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CHAPTER 6: WINTER WATERFRONT

The greenwaysystem proposed in the and regional agencies,including the Board previous chapter offers opportunities for of Trade, to examine waysof enhancing out- more people to enjoy the waterfront. Those door use, and to prepare a report on the who currently visit it in the colder months matter. The WinterWaterfront working know how beautiful the shoreline is, year- paper wasreleased by the Commission in round. However, most people assumethat December 1991 as a contribution to enhanc- high-quality outdoor ing year-roundwater- waterfront experiences front use in Metropol- in the Greater From Burlington Bay to the Trent River, itan Toronto. bioregion occur only there is a great deal of potential The Greater during the summer to improve year-round waterfront use, months. Therefore, it is at low cost. is more than 175 kilo- useful to examine the metres (109 miles) potential of the water- ' long, encompassing

front and river valleysto create different but an impressivevariety of places -from equally memorable experiencesin the colder peaceful natural wilderness areasto tower- months, from mid-Septemberto mid-May. ing residential condominiums adjacent to Harbourfrontand the City of Toronto's east- highwaysand commercial/tourist facilities. ern beachesoffer examples of waterfront From Burlington Bay to the Trent River, areas alreadywell-used throughout the year. there is a great deal of potential to improve In April 1990, the Board of Trade of year-round waterfront use, at low cost. suggestedto the Royal Commission that a study be under- ENHANCING WINTER taken to "explore the possibilities of more WATERFRONT USE wintertime recreational and entertainment Emergingdevelopment of a greenway activities along the central waterfront." As systemwill increaseyear-round use of the a result, the Commission organized a work GreaterToronto waterfront. group comprising representativesfrom local and conservationauthorities would benefit

?n7 from sharingpertinent informationand food concessionsshould also be provided at participatingin joint waterfrontuser studies. appropriate nodal points and should be Municipalitiescould alsocontribute by open to the public, as much as possible adoptingand implementingpolicies that throughout the year. Frequent year-round achievesix majorgoals: public transit service to the waterfront, with shelters designed to be comfortable in the .providing year-round access; colder months, would also encourage use. .ameliorating outdoor climate; .providing facilities to accommodate WaterfrontVisits year-round activities; .increasing year-round opportunities for contact with nature; SummerVisits

.enhancing user safety;and 1 or 2 times 7 or moretimes .improving winter eventsand 21% 35% programmmg.

PROVIDING YEAR-ROUND ACCESS None Accessibilityto recreational areasis a 18% key element in enhancing year-round use. The variety of walkways,ranging from the 3 to 6 times broad promenades at Toronto's Harbour- 26% front to the modest paths and nature trails Average= 10.0 in 'sRattray Marsh or the Valley in Scarborough, reflect the Winter Visits diversity of the bioregion's waterfront and river valleys;this should be retained, but connections between the various amenities should be made more comfortable. The proposed greenway systemwould accommodate pedestriansand cyclistsand would provide continuous accessto water- front promenades, parks, open spaces,and links to adjacent areas.The systemshould be safe and comfortable, connecting water- front areasand the river valleys.The route of the waterfront greenwayshould be evaluated Average= 3.8 according to its ability to offer year-rounduse to pedestrians,cyclists, and others, including seniors and the physicallychallenged, and Therespondents visit the woterfronton overageten timesin the summerond four timesin thewinter. recognizing that some portions might be

only seasonallyaccessible. Washrooms and Source:Environics Poll. 1991.

