The future of one of Scugog’s most cherished landmarks is moving into a critical new phase as the township prepares to unveil preliminary concept plans for the Port Perry Fairgrounds. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Toronto-based consultants Darwin Pivot will host three public workshops to present “visioning” options for the 140-year-old site. These concepts are the result of six months of intensive study and feedback from over 1,000 residents who have voiced their hopes—and fears—regarding the potential redevelopment of the historic grounds at the foot of Old Orchard Village.
The Port Perry Fairgrounds visioning project (formally titled Your Voice, Your Fairgrounds) has been a lightning rod for community debate since Scugog Council declined to automatically renew the Port Perry Agricultural Society’s long-term lease last spring. While the rhetoric has softened following an interim report that highlighted “overwhelming public support” for the annual Labour Day fair, the core tension remains: how to modernize the space for year-round community use while protecting it from private development. The upcoming workshops will allow residents to participate in interactive mapping and see how consultants plan to balance the site’s agricultural heritage with new demands for accessible green space and flexible recreation areas.
Five key themes have emerged from the consultation process thus far, which will guide the May 13 presentations:
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Strengthening Community Connection: Transforming the site into a year-round social hub.
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Honouring Heritage: Ensuring the Port Perry Fair remains central to the local identity.
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Flexible Design: Creating spaces that can host massive signature events or everyday quiet recreation.
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Green Space Protection: Maintaining the walkable, open character that defines the waterfront area.
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Phased Stewardship: A focus on sustainable, long-term care rather than a quick-fix overhaul.
Port Perry Agricultural Society President Paul Puckrin has expressed optimism regarding the process, noting that the community sees the grounds as a “jewel” for all to enjoy. However, many residents remain wary following Mayor Wilma Wotten’s earlier comments that the exercise “may include the eventual sale of the park.” The township has since worked to reassure the public that the fair is safe for the 2026 season, but the final report due in June will ultimately determine if the land remains a public asset or becomes a target for intensification.
The workshops will be held at the Scugog Municipal Office (181 Perry St.) with three sessions scheduled for 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. Each two-hour session requires advance registration through the township’s project portal. For those unable to attend in person, the conceptual drawings are expected to be posted online following the workshops. As the township moves toward a final decision this summer, the Port Perry Fairgrounds visioning project stands as a landmark case for how Durham municipalities manage the pressure to develop historic public lands in the face of rapid regional growth.
