"The BRONTE BUTTERFLY FOUNDATION" - who are they?
The Bronte Butterfly Foundation is a Registered Charitable Organization (866144587RR001) with a maximum of eleven Board members from within the Halton community. The Foundation is in charge of fund raising and building the proposed development.

Current board members:

Tax receipts/charitable status: The Bronte Butterfly Foundation is a federally registered charitable organization, with tax # 866144587RR001. Tax receipts will be provided upon request.

How did his project come about?
please read "ABOUT THE PROJECT Introduction - project background" on the main page

How big is the proposed Bronte Butterfly development within the Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park?

• Proposed total development area: 1.4ha (14,000m2) or 3.5 acres (150,650sq.ft.)
• proposed total garden area: 5,545m2 or 1.37 acres (59,700sq.ft.)
• proposed native butterfly habitat area: 2,250m2 or 0.56 acres (24,000sq.ft.)
• proposed butterfly nectar food source gardens (within Butterfly wings): 1,260m2 or 0.31 acres (13,550sq.ft.)
• proposed total Butterfly structure area: 3,640m2 or 0.90 acres (39,200sq.ft)
• Proposed individual garden sizes:
  • large general garden (native butterfly habitat): 1,500m2 or 16,000sq.ft.
  • small general garden (native butterfly habitat): 750m2> or 8,000sq.ft.
  • large inside garden (west of Butterfly): 1,000m2 or 10,700sq.ft.
  • small inside garden (west of Butterfly): 370m2 or 4,000sq.ft.
  • large circle garden inside Butterfly wing (nectar food source): 360m2 or 3,875sq.ft. - each
  • small circle garden inside Butterfly wing (nectar food source): 120m2 or 1,300sq.ft. - each
  • centre garden inside Butterfly wing (nectar food source): 150m2 or 1,600sq.ft. - each
  • formal garden semi-circle west-bottom: 170m2 or 1,800sq.ft.
  • formal garden semi-circle west-top: 170m2 or 1,800sq.ft.
  • formal garden semi-circle east-top: 225m2 or 2,750sq.ft.
  • formal garden semi-circle east-bottom: 70m2 or 750sq.ft.
• Proposed plant material: the Bronte Butterfly is a conceptual design and as such no detailed design for planting has been undertaken.
• Proposed non-garden elements:
  • Proposed total paving stone area: 3,800m2 or 40,900sq.ft.
  • Proposed total rubber paver area: 1,065m2 or 11,460sq.ft.
  • Proposed interpretive centre/facilities building foot-print: 110m2 or 1,200sq.ft.
  • Proposed uses of interpretive centre/facilities building:
    • butterfly interpretive centre, programming to be developed
    • compressors, pumps and electrical distribution system for skateway
    • "Zamboni" - garage
    • concession stand
    • possible change room/washroom
    • configuration/size of building to be finalized.
  • Proposed lookout size: 110m2 or 1,200sq.ft., barrier-free access via a 2m or 6ft wide boardwalk.
  • Proposed lake fountain:
    • water-spray 10-30m or 30-100ft (pending bid-level funding received)
    • subject to approval by the Bronte Outer Harbour Marina and other jurisdictional bodies.
  • Proposed benches: 77 in total, 6 feet wide, currently 27 designated for around the Butterfly.
  • Proposed trellis structure to be deleted from project

What are the components and sizes of the proposed Butterfly structure?

• Proposed total area: 3,640m2 or 0.90 acres (39,200sq.ft)
• Proposed antennae; water-fountains and channels:
• Fountain height - each: 3m or 10ft
• Channel length - each: 22m or 70ft
• Operational: May - October
• It is anticipated that high volumes of lake-water (subject to approval by jurisdictional bodies) will be pumped to the top of the fountain spilling into the channels leading to the waterway.
• Proposed skateway/waterway in the shape of a butterfly:
• Area: 1,030m2 or 11,000sq.ft. (like skating around half a soccer/football field)
• Dimensions: 5x206m or 16x675ft
• Depth from grade: 30cm or 12 inches
• Water depth - summer: 20cm or 8 inches
• Ice depth - winter: 25 to 37mm or 1.0 to 1.5 inches
• Waterway operational: May - October
• Skateway operational: December to March (weather permitting)
• Water will enter the waterway from the antennae channels and will exit at the rear of the Butterfly to enter the waterfalls. The waterway can not be used as a wading pool (we anticipate using lake-water).
• Walkways surrounding skateway/waterway in the shape of a butterfly:
• 2m or 6ft wide rubber paver walkway on outside perimeter, with 1m or 3ft rubber paver walkways in the Butterfly's wings.
• Proposed waterfall alongside sunken patio:
• Length - each: 35m or 115 ft
• Size - each: 72m2 or 775sq.ft.
• Operational: May - October
• Water from the waterway will be directed via the rear of the Butterfly through perimeter channels alongside the sunken patio. After falling twice amongst a series of small waterfalls it will exit the patio area and be discharged back into the lake.
• Proposed sunken patio - the body of the Butterfly:
• Area: 280m2 or 3,000sq.ft.
• Dimensions: 8x27m or 25x90ft
• Depth from grade: 70cm or 28"
• Accessibility: Summer barrier-free via two 3m or 10ft wide summer-bridges and ramps at head and the rear of the Butterfly (Winter only accessible by stepping into and out of skate-area since no winter bridges) and two 2m or 6ft wide summer-bridges at each wing.
• The top of the two waterfall structures are connected via steel arches while the base of the waterfall structure is comprised of built-in seating.
• Steel arches proposed to be 3.3m or 11 ft at its highest point measured from sunken patio level, 2.2m or 7.5ft at side of built-in seating and have a maximum span of 16.1m or 53ft.
• Winter-shelter: a poly-tarp is to be installed over the steel arches during winter to provide shelter from the elements.