208 Parking along the waterfront should There are two basicways of reducing be integrated into the surrounding environ- wind velocity in a specific site: by planting ment; limited amounts should be carefully vegetation or building structures such as located along the waterfront, accommodat- berms, walls, and screens.Berms, combined ing those who cannot walk long distances with trees and shrubs, provide effective year- and enjoy visiting the waterfront, and those round windscreening, the degree of effec- who enjoy viewing the lake from within a tivenessvarying with the porosity of the parked car. plantings. For example, very dense ever- greens achievea strong reduction (about AMELIORATING OUTDOOR 80 per cent) in wind speed and force but CLIMATE such reductions can be sustained only for The climate of the Greater Toronto short distances (about the equivalent of bioregion waterfront area is affected by the five tree heights), becauseof the return Great Lakes,which tend to make average flow of deflected air to the ground. Less winter temperatures three celsiusdegrees dense planting reduces the sheltering warmer and summer temperatures about effect but increasesthe range at which it is one and-a-halfdegrees cooler than in the effective. hinterland. In winter months, the influence The relationship betweenmicro- of the lakes causesconstant freezing and climate and use of the outdoor environment thawing periods, often making weather during colder months has been studied in unpredictable and the use of outdoor various places~For example, Scandinavian spacessporadic. studies showthat, on dayswhen the temper- The prevailing mean daily wind direc- ature is as low as10 celsiusdegrees but there tion for the Toronto region shifts according is no wind, people will feet comfortable even to the seaSon:in winter it is from the west without heavyclothing and will make use about 50 per cent of the time. In spring, of outdoor open space. prevailing winds come from the west only A recent research study concluded four per cent of the time, and 42 per cent that Toronto's microclimate could be from the northeast. In summer, the prevail- moderated by providing shelter against ing winds are from the southwest61 per the wind, thereby extending comfortable cent of the time, while in autumn they outdoor use by approximately 56 additional come from the west/northwest almost half day~a year -an extension of park use of the time. almost 50 per cent over the existing IS-week Some northern cities with colder baseseason. (See Figure 6.1.) Becauseambi- climates provide year-round facilities, but ent temperatures in March, April, and May the challenge in cities such asToronto, are often below the human comfort level where weather is lesspredictable, is to use of 10 degreescelsius, but sunlight and the the urban design processto ameliorate wind length of daysare increasin~, techniques conditions and maximize accessto the sun: that offer site-specificshelter from the wind year-round facilities requiring substantial and that capture the sun in strategic spaces financial investment are not always could increase temperatures and encourage necessary. use of these areas.

209 T all, bulky buildings can cast broad Francisco recently developed and adopted shadows for surprising distances, solar accessand wind comfort standardsfor influencing the experiences of people modifying building forms, heights, densities, who never go near them. and setbacksto ensure that developments

Hiss,T. 1990. TlUIexPC!'ie11l;eofplat;e. New York: do not put open-spacepedestrian environ- AlfredA. KIlopL ments in shadowand do not generate a wind tunnel effect. In responseto massivedevelopment Temperatures in October and that reduced usable open spacein San November are still in the outdoor comfort Francisco's downtown and on its waterfront, range but the effect of wet, windy weather voters approved referendum "Proposition on people needs to be addressed,if comfort- K" in 1984; it requires that accessto sun able levelsof outdoor use are to be achieved. be protected in all public parks and open Studies examining the effects of built spacesunder the jurisdiction of the Parksand forms on sun and wind conditions and on RecreationDepartment, from one hour after pedestrians at street level have been done sunrise to one hour before sunsetthrough- locally and in other parts of the world. San out the year. Following the referendum,

Figure6.1

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0 J F M A M J J A s 0 N D

NaturallyOccurring WindChill Removed

Source:Klinger, X. 1991. Winterwaterfront: year-rounduse in MetropolitanToronto. Working popers of the ConadianWaterfront Resource Centre, no. 9. Toronto: Royal Commissionon Ihe Future of the ToronloWaterfront.

