Problematic Park Design - Why Some Parks Don't Work

[Northern Light]

Hey @Northern Light, any plans on a 2026 edition?

If so, here is one request: Oakridge Park at Warden & Danforth. As a born-and-raised east ender, I had no idea the park existed until last Wednesday.

Via Google Maps

I have no specific plans around doing more of these, but I'm happy to take a look at this one if you wish. Though, I might treat it a bit differently as it strikes me as a great example of the City not following its own Parks plans for areas, in this case Oakridge, where a comprehensive Plan for the area was made many years ago and there has been little to no progress on its key priorities, even while there's 900M in Parkland Acquisition Reserves.

I can't seem to find the original Parks Plan just at the moment, it might be embedded in the Official Plan, I can't remember........

At any rate, from a 2008 report, here: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2008/sc/bgrd/backgroundfile-9651.pdf

And from the same report: (Danforth is running vertically in the image)

Oakridge Park's enlarged size is in the circle.

Madeleine Park is at the bottom left, and you can see it is also much larger than today.

****

Elsewise, I might take a look at any new or completely re-done park space that comes online this year; we shall see.

 

[PL1]

I have gathered running by this park over the years that this used to be the site of a public school. I wonder why it was demolished, if so

 

[Northern Light]

I have gathered running by this park over the years that this used to be the site of a public school. I wonder why it was demolished, if so

It was the site of Oakridge Public School, which still exists, it was relocated to a combined campus with Oakridge Community Centre, and Samuel Hearne Middle School, which is on the east side of Pharmacy, just north of Denton. The new Oakridge itself sits on Byng Avenue

This is a photo of the old school:

Source: https://www.facebook.com/VintageTor...-where-i-attended-from-1956/7251142424955679/

The old school (as seen above) was demolished in 1967, apparently, due to a termite infestation.

This (below) is the contemporary school:

Also, @PL1 do you know what a bad example you set for the rest of us by running that far away from where you live, presumably doing a loop of 10km or more? I mean really. So irresponsible. LOL

 

[PL1]

It was the site of Oakridge Public School, which still exists, it was relocated to a combined campus with Oakridge Community Centre, and Samuel Hearne Middle School, which is on the east side of Pharmacy, just north of Denton. The new Oakridge itself sits on Byng Avenue

This is a photo of the old school:

View attachment 720100
Source: https://www.facebook.com/VintageTor...-where-i-attended-from-1956/7251142424955679/

The old school (as seen above) was demolished in 1967, apparently, due to a termite infestation.

This (below) is the contemporary school:

View attachment 720101

Also, @PL1 do you know what a bad example you set for the rest of us by running that far away from where you live, presumably doing a loop of 10km or more? I mean really. So irresponsible. LOL

I'm sorry I ran 17.5 km today. I'm trying to get fit again... I'm 6 years removed from my regular 80 km weeks

Also, thanks for the photos of the old school!

 

[Northern Light]

I'm sorry I ran 17.5 km today. I'm trying to get fit again... I'm 6 years removed from my regular 80 km weeks

Also, thanks for the photos of the old school!

Dear @#$#..

I'm nowhere near as fit as I should be, but when I was, I still hated running. I liked cycling, and hiking.....but running just struck me as cruelty for its own sake. I could never be that masochistic.

****

My longest hike (not run) ever, was 23km.....up on the Bruce Peninsula. Rugged stuff, one hell of a workout.....took me (and 3 other very fit guys) about 4 1/2 hours.

But we all didn't move after we got back to camp......I mean, to the washrooms............but elsewise,..........nowhere til the next afternoon. Everyone had blisters, and wall had good hiking boots on!