The Lakeridge Health Bowmanville Hospital has taken ownership of a neighbouring property on the north side of Queen Street so a new parking lot can be constructed as part of the facility’s broader redevelopment plans.
Community donation advances redevelopment
Hospital leaders said the land transfer stems from a long-standing partnership with the Rice family. The donation is intended to provide additional parking capacity for the hospital as its renewal project proceeds.
“Building a hospital takes a community,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health Bowmanville Hospital.
Andrew Rice, acting on his parents’ wishes, described the family’s long-term intent for the property, saying they envisioned the site serving the Bowmanville community since the early 1970s. To ready the parcel for hospital use, he said several relocations and removals were completed over a six-month period.
- Families relocated: four
- Businesses relocated: two
- Buildings removed: six
- Preparation timeframe: six months
What this means locally
Hospital officials framed the donation as part of a collective effort to ensure local residents retain access to health services close to home. The site will be used for a parking lot adjacent to the hospital, which is expected to help with patient and visitor access during the redevelopment works.
| Item | Count / Note |
|---|---|
| Families relocated | 4 |
| Businesses relocated | 2 |
| Buildings removed | 6 |
| Preparation period | 6 months |
Representatives from the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation were also acknowledged by hospital leadership for their role in supporting the redevelopment. No specific timeline or construction schedule for the new parking facility was released in the announcement.
The donation highlights a local-family contribution to a project hospital officials say is aimed at strengthening health services in the area and reflects years of planning dating back to the Rice family’s early intentions for the land.