210 severalrelated amendments about accessto sun on sidewalksand other open spaces have also been adopted. Guidelines for controlling windiness in public open spacesin Toronto's Central Area were developed in 1974 but have not been adopted as part of its Official Plan. Currently, developersare encouraged to assessa project's impact on the microclimate of surrounding areas but -because pro- posalsare tested for wind effects only in the Modest sunpocket at in Toronto final stage of the planning approvalsprocess -,,!!e seldom required to make changes. courtyard to six storeysat the northern edge A 1991 study undertaken for the City to screenout prevailing cold winds while of Toronto as part of Cityplan '91 examined allowing for maximum solar penetration. and analysedthe effect of buildings on Although appropriate authorities wind conditions at street level and the have a general understanding of the bene- combined effect of sun and wind conditions fits of improving outdoor comfort levels, on pedestrian comfort. It recommended more appropriate policies, standards,and establishingprocedures and standards for guidelines could be developed and imple- preserving accessto sunlight on Central m~nted.For example, wind comfort and Area sidewalks,parks, and open spaces, sun accessstandards would be helpful in and confirmed that sun and wind conditions developing all publicly accessibleurban are critical to outdoor uses,particularly in promenades, open spaces,and parks on spring and fall. The report also suggested the waterfront. Related guidelines could further studies to establishperformance include the design of sitting areasand walk- standards that will protect pedestrians from wayslocated in areasprotected from winter possible high winds resulting from future winds, sheltered to maintain views. development such as those proposed for the RailwayLands. Microclimate improvements in built When building heights are routinely forms, suchas courtyardsand wind-screening increased. ..the shadow impacts are buildings, have been demonstrated in greatly increased. For those on the several Scandinavianprojects. Studies show receiving end the change is not one that courtyard use may be extended by of degree; it may be absolute. They about six weeks,most notably in spring, had sun; now they have none. .. by applying the 10 degreescelsius comfort Sunlight should be a right, not an criterion. This microclimate improvement amenity that is nice to have.

wasachieved by applying urban design Whyte, W. H. 1988. City: rediscovering..theCfntre.New York, guidelines for each residential block- DoubledayAnchor Books. building heights are gradually increased from two stories at the southern edge of the

211 Sunpocketscan also be created in PROVIDING FACILITIES appropriate locations along the waterfront TO ACCOMMODATE to encourage outdoor use in the off-season. YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES These are a site-specifictool that can ensure Available information on summer use solar access-semi-enclosed seatingareas indicates that walking, sitting, and enjoying with direct sunshine access,protected from nature are the most popular activities on the winds. They can be created using landscaping waterfront. Limited available data indicate or other screening methods and are particu- that these activities,in addition to others such larly desirable on the waterfront, where they as skating, remain the most popular outdoor can block the wind and provide vistasand waterfront activities in the colder months. views to the open water. .Cold, snow,and ice tend to hinder Walls and windgates should also be outdoor recreational use in winter mQnths, considered aswind protectors at promenade especiallyon the waterfront. To capitalize or park entrancesand along roads.Windgates on investmentsand increaseuse, existing could be made of transparent materials, and future recreation(!l and sportsfacilities similar to those proposed as protection for on the waterfront should be re-examined, walking areas in the City of Buffalo. Com- looking for waysto maximize year-round bined with vines and other plantings, they use. For example, the courts used for tennis could become attractive sculptural elements in summer could be used for skating in and park landmarks. winter, while swimming pools could be

212 converted for year-round use: uncovered WaterfrontActivities in summer, enclosed in winter. Improvements to waterfront facilities SummerActivities should be based on the interestsand needs Walking,cycling or of both local and regional users,determined 67% through surveysif necessary.Public consul- jogging tation would also help determine which Shopping,strolling or areasare more likely to be used throughout justlooking around

the colder months, and warrant immediate Participatingin/ attention. Specialemphasis should be placed Watchingsporting on the needs of the elderly, physically events challenged, women, children, teenagers, Booting,conoeing or families, and ethnic communities. othersports on woter The length of recreational outings in cold weather will depend, in part, on air temperatures and the degree of protection from the wind. As a rule of thumb, people will walk for approximately ten minutes in winter before they need to warm up, with seniorsand children more susceptibleto cold.

