Details of Project/Friends of Chorley Park Position

The City has put out to tender a massive geo-engineering of the Chorley Park hill with a minimum 3-metre wide asphalt switchback (6 switchbacks) with armour stone (up to 2.4 metres) and fencing on all sides and backfilling of the hill.  The top switchback extends across entire top of hill, so the only exit if you are not on the switchback is a metal staircase on the left (or the limestone stairs under the bridge).  The existing dirt paths and wooden staircase will be eliminated.  The toboggan run will be gone.  There will be no winter maintenance of the switchback.  If you would like to see the schematics, email savechorley@gmail.com.

In response to community objections at a May 12 meeting between Councillor Wong-Tam, representatives of the City/TRCA and concerned residents, the City is currently looking at tweaking the original proposal to increase the grade of the switchback, change the surface and reduce the number of switchbacks.  This is not responsive to the main message of the May 12 meeting, which was “We do not want a switchback.”   We believe the scope and scale of this project is completely at odds with a wild and natural hill and ravine setting.

The Friends of Chorley Park believe the City should go back to the drawing board and consult with the community on what makes sense for the hill.  We would like a rustic, woodland pedestrian path in keeping with the setting’s natural beauty.  We would like the City to consider upgrading the existing wooden staircase.  Any upgraded path or staircase should address the concerns of people who find the existing dirt paths too challenging in some locations.  We would like replanting of trees and other vegetation at the earliest possible date.

We believe the $1 tender million price for the switchback (likely an underestimate) is a waste of taxpayers’ money and that this money could be better deployed elsewhere.

Timeline

The tender process for the asphalt switchback closed on May 12 and the City is now reviewing 5 of the tenders received.  The tenders were to have gone to the TRCA Board on May 23 for selection and approval of the winner.  This was delayed due to the May 12 meeting.  The City is now tweaking the switchback, as indicated above, and the tweaked switchback is tentatively scheduled to go before the TRCA Board on June 20.  This however is subject to what happens at the next residents meeting with the Councillor and the City/TRCA.  We are waiting for a date for this meeting from the Councillor and hope the meeting will be held at Rosedale United Church.  If the June 20 TRCA Board meeting goes ahead (to approve the original asphalt switchback and/or some tweaked version), we understand that each of us will have an opportunity to appear before the Board and make a 5-minute representation.

What can you do to help?

1.              Sign the paper petition and scan and email it to savechorley@gmail.com.  As of May 24 we had over 200 paper petition signatures.

2.              Send an email setting out your concerns to the Councillor and City/TRCA personnel.  If you have already sent an email, please send another:

Address to: councillor_wongtam@toronto.ca

Copy: spardoe@toronto.ca; info1@northrosedale.ca; info@southrosedale.org; dtownley@cwcagroup.com; khanly@sympatico.ca; lewis.reford@rogers.com; deputymayor@toronto.ca; degan@toronto.ca; jhyland@toronto.ca; bmcewen@toronto.ca wstrick@toronto.ca; rubbens@toronto.ca jcdoyle@toronto.ca; laver@toronto.ca; sbuckle@toronto.ca drogalsky@trca.on.ca

(The titles of the cc’s are: Daniel Egan, Manager Cycling Infrastructure & Programs City Wide; Jennifer Hyland, Transportation Planner, Cycling Infrastructure & Programs City Wide; Stephen Buckley, General Manager, Transportation Services; Norm Kelly, Deputy Mayor, City of Toronto; Wendy Strickland, Natural Environment Specialist; Beth McEwen, Manager, Urban Forest Renewal; Richard Ubbens, Director, Parks Branch; Jason Doyle, Director, Urban Forestry; Scott Laver, Supervisor, Natural Environment and Community Programs; Dave Rogalsky, Senior Manager, Resource Management Projects, Toronto and Region Conservation.)

4.              Email savechorley@gmail.com if you would like to be added to our Citizens Group Email Discussion Forum.

5.              Ask everyone you know who cares (or may care) about this to (1) sign the petition, (2) email the Councillor et al, and (3) join our Citizens Group.   Email friends and family to tell them what is happening,

6.              Tell everyone re the Friends of Chorley Park Facebook Page and get them to sign the online petition and comment in the petition (not just “like” the Page).  As of May 24 the online petition had over 150 signatures.

6.              Ask for a STOP CHORLEY PARK SWITCHBACK lawn sign by emailing savechorley@gmail.com.

FRIENDS OF CHORLEY PARK

Chorley Park Hill Handout Petition Single Page

Please join the Resident Assosciations from Governors Bridge, North and South Rosedale, Moore Park and Summerhill for a Provincial Candidates debate with candidates from the Liberal, NDP, Progressive Conservatives and Green parties.

June 5th, 2014 at Rosedale United Church from 7 pm to 9 pm. 

