Toronto June Callwood Park | ?m | ?s | City of Toronto | gh3

This statue needs to be placed somewhere in the park to finally complete the picture:
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source
 
Sobering to go back to the early pages of this thread. We all thought the design was excellent. I guess it was an era of high-concept, and now we want pretty landscapes again.
 
This park is garbage. I am completely unimpressed with gh3's landscape work. They really cocked up the quadrangle at Trinity College, U of T, as well, filling it with muddy zones and tripping hazards and rendering it almost completely un-usable... despite being pretty in aerial images.
 
Reminds me of a typical 1950's socialist-engineered bleak and barren, lifeless British housing project. The same as where they film depressing crime series today, where the only people you see are those lost and hopeless, staring blankly down from balconies at drug dealers and screaming filthy children. Other than that, what's not to like?

Tear up the concrete and put down a lot of grass. And then demand our Parks department actually maintain it. Success in a truckload of sod away. Easy easy and cheap.
 
Biked by the park twice last Saturday on a gorgeous day. The park was lifeless. From afar it almost looks like it's still under construction. The clunky, utilitarian garbage bins don't help.
 
At long last:

June Callwood Park Improvements
Designed through an award winning international design competition, June Callwood Park was inspired by June’s famous words, “I believe in kindness”. With this in mind, a revisioning process is well underway for a refresh as a fitting monument to June Callwood, and to enhance the space for children and families in our Fort York neighbourhood.

I directed PF&R staff to conduct a site survey of the existing conditions this summer, including retaining consultants to further refine the proposed concept plan and prepare detailed construction drawings and specifications.

We look forward to continuing the conversation on the improvements with the community this fall.
 
I'm so tired of overdesigned parks.

I don't want a plethora of 'design elements' in my park.

I want Olmsted, a guy who knew how to design a park - 150 years ago.
 
CityStay said:
I'm so tired of overdesigned parks.

I don't want a plethora of 'design elements' in my park.

I want Olmsted, a guy who knew how to design a park - 150 years ago.
Click to expand...

As someone who is a big fan of ecological restoration; and is more about hiking than playing baseball............I hear ya.

But at the same time, I think there is absolutely a space for 'designed' parks.

June Callwood..........however......is one of the epitomal examples of a badly designed park.

The problem w/JC is not over design per se.........it's bad design. Uneven surfaces that are a myriad of trip hazards, bright pink paint that adds nothing but garishness; trees so poorly selected and planted that the majority died.

You could make just as many conscious choices, be every bit as creative, and still produce a great space, see Mr. Cormier's work.

A hint of pragmatism; a sense of whimsy, a fetish for quality control in both materials and labour go a long way to creating great public spaces.

The concept of JC was flawed but had lots of potential. Its execution was a how-not-to manual.
 
Northern Light said:
As someone who is a big fan of ecological restoration; and is more about hiking than playing baseball............I hear ya.

But at the same time, I think there is absolutely a space for 'designed' parks.

June Callwood..........however......is one of the epitomal examples of a badly designed park.

The problem w/JC is not over design per se.........it's bad design. Uneven surfaces that are a myriad of trip hazards, bright pink paint that adds nothing but garishness; trees so poorly selected and planted that the majority died.

You could make just as many conscious choices, be every bit as creative, and still produce a great space, see Mr. Cormier's work.

A hint of pragmatism; a sense of whimsy, a fetish for quality control in both materials and labour go a long way to creating great public spaces.

The concept of JC was flawed but had lots of potential. Its execution was a how-not-to manual.
Click to expand...
I always appreciate your posts Northern Light, you're both knowledgable and thoughtful.

Ok, enough sucking up!

I don't have a problem with design (Olmsted definitely had design, it just happened to be timeless) but with overdesign. It seldom works and it doesn't age well. The only time it ages well is when it works - which, to reiterate, is seldom.

This is just another example of scarce Parks Department cash being squandered on more studies, more consultants, more consultations..

On an almost-new park that should have been good for decades without any major issues.

Complete mismanagement in every direction.
 
From Joe Cressy's newsletter:

June Callwood Park Improvements - Community Open House


Designed through an award winning international design competition, June Callwood Park was inspired by June’s famous words, “I believe in kindness”. With this in mind, a revisioning process is well underway for a refresh as a fitting monument to June Callwood, and to enhance the space for children and families in our Fort York neighbourhood.

A reminder to join us at our Community Open House next Tuesday November 5th, to review the preliminary plans for improvements to June Callwood Park.

Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Fort York Visitor Centre (lobby), 250 Fort York Boulevard, Toronto, M5V 3K9

http://www.joecressy.com/june_callw...ier_oct_31&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ward20
 
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