Walksand visits tend to be much shorter Skating than in the summer, depending on the Participatingin/ attractions and on availablefacilities such Watchingsporting 15% aswashrooms, sheltered seatingareas, and events food outlets. Further studies of behavioura I Cross-countryskiing patterns of various user groups are required to pinpoint the length of travel time and averageduration of a winter waterfront visit. Participationin summerand winter waterfrontactivities by Locating facilities at selected nodal therespondents.

points along walkwayswould increaseuse and Source:Environics Poll. 1991 promote longer visits. Shelters from wind, rain, and snow,that still allow enjoyment of with temporary enclosuressuch as trans- lake views,would also encourage prolonged parent or glasspanels and could even be visits to the waterfront as the weather gets equipped with stovesand wood to warm cooler. Strategic locations for shelters those who use the area for prolonged visits. include placeswhere visitors linger or sit, There is a general lack of seating in such as look-out points and along walkways; urbanized waterfront areasand parks. To these could be designed in combination foster year-round use, seating capacitystan- with food concessionsand washrooms. dards and guidelines should be developed Existing facilities in park areascould and applied for areasincluding parks and be modified to function throughout the promenades.A lot of existing seatingis year. For example, gazeboscould be adapted unusable in winter: concrete benches and

213 stepsare too cold, and seatsin the shade, which provides 200 movable chairs along its exposed to wind or covered with snoware front steps,and leavesthem out 24 hours a rarely used. day, sevendays a week. The Met found that Where it is appropriate, and especially it is less costly to replace stolen chairs than where accessto sun is limited in peak use to pay for storage each night. periods, consideration should be given to movable seating.Movable chairs and benches INCREASING allow users to take maximum advantageof OPPORTUNITIES FOR sun and shade conditions. Moreover, flex- CONTACT WITH NATURE ible seating arrangementsprovide opportu- One natural attraction of the outdoors nities for both privacy and social interaction: is its seasonallychanging moods; many Paris, New York, London, and Stockholm placesappeal to people becauseof natural provide movable seatsin many of their features: a relaxing fall walk to view the parks, and some -like the little chairs in changing colours; a family outing to learn the Luxembourg Gardens -have become about plants and animals on a wildlife park trademarks. reserve or conservation area; a spectacular Vandalismand theft are often given as view of the bluffs. reasonsfor not providing movable chairs. Sometimeswhat is a magnificent view However,this runs contrary to the experience in winter can be undistinguished in summer at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, -a snow-coveredlandscape, for example.

Movablechairs in LuxembourgGardens, Paris

214 Seasonalopportunities along the waterfront ice, and the kinetic energy of wind can also could offer the chanceto: be combined to deviseintricate seasonal sculptures. Other ideasinclude using lake .observe birds and butterflies along water to create fountains, cascades,ponds, their migratory flight paths in spring and channels that could be artificially and fall; frozen to create skating and hockey areas. .follow winter animal tracksin the snow; Year-roundnature interpretation .observe and feed winter waterfowl; centres should be provided in selected .view the frozen lake and sculptured icy regional parks where natural areas,wood- wavesin winter; lands, marshes,and wetlands constitute .observe trees and shrubs, with their a significant proportion of parkland. Nature interesting bark, trails should include branch patterns, sheltered areasfor and clinging Low sun angles and long shadows in observing and berries in winter; winter present opportunities to exPloit the describing natural and intricacies of gates, trellises, sculPtures, species,habitats, .appreciate the and Plantings to create imaginative winter and geological seasonalexperi- landscapesand enhanceoutdoor spaces. formations. Special .ences of silence winter outdoor and the smell of educational pro- melting snow in the winter, changing grams for children could be developed colours in the fall, warm spring breezes, and would include games,nature hikes or and the softnessof summer days. e}(ploration tours, bird-watching, and animal tracking. Fragrant and tactile gardenswould. also offer those with impaired vision or ENHANCING USER SAFETY limited mobility special opportunities for Given that the presence of people enjoying nature year-round. Only a few makesa place feel safe,the greater the num- waterfront sites, such as the Royal Botanical ber at a particular area of the waterfront, Gardens in Burlington and the Rosetta the safer they all feel. The safer they feel, McClain Gardens in Scarborough, currently the more inclined they are to continue do so. visiting an area -an important factor, espe- Vistasshould be developedwith consid- cially during colder seasonswhen fewer eration given to seasonalweather, ambient people use the waterfront and there are light, and colour. Care should be taken to fewer hours of daylight. ensure that structures such aswindgates and The proposed greenwaycould make windscreensdo not impair theseviews. Low accessto parts of the waterfront safer angles of sun and long shadowsin winter and more comfortable by adding connec- presentopportunities to exploit the intricacies tionsfrom the city to the water, from down- of gates,trellises, sculptures, and plantings town offices to waterfront parks, and from designed to create imaginative winter land- neighbourhoods to the water's edge, during scapesand enhance outdoor spaces.Lighting, the winter months.

