{"id":174,"date":"2014-05-26T20:56:04","date_gmt":"2014-05-26T20:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/?p=174"},"modified":"2014-06-20T20:47:33","modified_gmt":"2014-06-20T20:47:33","slug":"stop-chorley-park-switchback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/?p=174","title":{"rendered":"“Friends of Chorley Park” have a local community project…"},"content":{"rendered":"

Details of Project\/Friends of Chorley Park Position<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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. \u00a0The 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). \u00a0The existing dirt paths and wooden staircase will be eliminated. \u00a0The toboggan run will be gone.\u00a0 There will be no winter maintenance of the switchback<\/span><\/b>. \u00a0If you would like to see the schematics, email savechorley@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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. \u00a0This is not responsive to the main message of the May 12 meeting, which was “We do not want a switchback.” \u00a0 We believe the scope and scale of this project is completely at odds with a wild and natural hill and ravine setting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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. \u00a0We would like a rustic, woodland pedestrian path in keeping with the setting\u2019s natural beauty. \u00a0We would like the City to consider upgrading the existing wooden staircase.\u00a0 Any upgraded path or staircase should address the concerns of people who find the existing dirt paths too challenging in some locations. \u00a0We would like replanting of trees and other vegetation at the earliest possible date.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Timeline<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The tender process for the asphalt switchback closed on May 12 and the City is now reviewing 5 of the tenders received. \u00a0The tenders were to have gone to the TRCA Board on May 23 for selection and approval of the winner. \u00a0This was delayed due to the May 12 meeting. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0This however is subject to what happens at the next residents meeting with the Councillor and the City\/TRCA. \u00a0We are waiting for a date for this meeting from the Councillor and hope the meeting will be held at Rosedale United Church. \u00a0If 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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What can you do to help?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sign the paper petition and scan and email it to\u00a0savechorley@gmail.com<\/a>.\u00a0 As of May 24 we had over 200 paper petition signatures.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Send an email\u00a0setting out your concerns\u00a0to the Councillor and City\/TRCA personnel.\u00a0\u00a0If you have already sent an email, please send another:<\/p>\n

Address to: councillor_wongtam@toronto.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

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

(The titles of the cc\u2019s 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.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Email savechorley@gmail.com<\/a> if you would like to be added to our Citizens Group Email Discussion Forum.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ask everyone you know who cares (or may care) about this\u00a0to (1) sign the petition, (2) email the Councillor et al, and (3) join our Citizens Group.\u00a0\u00a0 Email friends and family to tell them what is happening,<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tell everyone re the Friends of Chorley Park Facebook Page and get them to sign the online petition and comment in the petition (not just \u201clike\u201d the Page). \u00a0As of May 24 the online petition had over 150 signatures.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ask for a STOP CHORLEY PARK SWITCHBACK lawn sign by emailing savechorley@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FRIENDS OF CHORLEY PARK<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/a><\/p>\n

Chorley Park Hill<\/a> Handout<\/a> Petition Single Page<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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. \u00a0The top switchback extends across entire […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=174"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":186,"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174\/revisions\/186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.governorsbridge.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}