The River Oaks Community in the Town of Oakville is bounded by Highway 5 on the north; the Sixteen Mile Creek on the west; Upper Middle Road on the south; and Trafalgar Road and the Uptown Business Core on the East.
The River Oaks Community is primarily residential in character with a mix of housing ranging from detached homes on various sized lots to medium density and high density residential development. The amount of high density development within the River Oaks Community is relatively small. It is intended that the majority of high density housing will be mainly concentrated in the Uptown Business Core area located south of Highway 5 (Dundas Street) and centered on Trafalgar Road.
The development of the River Oaks Community in the area adjacent to the Uptown Business Core will be influenced by the uses and functions associated with the Core to ensure a reasonable transition of land uses, to ensure adequate buffering of certain uses, and to enhance the focus and importance of the Uptown Business Core within the Town of Oakville.
It is intended that the River Oaks Community will have two public elementary schools, one public secondary school and two separate elementary schools. Elementary and secondary schools are to be located adjoining public parks where possible.
The River Oaks Community was originally to have a maximum population of 16,600 persons, however the 2001 census data indicated there was a population of 17,539 persons living within the community.
The River Oaks Community is a new community and has a high proportion of younger persons and a low proportion of older persons over the age of 65.
In the 2001 Statistics Canada Census, 35.3% of the population fell within the 0-19 age group as compared to the overall Oakville total of 28.4%. Only 3.9% of the population fell within the over 65 age group as compared to the overall Oakville total of 10.9%.
The River Oaks Community is predominately designated for low and medium density housing.
The location of the Uptown Business Core located immediately to the east and northeast will influence the provision of separate commercial services within the River Oaks Community. A certain amount of the convenience and community shopping activities are expected to be provided by the Core in addition to its Regional Shopping Centre role.
The lands at the southeast corner of Neyagawa Boulevard and Highway 5 will be a Community Shopping Area, serving primarily the residents within the River Oaks Community. Services provided will include food and department stores as well as service and retail facilities.
There are a variety of amenities located within the River Oaks Community:
The Sixteen Mile Creek forms the west boundary of the River Oaks Community. The Sixteen Mile Creek valley area contains several deeply incised ravine tributaries that are heavily wooded. These valley lands are designated as a natural area.
The three additional creeks within the River Oaks Community are Morrison Creek, Munn's Creek, and Shannon Creek. All contain public parkland, connecting walkway/trail systems and are also designated as natural areas.
The TransCanada Pipeline right-of-way forms a linear open space corridor which runs through the centre of the River Oaks Community from the east/west direction. The combined rights-of-way of Ontario Hydro and InterProvincial Pipeline form a linear open space corridor that runs north/south at the eastern end of the River Oaks Community. Both of these corridors contain walkway/trail systems that connect parkland from one neighbourhood to the next.
The River Oaks Recreation Centre has an arena, tennis courts, and squash courts for community use.
