scarberiankhatru
Senior Member
We're not going to get a particularly good park...it'll end up being nothing more than baseball diamonds and a heritage forest.
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Hydrogen
Guest
That's too funny. Parc Downsview Park "old gowth." No doubt a forest of brush and grasses to be included.
unimaginative2
Senior Member
Please rename this thread Parc Downsview Park.
Downsview Park finally sees action
Mar 29, 2008 04:30 AM
Christopher Hume
It may not be time to hold one's breath, but a few deep inhalations may be in order.
After years of inactivity, Downsview Park is showing signs of life. There still aren't any shovels in the ground, but the park's recently appointed chair, David Soknacki – yes, that David Soknacki – is making things happen.
The former budget chief for Toronto and Scarborough councillor could well turn out to be just what this moribund project needs.
"When I let people know I was stepping down," Soknacki explains, "I got a call from someone in Stephen Harper's office about a couple of files that weren't going anywhere. One of them was Parc Downsview Park and was I interested. I told them I was, but I said that if they selected me, I was going to be a very active chair."
So far, he has been true to his word. Being an ex-civic politician means that Soknacki understands the importance of things such as getting the city to pass a secondary plan. It may not be sexy, but it's the first step toward action.
"It's not rocket science," he admits, "but I can't figure out why no one had done it before."
Most important, however, is the question of what will become of the former military base. In 1999, the federal government organized an international design competition for what it called "Canada's first national urban park." No one was sure exactly what that meant, but the winners were the highly regarded Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Canadian graphic designer Bruce Mau. Their scheme, Tree City, was detailed enough to be chosen, but vague enough not to raise specific expectations.
But since then, Tree City has gone nowhere and neither winner remains involved. To be honest, that's probably a good thing, as the plan bordered on meaninglessness. In the meantime, Downsview Park officials have made a series of bad decisions, most notably one to sell off a parcel of land for a big-box centre, precisely what we don't want in the city.
According to Soknacki, 148 hectares of the 230 hectares will be public open space; the rest of the land will be dedicated to mixed-use development. That would include residential, commercial, retail and a new subway station to be located in the middle of the site.
Soknacki estimates it will take two years to gain the various approvals needed from the bureaucracy, municipal and federal. In the meantime, he promises to start work on the park – specifically, a pond and large mound.
"I believe in the magic of the park," he says. "But we still need to figure out what the `wow factor' will be. It's got to be more than soccer pitches, volleyball courts or an outdoor concert venue."
Soknacki has also met with local stakeholders, who he admits are finally starting to grow anxious. Though it won't make anyone's life easier, this bodes well. Torontonians don't welcome change, even when it's desperately needed. But the fact that Soknacki is seeing "signs of apprehension from the neighbours" means they are starting to realize that after a decade of inaction, things are happening.
"I know we can do it," Soknacki insists. "No excuses."
Last June, the land was transferred from the Department of National Defence to Parc Downsview Park, and in December, PDP got borrowing authority. Until now, either move would have been cause for concern, but with Soknacki at the helm, optimism doesn't seem so out of place.
Much remains undone, and there will be many opportunities for things to go wrong. But until now they haven't been going at all.
Christopher Hume can be reached at chume@thestar.ca.
Downsview Park finally sees action
Mar 29, 2008 04:30 AM
Christopher Hume
It may not be time to hold one's breath, but a few deep inhalations may be in order.
After years of inactivity, Downsview Park is showing signs of life. There still aren't any shovels in the ground, but the park's recently appointed chair, David Soknacki – yes, that David Soknacki – is making things happen.
The former budget chief for Toronto and Scarborough councillor could well turn out to be just what this moribund project needs.
"When I let people know I was stepping down," Soknacki explains, "I got a call from someone in Stephen Harper's office about a couple of files that weren't going anywhere. One of them was Parc Downsview Park and was I interested. I told them I was, but I said that if they selected me, I was going to be a very active chair."
So far, he has been true to his word. Being an ex-civic politician means that Soknacki understands the importance of things such as getting the city to pass a secondary plan. It may not be sexy, but it's the first step toward action.
"It's not rocket science," he admits, "but I can't figure out why no one had done it before."
Most important, however, is the question of what will become of the former military base. In 1999, the federal government organized an international design competition for what it called "Canada's first national urban park." No one was sure exactly what that meant, but the winners were the highly regarded Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Canadian graphic designer Bruce Mau. Their scheme, Tree City, was detailed enough to be chosen, but vague enough not to raise specific expectations.
