Nearly 16 years after the government announced plans for an urban park on the former military base, Downsview Park is bound for change.
Despite continued community concern, the Parc Downsview Park (PDP) board members are planning on formally submitting their proposal for 630 housing units to the Ontario Municipal Board in January. David Soknacki, PDP’s chair, said these additions, which include plans for further residential developments, shops and restaurants, are necessary in order for the park to sustain itself financially.
“I have not been able to identify one person in Downsview who supports this application as presented,” said Coun. Maria Augimeri. “They are so angry that the local MP allowed for the sale of public parkland, about half the park, and whenever I say ‘park,’ I put it in quotation marks because I don’t believe there ever was a park.”
Soknacki said they have no choice but to make an appeal because North York Community Council deferred the project indefinitely.
“The problem with PDP is that the federal government, when it donated the land, raised expectations to impossible heights while failing to clearly explain that development revenue from a portion of the property would have to be used to pay for the open space projects,” said urban affairs expert John Lorinc. “It was only several years in, after a long period of middling public space projects, that the PDP people started seriously talking about the development piece. And then the local communities went berserk.”
But Soknacki remains optimistic about the future of the park. “It’ll be a real investment in North York and in the Downsview area, not only in the construction and the jobs, but in terms of allowing us to continue creating this great national park. It’s absolutely essential. So once the dust settles it will be just wonderful for the local residents,” he said.
The Downsview Lands Community Voice Association will meet with ward councillors at their next monthly meeting to discuss their concerns.