Built and owned by the City of Ontario, and managed by SMG Worldwide, Ontario Town Square is part of the City’s vision to revitalize downtown Ontario. The Parks and Recreation Commission approved the development of the park on March 12, 2012. The park serves as a community gathering and event space and provides the City’s historic downtown and surround neighborhoods with its first dedicated park space.
Located within one square block of downtown that is bounded by Euclid Avenue to the west, Lemon Avenue to east, C Street to north and B Street on the South. Ontario Town Square was designed to be a flexible space capable of holding a number of different events and activities throughout the year, while creating a unique retreat for the downtown shopper, worker, and adjacent residences. The 1.77 acre park features a “pedestrian promenade,” “open air amphitheater,” “palm court,” “children’s play garden,” and future restaurant patio spaces and related uses.
Ontario Town Square is organized on a diagonal view corridor and pedestrian promenade that extends from the southwest corner of the site at Euclid Avenue on an axis to Lemon Avenue at the northeast corner of the park, providing a view window of the Ovitt Family Community Library. The entry into the park promenade, at both the southwest and northeast is flanked on each side by 8 foot high monuments that create an entry portal into the park. The monuments feature a brick veneer exterior with a low pitched hipped comp shingle roof with wood knee brackets below the eves The center areas of the monuments are used for signage and branding of the park.
THE HISTORY WALL
Along the promenade, adjacent to the north of the clock tower, is a 34-foot history wall. The tile mural captures the history and community of Ontario.
LANDSCAPE
In May 2013, the City of Ontario received a State Urban Greening Projects Grant (Proposition 84) in the amount $998,000 for the park. The Urban Greening Program provides funds to assist local jurisdictions in developing a master urban greening plan that will ultimately result in projects to help the State meet its environmental goals and the creation of healthy cities.
The grant requires California native species and plant materials to be used. Sustainable elements are integrated into the site’s design, which include drought tolerant and California native landscaping and permeable walking pathways. The landscape selections for the park include California native trees and shrubs.