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Rail Deck Park (?, ?, ?)
- Thread starter DSC
- Start date
P23
Active Member
Well how about that! Didn't even know this, looks like there's the makings of a park network in the area already.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
smably
Senior Member
There are also plans for the Wellington Destructor just east of the Stanley Park extension, which might come with more greenspace. A staff report from a couple of years back suggests the possibility of a new multi-use path between Strachan and Bathurst on the north side of the rail corridor, providing a nice link between the railpath extension and the rail deck park:
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WislaHD
Superstar
Sorry, but I would call this visualization concept a missed opportunity. While an obvious improvement over nothing, it would be no different from any other boring Toronto park - and all our parks are boring.
This is the opportunity to go big, Millennium Park big. We don't need a dog park for the condo owners of South Core. We should be imagining a public space akin to urban plazas of Europe, Asia or Latin America. Beautifully designed and finished walkpaths and landscaping, intelligently designed public space that allows for events and performers, plenty of seating space, sculptures and other art opportunities, and perhaps a fountain.
WislaHD
Superstar
I forgot this site is just south of The Well development. That is another opportunity for some nice planing synergy. This stretch of the city can become very beautiful and walkable in the near future.That's part of the intent:
AoD
W. K. Lis
Superstar
Facilities for the park? Swimming pool, tracks, sport fields, training buildings?
What if we deck over the railway tracks, but use the space on top for venues for the Olympics? After the Games, convert over to park use. We get recreational facilities out of it for public use.
What if we deck over the railway tracks, but use the space on top for venues for the Olympics? After the Games, convert over to park use. We get recreational facilities out of it for public use.
dowlingm
Senior Member
The section between Spadina and Bathurst seems significantly challenging, given the width of the corridor (about 110m) and the flyunder present. The uncertainty about the future of Bathurst Yard doesn't help either.
So in addition to throwing a ton of money at CP/CN for air rights, we'll head straight onto throwing hundreds of millions at the IOC? Um, no.
Adjei
Senior Member
Clueless people in Toronto think a park is just throwing some grass and some trees and calling it a day.
Euphoria
Active Member
The best park I've seen in TO is Corktown Common. It's the first Toronto park that seems really tuned to its site and makes the most of its limited space. It has a range of landscapes, from the reedy marshes to the rocky elevated outcrop, the unique condensed waterpark, and the usable field (as opposed to an outsized gaping no-man's-land). There are some truly bizarre lost opportunities in the few public spaces downtown. The CAMH lands on Queen contain empty blocks that function neither as parks nor bustling marketplaces. The place has the faceless feel of a sanitized housing project or monolithic institution, and that's after the addition of the street grid, lighting, and less brutalist buildings around the original concrete bunker. Either develop the empty space or make it a vibrant public space. Probably best to have a combination of both: extend the small-scale vibrant neighborhood of small businesses to the north through the site and add an oasis of gardens, fountains, street furniture, and public art.
Northern Light
Superstar
The CAMH site is far from complete. The street grid on it isn't even done. Its being phased.
Northern Light
Superstar
That's a completely asinine comment. Yorkville Park, Music Garden, Berczy Park, Sherbourne Commons, Corktown Commons........tons of parks show a high level of design.
Equally, not every park need do so, sometimes all that is required is a some shade, seating, a drinking fountain etc.
But no one has suggested this is going to be a 26 acre patch of trees and grass.
W. K. Lis
Superstar
Northern Light
Superstar
In respect of this proposal, as whole, I'm not unsupportive, subject to the detailed design, of course.
However, I have misgivings about too many priorities.
We all recognize here that there are very major capital spending needs in Toronto.
The DRL chief among them.
But, also spending on w/e is done w/the eastern Gardiner; the naturalization of the mouth-of-the-Don; and huge array of lesser, but nonetheless expensive projects.
As it stands, the City will have to (and should) raise or implement new taxes to pay for many of these priorities.
But we are once again adding to the list without a clear sense of the financial implications and trade-offs.
As an example, the City quietly killed the nascent plans/EA looking at burying or removing the Allen Expressway; w/the simple rationale of 'no money'.
What else will be traded off?
****
I also have some concern over too great an investment in downtown.
To be clear, there were years/decades of under investment and many proposals, such as the DRL are long overdue.
I do, however, have some concern that we not create a reversal of the US doughnut problem by under-investing in our inner suburbs.
Hopefully the September report will bring forward a cohesive costing and parks strategy.
And equally, maybe we'll finally see some tough revenue raising decisions this year by the City so we can more accurately assess what's available and how best to utilize said funds.
However, I have misgivings about too many priorities.
We all recognize here that there are very major capital spending needs in Toronto.
The DRL chief among them.
But, also spending on w/e is done w/the eastern Gardiner; the naturalization of the mouth-of-the-Don; and huge array of lesser, but nonetheless expensive projects.
As it stands, the City will have to (and should) raise or implement new taxes to pay for many of these priorities.
But we are once again adding to the list without a clear sense of the financial implications and trade-offs.
As an example, the City quietly killed the nascent plans/EA looking at burying or removing the Allen Expressway; w/the simple rationale of 'no money'.
What else will be traded off?
****
I also have some concern over too great an investment in downtown.
To be clear, there were years/decades of under investment and many proposals, such as the DRL are long overdue.
I do, however, have some concern that we not create a reversal of the US doughnut problem by under-investing in our inner suburbs.
Hopefully the September report will bring forward a cohesive costing and parks strategy.
And equally, maybe we'll finally see some tough revenue raising decisions this year by the City so we can more accurately assess what's available and how best to utilize said funds.
DonValleyRainbow
Senior Member
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That's such a bullshit example though. From St Clair going south, that covered cut is:
- A parking garage
- Bretton Place and The Summerhill (all private access; tennis courts, parking garage, patio and the buildings themselves)
- TTC-owned grassy area that is completely fenced off, no access allowed
- Another private tennis court