Building livable communities

Brampton is a city of opportunity, investing in planning and growth strategies
Brampton is evolving. Once a small town, it is now a major urban centre – the ninth-largest in Canada – with around 600,000 people. In another 15 years, that number is expected to reach more than 800,000.
That kind of unprecedented growth reinforces the importance of good planning.
Successful cities are planned well, with meaningful public spaces and comprehensive growth strategies. Brampton is one of those cities. Its Official Plan is the road map that guides everything from the type of house you live in, to the location of your neighbourhood schools and recreation centres, to the placement of a transit stop down the road.
As Brampton evolves to accommodate change, the City is working toward smarter growth and more innovative, sustainable development. The shining example of this is Mount Pleasant Village, the transit-oriented development in northwest Brampton. It has an elementary school and a library branch. In the winter, the public square turns into a skating rink. Commuters enjoy convenient access to Brampton Transit, Züm and GO Transit. Shops are conveniently located. Everything is within walkable distance: a benchmark for a vibrant, urban, sustainable community.
But creating a livable community isn’t just about good planning. It’s also about maintaining the infrastructure and services that keep those communities running smoothly. The day-to-day things that impact your real life, such as building and repairing the roads, bridges and sidewalks you use to get to work or school; clearing snow from roads and pathways; maintaining thousands of acres of parks and open spaces that are enjoyed by runners, cyclists, picnickers and sports enthusiasts of all ages; and planting thousands of flowers and trees every year to benefit the environment and create more beautiful spaces.
Creating a great city takes planning, and a lot of people working together. The City of Brampton is working to create a city of opportunity that meets the needs of everyone who calls it home.
Did you know?
 The City’s annual snow clearing budget is just over $12.5 million ($12 million for road operations and $535,500 for parks operations).
 When it snows, our crews maintain:
o 3,800 lane kilometres of road
o 826 kilometres of sidewalks/walkways
o 2,256 transit stops
o 77 school crossing locations
o 241 kilometres of recreational trails
o Parking lots at 13 fire stations and 66 recreation centres and other City facilities
 City crews maintain 3,600 hectares – 36 square kilometres – of land, including sports fields, park pathways, open spaces, valley lands, streetscapes, lakes and storm water management ponds.
Matte Story | February 24, 2015
 The City plants approximately 8,000 trees and 350,000 flowers every year, and maintains more than 900 flower beds.
To see how your tax dollars affect planning and services, get involved in Budget 2015. Visit www.brampton.ca/budget to find out more. Follow us on Twitter @CityBrampton. Let’s Connect. This is your City. Your tax dollars. Get involved.