215 In designing safe and comfortable Efforts should also be made to facilitate the recreational areasand pathways,considera- development of community-basedannual tion should be given to the change in level outdoor/indoor events. of usageand its effect on safety.The config- During the colder months in Toronto, uration and types of vegetation, proper specialwaterfront eventsare often held lighting, effective signage,and seasonal indoors in selectedlocations such as Har- wind and ice conditions should be consid- bourfront, Place, and Exhibition ered and, where possible, bad-weather Place. Harbourfront's York Quay in Toronto hazardsshould be ameliorated and safety is a good example of a popular site for improved. recreational and educational water-related Carefully sited built forms and well- activities in the summer and skating and designed facilities, complemented by events other usesin the winter. Further north, staged on the waterfront, could draw large Nathan Phillips Squareis used as a venue crowds, increasing perceptions of the area for numerous promotional events, such as as being safe. fund-raising campaignsand art exhibitions. The square is a breathing space in front of IMPROVING Toronto's City Hall, with a park-like atmo- WINTER EVENTS sphere in summer that appealsto hundreds AND PROGRAMMING of people who sit and eat their lunch or . Special outdoor eventsand festival simply relax in the sun. At other times of the programming at the waterfront have so far year, the reflecting pool becomesa skating focused on the summer season,while unpre- rink, while nearby concessionsserve the dictable changes in climate and increased public. Popular outdoor activities such as temperatures have made it difficult to stage pleasure skating should continue to be traditional outdoor eventsin winter. Local accommodated along the waterfront. cities have sponsored winter festivalsand For more than 35 years,Quebec City eventsthat failed becausethey were planned has had an annual winter carnival, 11 days for cold, snowyconditions that did not in Februaryfilled with outdoor activities such materialize. asskating along 3.8 kilometres (2 miles) of In order to increase seasonaltourism the St..Charles River,a perilous canoe race and recreation, emphasisshould be given to in the half-frozen St. Lawrence River, a eventsand activities that do not depend on snowsculpture contest, and horseback ice and snow. Entertainment should be used riding. There are also many indoor events, as a means of promoting the waterfront's including a beach party, an exotic hair- unique attributes: Christmas tree decor- styling and make-upcompetition, a fashion ating, bpnfires, and winter-adapted summer show featuring Canadian designers,and a sports such as camping, marathons, triath- casino night. Ions, and canoeing could form the basis has its own February event, the for successfulfestivals. Planning for such lO-dayWinterlude Festival.Activities include eventsshould take into account the needs of such adaptations of summer sportsas nearby communities, especiallyin regard to snow-golfingand a triathlon that comprises potential traffic, parking, and other issues. skating, skiing, and running. Among other

