A recent donation of $200,000 has resuscitated plans for the construction of Heart Park. The funds — negotiated by the city for an approved RioCan development at 1717 Avenue Rd. — will allow for the transformation of the property on Avenue Road, south of Lawrence Avenue. Money raised through neighbourhood efforts will also be used.
“I think it’s a wonderful initiaive that really speaks to a community coming together,” said Coun. Karen Stintz, who added that the new green space will help the parks-deficient area.
Stintz said that the next step is to get the park in the capital budget, to allow for construction to begin next year. The roughly 900-square-metre triangular property was owned by the Toronto Transit Commission from 1936 until 2006 when it was transferred to the city.
Lorne London, the publisher of Post City Magazines, pledged up to $25,000 for redevelopment of the site when he first approached local councillors and the TTC with the idea for the park in 2006. The park’s design — inspired by the structure of an actual heart — will come from local resident Dr. Karen Atkin.
Stintz projects a fall 2010 completion date for the park.