But since then, Tree City has gone nowhere and neither winner remains involved. To be honest, that's probably a good thing, as the plan bordered on meaninglessness. In the meantime, Downsview Park officials have made a series of bad decisions, most notably one to sell off a parcel of land for a big-box centre, precisely what we don't want in the city.
According to Soknacki, 148 hectares of the 230 hectares will be public open space; the rest of the land will be dedicated to mixed-use development. That would include residential, commercial, retail and a new subway station to be located in the middle of the site.
Soknacki estimates it will take two years to gain the various approvals needed from the bureaucracy, municipal and federal. In the meantime, he promises to start work on the park – specifically, a pond and large mound.
"I believe in the magic of the park," he says. "But we still need to figure out what the `wow factor' will be. It's got to be more than soccer pitches, volleyball courts or an outdoor concert venue."
Soknacki has also met with local stakeholders, who he admits are finally starting to grow anxious. Though it won't make anyone's life easier, this bodes well. Torontonians don't welcome change, even when it's desperately needed. But the fact that Soknacki is seeing "signs of apprehension from the neighbours" means they are starting to realize that after a decade of inaction, things are happening.
"I know we can do it," Soknacki insists. "No excuses."
Last June, the land was transferred from the Department of National Defence to Parc Downsview Park, and in December, PDP got borrowing authority. Until now, either move would have been cause for concern, but with Soknacki at the helm, optimism doesn't seem so out of place.
Much remains undone, and there will be many opportunities for things to go wrong. But until now they haven't been going at all.
Christopher Hume can be reached at chume@thestar.ca.
H
Hydrogen
Guest
That about sums it all up.
urbandreamer
recession proof
That P-D-P is really irritating and phony: Toronto trying to pretend it's bilingual. Give me a break.
299 bloor call control.
Senior Member
It's more of a requirement that it's a National Park that it has to be bilingual.
alklay
Senior Member
So we must wait two more years for approvals? What have they been doing for the last nine years? Oh, that's right: nothing.
Sorry to remain cynical but this is a neverending joke, full of unfulfilled promises and large salaries for doing nothing. And so far, we are left with a huge parking lot for a flea market, a much smaller park than originally planned and a mound and pond.
Sorry to remain cynical but this is a neverending joke, full of unfulfilled promises and large salaries for doing nothing. And so far, we are left with a huge parking lot for a flea market, a much smaller park than originally planned and a mound and pond.
ShonTron
Moderator
Member Bio
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 12,403
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I can't wait for the subway to be extended from Parc Downsview Park to Université York University.
I'll change the thread's name after I finish changing the names of all the York U threads.
I'll change the thread's name after I finish changing the names of all the York U threads.
Hipster Duck
Senior Member
I was out at Parc Downsview Park and all I saw was a chain link fence littered with flying bags of Zesty Mordant.
Fad225
Active Member
hahaha c'est amazing!
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Porc Downsview Pork might be a bit more apt. Liberal largesse at its' best.
AoD
AoD
Northern Light
Superstar
Forest progress
They do keep making progress on the forest park of the park.
Its been planted in stages by the public and contractors over the last several years.
It will be enlarged again on Sunday April 19 this year.
Probably by another 5,000 trees or so. (mostly small, obviously).
Unfortuantely with few if any of the trails in place, and most of the planting well in from Keele, few people get to see the progress that has been made, except if the they partake in the planting.
***
The rest of the park is pretty much ZERO progress. Hopefully that will change in the next 12 months. But, on the upside, by the time they get the thing done...
The forest will be mature!
They do keep making progress on the forest park of the park.
Its been planted in stages by the public and contractors over the last several years.
It will be enlarged again on Sunday April 19 this year.
Probably by another 5,000 trees or so. (mostly small, obviously).
Unfortuantely with few if any of the trails in place, and most of the planting well in from Keele, few people get to see the progress that has been made, except if the they partake in the planting.
***
The rest of the park is pretty much ZERO progress. Hopefully that will change in the next 12 months. But, on the upside, by the time they get the thing done...
The forest will be mature!
H
Hydrogen
Guest
Admiral Beez
Superstar
What Downsview needs is an afforable dragstrip and oval. This would help to keep street racers off the roads. The runway is already there. I'd love to take my bike for a run on such a strip.
Petition for the Track http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/torontostreetracing/signatures-15.html
Petition for the Track http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/torontostreetracing/signatures-15.html