New or improved recreation areas are becoming especially vital with the increasing intensification of midtown Toronto by new condo developments. During the past year, we’ve opened a new playground at Oriole Park, a splash pad and farmers’ market at June Rowlands Park and are working on improvements to the Kay Gardner Beltline, Winston Churchill and Forest Hill Road parks. Perhaps nowhere is this need for more green space more apparent than at Yonge and Eglinton, a provincially mandated growth centre.
I’m delighted to welcome a new park to Ward 22 for residents to enjoy. Complete with a children’s playground, our new park at Dunfield and Soudan officially opened on June 14. This new park is next door to the Torontonian, the largest apartment building in the neighbourhood and a seniors’ residence. Although the park is relatively small, I worked with staff to ensure that benches and a picnic table will be installed so there is an opportunity for families to share a meal outdoors or for nearby seniors to have a spot to read or play cards outside of their building.
I’ve decided to hold a public naming contest for neighbourhood residents. Parks are generally named after important historical figures, local public officials, notable Torontonians or the street or area in which a park is situated. Ultimately, I’d like the park’s name to truly reflect the local neighbourhood. Please consider names that you believe merit this acknowledgement and e-mail me your suggestions at councillor_matlow@toronto.ca. I plan to announce the winning name at a sign unveiling later this year.