216 eventsis a l60-kiiometre (lOO-mile) Cana- OPPORTUNITIES dianskimarathon,whichreceivesmore FOR MAXIMIZING than 1,000entries eachyear. YEAR-RoUND USE Other North American cities also It is not feasible nor necessaryto mount special winter activities: Easton, "winterize" the entire Greater Toronto Maryland, hostsa Waterfowl Festivalin mid- bioregion waterfront. Rather, appropriate November to celebrate waterfowl conserva- waterfront nodes should be selectedas tion. The International Eelpout Festivalin potential sites for year-round use and for Walker, Minnesota, held in mid-February, staging winter eventsand festivalsof a began asa spoof on all the north woods fish- regional, national, and eveninternational ing contestsand a cele- scale.These sites bration for those who -should be connected had survived the "worst" It is not feasible nor necessaryto to the greenwayand of winter, but is now "winterize" the entire Greater Toronto year-round public enormously popular bioregion waterfront. Rather, nodesfor transit should be and draws thousands year-round useand for staging winter encouraged. of fishers. In Fond du events and festivals should be selected The waterfront Lac, Wisconsin, the and connectedto the greenway. from Burlington Bay "Spectacleof the Geese" --to the Trent River eachSeptember cele- has a number of brates the migration of Canadageese to the successfulrecreational areas,although marshes,with sunrise and sunsetviewing primarily in the summer months, and they tours and paddlewheel boat excursions to are the nodes with the most potential for see fall colours. The successof these events year-round use. Many of them could be does not depend on snowfall or very cold improved with vegetation barriers or shel- temperatures, and similar activities may be ters, at little cost to managing agencies,but well-suited to southern Ontario's climate, with the promise of increaseduse and the joy of winter being celebrated whatever added revenue. the weather. Four such recreational nodes in In winter, the city's cultural life is at the Region of Halton, each adding to the its peak, with theatres, concert halls, restau- diversity of the regional waterfront, are rants, and cafesalive with people. However, as follows: if urban promenades, parks, and open spaceshad a higher level of comfort, some .Spencer Smith Park, on the of those activities could be brought out- Burlington waterfront, is a well-used doors. If the Greater Toronto bioregion is facility in summer for boat-launching to develop further as a tourist area during and passiverecreational activities; its the colder months, there must be better location, immediately adjacent to the attempts to promote outdoor winter oppor- downtown area, gives it tremendous tunities on the waterfront, linked to the potential for year-round use. river valleys,as well as to the unique setting, .The Oakville and Bronte Harbour culture, and history of the shoreline. areasin the Town of Oakville could

217 also be winterized at little cost and at]. C. Saddington Park would also indoor club facilities could support serve to enhance year-round use. outdoor recreational uses.Catering to .Canada Post'ssite on the waterfront the boating community, the regional offers significant long-term potential facilities serve boaters, most of them for mixed uses,including year-round in the western part of the Greater recreational facilities, particularly Toronto bioregion. if some existing buildings can be .Coronation Park in the Town of adapted. Oakville is one of the larger active waterfront parks, attracting many Metropolitan Toronto also has a num- families. Amenities include summer ber of diverse waterfront nodes with great weekend concerts and children's play potential for year-round use: equipment. As in the caseof many local waterfront parks, the most popu- .'s motel strip/Humber Bay lar winter activities here are walking Park area is the subject of ongoing and viewing. review.Future development plans will likely include extensive residential and Mississauga,the only Regionof Peel retail areas,creation of wetlands, and municipalityadjacent to LakeOntario, has a educational and recreational facilities. varietyof recreationalwaterfront uses: A proposed community park and sup- porting amenities are intended to .Jack Darling Memorial Park, between accommodate major eventsand festi- the Rattray Marsh nature preserve and vals. Eastis already forestsand ravines in privately owned well-used during the summer months; Lorne Park Estates,provides water- improvements could greatly enhance front recreation and is surrounded by comfort and safetyin the park, bring- complementary uses.Seasonal park ing in more regional park users during facilities could be extended to support the colder months. added outdoor winter activities as well .Harbourfront and Garrison Common as the tobogganing that is now popular attract visitors regionally, nationally, in the winter. and internationally. Harbourfront .To the east,the Port Credit Harbour currently provides the most extensive area south of Mississauga'sdowntown year-round programming and enter- housesone of the largest fresh-water tainment along the Greater Toronto marinas in North America. Although bioregion waterfront. The majority of much of the harbour is currently off-seasonevents are held indoors, publicly owned, it is leasedto private although winter programs organized operators, which limits public access. around the skating rink are very popu- City proposals to revitalize the area and lar. If future public and private open increase public accesscould increase spacesare designed for year-round the harbour's year-round potential. use, there will be opportunities to Adjacent indoor recreational facilities expand eventsoutdoors.

