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An Ambitious Vision.
A Natural Testament to Great Canadians.

The 2006 Plan

The landscape vision for the Veterans Memorial Parkway revitalization project was created by Ron Koudys, a London-based landscape architect. While there have been some refinements in plant/tree selection, the current direction of the project remains closely based on Ron's plan.

The 2014 Plan

600 - 800 trees in 9 projects
Installation of GDLS feature in the spring
Installation of Landscape Ontario feature “Bravery” in the Spring
Negotiations with City of London for allocation of land between VMP and Crumlin along Oxford for a Veterans Memorial Park … selection of designs on display at reception

Poppy Field initiative, Remember November 11 Association

Launch of Trees for Veterans - London … memorial tree project … $400 per tree … includes tree installed on the VMP, Engraved plaque on a feature in the Park, and a tribute page on the web-site.

It's A Tough Life for a Tree

Despite being planted with great care and professional attention, the thousands of trees going in along the VMP will face challenging conditions their entire lives. For starters, they're more exposed than most trees, and face temperature extremes and get little shelter from high winds. They're also living in soil conditions that vary significantly, and can include standing water in some seasons. Thus, the tree varieties must both drought and wet tolerant. Most importantly, given their proximity to an endless steam of cars and trucks, they must be resistant to pollution and salt.

Sized to Survive

Originally, smaller seedlings were used along the parkway. However, their low survival rate prompted a change to larger tree stock. As of 2011, plantings now use trees that have a trunk diametre of approximate 50-60 mm. These trees can be over 3 m (10 ft) tall with root balls weighing several hundred pounds - and require professional volunteers and equipment from Landscape Ontario member companies for planting. Community volunteers take care of the backfilling, mulching and staking the newly planted trees.

Tree Species

The VMP Plan required careful selection of tree species that were non-invasive but would thrive with minimal maintenance, and blend with native plants and naturalization areas. Of critical importance in choosing the trees was their ability to tolerate the harsh realities of thriving along a major parkway. A blend of deciduous (leaf-bearing) and coniferous (needle-bearing) trees are being used. See below for descriptions of some of the species being planted along the VMP.

Colorado Spruce

This pyramidical tree with green-blue needles is the only evergreen being used in the VMP plan due to its hardiness. The drought tolerant conifer grows to a height of over 15-25 m (50-80 ft) with a spread of 6 m (20 ft) at the base.

Red Maple

A common species of eastern Canada that reaches heights of 18-27 m (60-90 ft) and lives up to 150 years. Extremely adaptable and able to thrive in a wide range of locations, it's an excellent shade tree with striking fall foliage.

Autumn Blaze Maple™

A hybrid of the Red and Silver Maple, these hardy, fast growing trees (0.9-1.5 m per year) are very resistant to disease and automobile exhaust, as well as ice and wind damage. They reach a height of 50' and feature brilliant fall colour.

Redmond Linden

An excellent shade tree with a strong branch structure, this Linden tolerates automobile exhaust very well. Growing to a height of 19-23 m (65-75 ft), it produces clusters of fragrant yellow blooms in June/July.

Paper Birch

Noted for its distinctive white bark at maturity and rich green foliage, this medium sized tree grows to heights of 16-30 m (54-98 ft). The trunk often divides low on the tree into several arching branches.

Serviceberry

These hardy, smaller-scaled multi-stem trees are actually part of the rose family. Their eye-catching spring flowers and purple berries make them a friend of local birds and wildlife.

Time Line

A project on this scale requires a long term vision. The inspiration for it was sparked in 2005 with the re-naming of Airport Road to Veterans Memorial Parkway. The time line below highlights some of the key points in the project's history up to this point. To see the annual goals leading up to the project's completion in 2017, scroll down to the Dollars & Cents section.

Budget

After an initial investment totalling $1,000,000 by all three levels of government, several elements of the VMP plan were completed: the Entrance feature at the 401, the Flag feature at Bradley Ave., four Commemerative features between Gore Rd. and Bradley Ave., and tree and shrub plantings between the 401 and Hamilton Rd. Since then, the project has been funded primarily by corporate sponsors, foundations, and other fund-raising efforts.

The Numbers

$2.6 Million in Fundraising

$1.2 Million in Donated Services-in-Kind

32,000 Hours in Volunteer Time

$4.0 Million in Value to the City

Some businesses we know

Dufferin Rogers Dental Clinic Family Dentist
2032 Dufferin St, York, ON M6E 3R5
(416) 658-3384

The Resurfacer Barn Painters
1673 Richmond St #145, London, ON N6G 2N3
(519) 694-3045

Cannect Home Equity Loans
1006 King St W, Toronto, ON M6K 3N2
(416) 214-9000

Cannect Home Financing Mortgage Broker
81 Navy Wharf Ct, Toronto, ON M5V 3S3
(416) 766-2666

Cannect Private Mortgages & Small Business Loans
33 Gladstone Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 3K7
(416) 766-2666

Trinity Family Dental Clinic Whitby
185 Thickson Rd, Whitby, ON L1N 6T9
(905) 579-5551

HouseMaster Home Inspections
150 Chippewa Rd #116, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 6A2
(780) 449-3883

TPI Personal Injury Lawyers
2800 Skymark Ave #503, Mississauga, ON L4W 5A6
(905) 361-1500

Uptown Yonge Dental
2717 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4N 2H8
(416) 487-3333

Adelaide Barks Dog Daycare and Boarding
23550 Highbury Ave N, London, ON N0M 1P0
(519) 854-1214

Atlantis Pools & Spas
23550 Highbury Ave N, London, ON N0M 1P0
(519) 471-2058

Rotondi Mold Assessors
6 Richard Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, United States
(518) 852-9090

Commercial Painting & Renovations Ltd. - Internal & Exterior Painters
2339 Ogilvie Rd, Gloucester, ON K1J 8M6
(613) 769-3435

1350 Market St #420, Tallahassee, FL 32312, United States
850-668-1515

Presbyterian Podiatry in Rio Rancho
2400 Unser Blvd SE Suite 08100, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, United States
505-253-6100

Gutter Guys Plus
1021 Princess Ave, London, ON N5W 5L1
(519) 871-0636

Blue Diamond Window Cleaning
1021 Princess Ave, London, ON N5W 5L1
(519) 681-7827

Coronation Construction - Home, Kitchen, Bathroom and Basement Renovations Contractor
2215 Lilac Avenue, London, Ontario N6K 5C5
(226) 678-7266

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