Here are the minutes in PDF Form…

Annual General meeting minutes

Feb 18, 2014

Held at Rosedale United Church
Board members in attendance– Alan McFarland – Meeting Chair, Chris Fraser, Leo Schotte and Gavin Brimer
Also in attendance– Ward 29 City Councillor Mary Fragedakis, Daryl Finlayson

Meeting was called to order
President Alan McFarland introduced Councillor Fragedakis and Daryl Finlayson as well as the other members of the Board who spoke to their years living in the neighbourhood and number of years on the Board.

• Alan McFarland offered highlights of the GBRA involvement with residents over the past year in Governor’s Bridge:

• A March 2013 issue with a dog being bitten by other dogs
• On-street parking complaints and ticketing initiated by Governor’s Bridge residents
• Further improvements in planting and re-sodding at Nesbitt Park using Section 37 (Conservatory Group) monies from the City
• Flooding in July and impact on Governor’s Bridge
• The success of the 46^th Annual BBQ/Corn Roast in Sept
• Nov 21^st participation with other Resident Associations in the Toronto Centre “All Candidates” Debate
• Launching in Dec of the Little Free Library (LFL) in Nesbitt Park
• December Ice Storm and need for better community collaboration
• The re-installation of the ice rink. Gary Strothers kindly purchased a new rink liner

• Gavin detailed the Report from the Treasurer.
  • Opening balance $4666.16 and closing balance $3944.14.
  • The BBQ ran a deficit of $381.81 this year.
  • At time of report, paid # of families was 58 in 2013 vs 72 in 2012 and 68 in 2011

• Motion to reconfirm existing Board Members Alan, Gavin, Chris and Leo and the election of Jeff Hanemaayer from Douglas Crescent put forth by Jacqueline Jordan and seconded by Leo Schotte. Passed.
• A motion to hold GBRA Board Meetings every two months was put forth by Chris Fraser and seconded by Alan McFarland. Passed.
• Councillor Mary Fragedakis spoke to the group with an update from City Hall and issues in the Ward.
  • Mary’s office was happy to help facilitate the Section 37 monies for Nesbitt Park improvements. Thanks to Councillor Fragedakis’s sleuthing, Section 37 monies collected from the Minto Sky development also went to another park in her ward.
  • Councillor Fragedakis is very supportive of the Little Free Library and would like to see more in the Ward.  The only other one is on Cambridge Ave.  Mary would like to share with the community issues facing libraries generally.
  • Councillor Fragedakis also shared the concern around issues during the ice storm.  Power and back-up power at the Emergency Preparedness Centre in Don Mills failed.  Operations had to be moved to City Hall.  Mary has put forth a motion at City Hall to question why there is not a back-up for the back-up power source
  • Mary helped ensure warming stations were opened in the Ward.
  • How information is disseminated during emergencies needs to be looked at.  Using traditional media such as press conferences are not effective if TVs and the computers can’t be powered on.
  • With respect to the trains traveling through the City (and GB) and restrictions around speed, cargo they carry, type of cars carrying hazardous products, what type the City can do is limited as these laws fall under Federal jurisdiction.  Councillor Fragedakis has put forth a motion at City Hall on this file.
  • Councillor Fragedakis has put forth a motion for Toronto to establish a Food and Beverage Innovation Centre.  Motion has been referred to the Economic Development Committee
  • Redway Road.  Councilor Parker wants traffic from Leaside to be able to access Bayview via an extension of Redway Road.  There are obvious concerns around an increase in volume on the Bayview extension and through traffic into Rosedale.  Neither Mary nor Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam is in favor of a Redway extension.

• Councillor Fragedakis opened the floor to questions.
  • Concern from the floor about the speed of the trains traveling though GB.
  • Jacqueline Jordan from Douglas Crescent feels that the GBRA should take the lead on pressing the Federal Gov’t on the issue of railway emergency preparedness.
• Councillor Fragedakis added that she has put forth a motion at City Hall for an Environmental Assessment for the reconfiguration of Bayview Ave from Moore Ave to River Street- a “Bayview Redesign Strategy”

• Chris Fraser offered an update on Nesbitt Park.
  • Thanks go out to Councillor Fragedakis  and Daryl Finlayson for their continued support.
  • A special shout out to Michelle Reid at the Toronto Parks and Rec. for really looking after Nesbitt Park.
  • Thanks to Jacqueline Jordan for spearheading the Little Free Library project
  • Thanks to John Marrota and Gary Stothers (and others) for the ice rink
  • The idea of investigating the installation of birdhouses in the neighbourhood was proposed.
  • Open issues from the floor
    • Concerns around the lack of TTC access in the neighbourhood.  No bus stops on Bayview at Nesbitt with the closest bus stop being at Chorley Park
    • Need to ensure GBRA email list is up to date and readily available for information to be shared on a timely basis.
    • A membership drive is required to increase participation
    • #2 True Davidson.  Resident asked about status of the vacant lot.  The Conservatory Group has been granted permission to build one (not two) houses on the lot.
    • Question around when we might expect Super Mailboxes in the neighbourhood.
    • Other-  Outside of board members and representatives from the Councilor’s Office, there were only 4 residents present at the AGM.  Minutes will be put on the GBRA website.

Motion to adjourn the meeting from Chris Fraser and Alan McFarland