218 WINTER IN HUMBER BAY PARK

Etobicoke's Humber Bay parks eastand westare well-usedduring the summer, but would benefit further from winter facilities and programming. Proposed redevelopment along the nearby motel strip may substantially boost demand for park use throughout the year. Thoughtful and low-costimprovements to existing facilities could result in high quality recreation for an increasing number of winter visitors. The parks alreadyhave good road accessand abundant parking, but public transit connections and facilities must be improved; building shelters for and servicing of both parks by TTC buseswould increase accessibility.An existing proposal for relocating the nearby GO station may result in improved regional transit access. Park vegetation is predominantly deciduous, which often means a bleak winter land- scape;planting coniferous trees and shrubs would create a more attractive environment, provide wildlife habitat, and improve the microclimate. Metro's parks department has already begun planting native speciesin Humber Bay Park East. Extending wetlands on both sidesof the fishing pier would promote wildlife diversity. The shoreline is the most desireable area for walking and sitting, but is exposed directly to winter winds; planting trees along the south and eastshorelines of both parks would provide wind-screening.

Well-defined walking and bicycling paths exist throughout Humber Bay Park East, but not in Humber Bay Park West. The trail network -separated from roadways- should be expanded throughout the site and along the shoreline to maximize views to the lake. The trail should connect both parks via a bridge over Creek and extend north along the banks of the creek. Major walkwaysshould be constructed using heat- absorbing surface materials, which would make winter maintenance easier. Seating should be increased in both parks, especiallyin Humber Bay Park East, which attracts more people. Skating and winter bird-watching along and nearby natural areascould be enhanced if resting areaswere provided in landscaped outdoor sunpockets. A gazebo-typeshelter adjacent to the canal would benefit both pedestrians and skaters. There are no food concessionsopen permanently to the public, although mobile ones cater to park users occasionallyon summer days. In winter; mobile vendors could provide visitors with hot chocolate while they walked or skated. An existing comfort station in Humber Bay Park Eastcould be enlarged to house a cafe/restaurant and horticultural display. Signs atall park entrances should give people information about year-round facilities. The reduced number of park visitors during the winter seasonincreases the risk of assault.Landscaping should reinforce safety,without detracting from the natural setting. Year-round food concessionswould create a permanent presence in the park; pedestrian lighting and visitor information kiosks at park entrances would also create a saferenvironment.

219 220 Peoplepromenading along Toronto's Harbourfront in March

The Preliminary Master Plan for Terminalshould also be reviewedfor Garrison Common (Berridge Lewinberg potentialas a year-roundoperation. Greenberg et at. 1991) examinesyear-round use in the area. Right now, outdoor spaces The Islands alreadyhave a good are used primarily during the summer, while vegetation base,including evergreentrees design and programming ignore the pos- planted in the pastfive years.Additional sibility of year-round utilization. Winter cli- planting would help to screen open spaces matic conditions here are harsh and open currently exposed to strong winds. Overall, spaceswould have to be modified to provide in fact, winterization would require relatively an acceptablemicroclimate. little additional investment. Winter pro- gramming would also help to increase the .The park on the is number of park users. currently used year-round, as a major regional public place that accommo- .The and GuildwoodPark dates millions of visitors, primarily dur- in Scarboroughare alreadyused year- ing the summer season.With a fewlow- round. The hotelis privatelyoperated, cost,key modifications, it could be made while the park, includingan extensive more comfortable, attractive,and acces- collectionof architecturalartifacts, sible in the colder seasons.The feasibil- is operatedby Metro and is opento ity of the present location of the Ferry the public. The park is especially

