Open space has become critical in this increasingly dense downtown area where so many of our residents now live in high-rise buildings. Parks provide much-needed tranquility within the busy city, with studies showing that in urban environments trees and green areas can provide a host of benefits including shade, storm water runoff reduction, improved air quality, reduced electricity use, and improved health and quality of life for residents.
ABCRA advocates for:
- Better maintenance of existing parks
- New parks and green space in proportion to new residential units approved
- Direction of park levies and Section 37 development fees to improvements to public space in the area of development
- Contribution of public space in the neighbourhood by new developments beyond the minimum City requirements
- Maintenance of existing trees and active new planting to increase overall canopy
City of Toronto to launch a pothole and bike lane repair blitz
Tomorrow, the City of Toronto will begin this year’s sixth pothole repair blitz to keep the City’s expressways, major roads and neighbourhood streets in a state of good repair. City crews will work a 12-hour shift, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., to repair as many potholes as possible.
Ramsden Park: A Park that Built a Community
The ABC Residents Association believes Ramsden Park has an interesting and important story to tell. Since the City of York’s earliest beginnings, this unique landscape has had a meaningful connection to this community. We believe that Ramsden Park meets the criteria for designation as a Cultural Heritage Landscape.
The importance of Toronto’s tree canopy and green spaces
Each Planning Report dealing with various building initiatives identifies the importance to preserve the neighbourhood tree canopy, yet the actual action to do so becomes weaker and weaker.
Secondary Plan – our shared public realm
The shared public space in our neighbourhood — called the public realm — plays a large part in making our daily lives enjoyable and creating a sense of community. This includes parks, trees, plantings, seating, public art and other features that animate and enhance our streets and the public spots where we gather to socialize or play.
These kinds of public realm elements are a critical part of the policies we want to see outlined in the pending Bloor-Yorkville Secondary Plan.
ABCRA efforts to remove intrusive utility installations
Ramsden Park Discussion Paper (2013)
The ABC Residents Association has a long history of caring for its neighbourhood parks which we consider valued resources. In 1969 ABC successfully fought the proposed expansion of two Greenwin towers on the west half of Ramsden Park, and have been Park stewards ever since, hosting regular community initiatives such as our annual Park spring clean up. In honour of the Park’s 110th anniversary, ABC hopes this discussion paper will contribute design ideas to inspire the revitalization of the Park.