Conservation and ecology: the park is to be designed with high ecological standards (reduce, reuse, recycle; conservation; composting). Spraying of pesticides and herbicides will not be allowed within the park. We even foresee a new by-law forbidding such practices within Oakville.

Educational and ecological programming: to be developed at the Phase 1 (design) stage.

Current drainage problem in park: special design considerations will address the problem.

Irrigation of gardens: a sprinkler system has been allowed for. Water conservation will be stressed.

Past process: "Region sees merit in the Proposed Millennium Project by the Bronte Village B.I.A. and Regional Staff will work with them and other stakeholders in moving the concept forward" - Regional Council, Feb. 10, `99

Process to be followed:

Base information: provided by the Region (received data from others). Some of the information presented in the Conceptual Master Plan is not  up to date. The site was fully surveyed in 2000 and the new topographical information such as grades and trees is being incorporated into the plans.

Why is the Butterfly facing the way it is? The Butterfly is facing exactly South, the direction in which migratory butterflies fly.

How are skaters kept out of the Butterfly's gardens? With crowd-control barriers placed into the “concrete curb” along the inside perimeter of the skateway.

Entrance fee: since this is to be a park for the people and funded by the people we anticipate there being NO entrance fees in summer nor in winter.

Geese: the design of the park will take the problem into consideration and hopefully will be a deterrent to the geese. There are some harmless auditory devices available that are being investigated to keep the geese away.

Parking: Parking will be allowed on the Marina parking lots and in summer at the boat-storage area if not in use by the marina. In working with the Town, future strategically placed parking signage should minimize any anticipated problems. Amongst other things, weekend shuttle bus service from the Regional parking lot and other areas of town are being considered.

Traffic: In working with the Town, future strategically placed traffic signage should minimize any anticipated problems.

Waterfront Festival/Art in the Park/other programming: All current park activities can be accommodated including anticipated new programming.

Bronte Outer Harbour Marina: The marina organization has expressed favourable comments and will allow their parking to be utilized when not in use, and at their discretion.

Barrier-free accessibility: the entire site is to be barrier free in summer and in winter, weather permitting, except for the actual Butterfly (no bridges in winter).

Emergency/security/maintenance access: main pathways are a minimum of 3m or 10ft wide and can withstand the weight of an emergency vehicle. The two main bridges+ramps inside the Butterfly are 3m or 10ft wide allowing police car/maintenance truck access.

Additional amenities (BBQ's, tables etc.): this development does not address this issue but further future developments of the park may.

Children's play area: this development does not address this issue but further future developments of the park may. The closest playground is at Marine Drive and Nelson Street.

Are my tax dollars being spent? Yes and No; No, the park is being developed by private and corporate funding. Yes, we have applied for provincial and federal  funding, tax dollars that have been set aside for projects such as ours. Yes, the Town of Oakville is considering to provide 50% of the maintenance costs.

Park maintenance: under Town jurisdiction. We anticipate a yearly maintenance figure of $100,000 to $150,000, which includes labour, materials, hydro etc. Other options/funding are being sought to reduce the cost. Parks and Rec. to report to council as to the anticipated maintenance cost for Town budget considerations.

Ongoing project commitment: It is anticipated that a foundation will be established after project completion: mandate - manage any excess and incoming fund raising amounts, manage disbursed for overhauls, improvements and maintenance of the Bronte Butterfly development.

Non-government funding: We have and are in the process of applying for corporate environmental funding and have received funding from such sources as Canada Trust's Friends of the Environment Fund.

Vandalism: This is to be "a park for the people by the people". We should take care of it. Increased public usage will hopefully deter loitering and vandalism.

Can paving stones be purchased after project completion? NO, but paving stones will be available for those areas not yet installed, assuming phased construction.

DONOR ITEMS - SPECIAL ORDERS: contact Bronte Butterfly office for specifications on special orders of pavers and benches.

IF WE HAVE NOT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION: please e-mail the question with your name & phone number. We will take the question into consideration and will try and answer it ASAP. - NOTE: the FUND RAISING PROGRAM GUIDE contains lots of information, please check there too. Thank you.

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Updated March 28, 2003      © 1999-2003 AESTHETICS+DESIGN. All rights reserved.