221 Where the winters are long and the as winter bird-feeder tours and skating sun sets low in the sky, people cherish on the Lynde Creek Marsh-one of what sunlight there is. the area's most popular outdoor win-

Whyte,W.H. 1988. City: redlScllVerI.ng.tlie centre. New York: ter activities. Future improvements Doubleday and Company. could include an interpretive centre with improved indoor washroom facilities. beautiful in winter, when it can be .The harbour area in the City of Oshawa viewed againsta serenebackground is currently being studied with respect of snow,evergreens, and the lake. to its future uses.It has potential Future redevelopment plans for the to be developed for usesincluding Guild Inn should maintain the site's recreational with year-round facilities. existing scaleand character and .Darlington Provincial Park in the Town enhance year-round use. of Newcastleis a haven for rugged out- door types-camping and fishing are While portions of the Durham water- most popular in this passiveand active front are not yet fully developed, there park. Other waterfront areas along could be recreational waterfront nodes in the Newcastleshoreline have yet to be the future, providing opportunities for developed for recreational or other developing year-round use. Of those already uses.In planning for these sites,con- developed, the key nodes on the Lake sideration should be given to building Ontario shoreline that have potential f(ir form and design and to recreational year-round enhancement are asfollows: facilities that promote use throughout the year. .The Petticoat Creek Conservation Area, in Pickering, surrounded by resi- STEPS TO dential homes, currently operatessea- WINTERIZA TION sonally and caters primarily to families; Local and regional waterfront plan- adding indoor recreational facilities ning policies and practices should recognize would probably mean year-round use the potential for enhancing outdoor recre- of the area. ational use in the colder months. Muni- .The Lynde Shores ConservationArea cipalities should undertake user surveys, in Whitby is well-known as a place and adopt and implement appropriate poli- for viewing wildlife in the spring and cies after public consultation, and with the autumn months, with boardwalks co-operation of relevant governments, agen- and viewing facilities. Both the Lynde cies, and special-purposebodies. Standards Creek and Cranberry marshesprovide and guidelines for sun accessand wind excellent habitat for nesting birds. comfort levelsshould be developed and Summer activities at the conservation enforced, requiring studies of wind impact, area include picnicking, fishing, and sun access,and other relevant factors before canoeingwhile winter-time usersinclude issuing project approvals.These studies participants in scheduled eventssuch should include assurancesthat there will

222 be no detrimental change in wind patterns, 50. The Commission further recommends velocities, and turbulence at the sites in that local municipalities prepare question. Wind testing of proposed projects and promote design guidelines that should also be conducted by the proponents encourage landowners and developers early in the approvals processand be taken to enhance pedestrian microclimate into account in planning and urban design conditions. Factors such aswind decisions. impact and sun accessshould be Proposed developmentsfor areasin considered in deciding whether the which wind speedsalready exceed accep- location and massof a building are table comfort levels should aim to reduce appropriate. these speeds.New promenades, open spacesor park sites in development or 51. Becausenot all areasof the waterfront redevelopment projects along the water- are suited to year-round use, local and front should be located to minimize wind regional municipalities should work effects. As it is neither possible nor desir- with agenciesand the public to define able to screen all areas of the waterfront priority recreational waterfront nodes from adversewinds, each site should be for winterization; decisions should assessedon its need and potential for be based on user needs, the facilities modification based on the existing micro- available,and the potential to expand climate, present and future uses,and programming. adjacent development. Surveysof both existing and proposed sites that would be affected by future devel- opment or redevelopment should be con- ducted to determine whether there is a need for site-specificguidelines covering building location, height, and form to avoid overshadowing.Modifications to built form should be required if proposed projects would create extensiveovershadowing.

RECOMMENDATIONS

49. The RoyalCommission recommends that local and regionalmunicipalities acrossthe GreaterToronto bioregion waterfrontreview their Qfficial Plans and relevantsupporting documents to incorporatepolicies that encourage year-roundrecreational use of the waterfront,particularly in the colder months.

223