bowmanville citizen.
A common misunderstanding is that the JLF is promoting the use of these lands for a museum. This is not the case. The goal of the JLF is to see the use of the site for a variety purposes which, among other things, would repurpose the six main buildings in a manner that would respect their architectural character and history.
In 2018, the JLF partnered with the Municipality to explore what this could look like. At its heart, the Jury Lands will be the centre of a new neighbourhood. The vast majority of the lands would be a park for use by residents of the neighbourhood and part of the “circle of green” connecting to parks and green spaces in a ring around Bowmanville.
This would be a different type of park. At the centre would be the flexible use “Great Lawn” which could host a variety of cultural events, informal play and outdoor activity areas. Smaller spaces linked to the use of the buildings could include a children’s garden, vegetable gardens and outdoor fitness areas.
The six buildings form a campus-like ring around this park area. There are a range of possible uses for these buildings including a daycare, private gym, restaurant or event venue, office incubator, special needs housing and community uses.
Throughout the site there are plenty of opportunities for interpreting the heritage of the site and buildings without a museum.
There has been interest expressed by several entities in reusing these buildings but none of this can be explored further or in detail due to the stalemate between the developer owning these lands and the Municipality. The JLF has participated in the current official plan amendment process to help resolve future land use permissions for the developer, who is seeking higher densities on the site.
In the meantime,. The JLF has been continuing its education and advocacy mandate.
In 2017, the JLF, with the assistance of community partners, built the Ehrenwort Trail across the Soper Creek connecting the Camp 30 lands with residential areas.
In conjunction with the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario – Clarington Branch, 51 tours have been offered over the last four summers with a total of 1140 people gaining an appreciation for the history of the site. Private tours and group presentations have educated 1000s of others over that same period.
The JLF website has been augmented providing more information for residents and others with an interest in this historic site. Stories are being gathered from people with a connection to the Boys Training School or Camp 30.
The Jury Lands await the resolution of the issues between the developer and the Municipality to allow for the national historic plaque to be placed within the future park on the site.