DOCSLIB.ORG

Defining the Public Realm Waterfront Culture and Heritage Infrastructure Plan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

DEFINING THE PUBLIC REALM WATERFRONT CULTURE AND HERITAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN PART II - EAST AND WEST WATERFRONT PREPARED FOR THE CULTURE DIVISION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CULTURE AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT, CITY OF TORONTO BY ERA ARCHITECTS INC. AND URBAN INTELLIGENCE 2003 In 2002 Toronto City Council adopted the Culture Division’s report, Canada’s Urban Waterfront. This plan was limited to the central core and was undertaken in conjunction with other major waterfront studies. In adopting Canada’s Urban Waterfront report, City Council authorized its completion by examining the rest of the waterfront – all 46 kilometers from Long Branch to the Rouge Valley - in this second report. The initial plan presented a waterfront vision centered on cultural resources and showcased Toronto as an imaginative and creative model of civic identity for urban Canada. This plan, entitled Defining the Public Realm, continues that approach of a cultural laboratory for research into the creative city – the city founded on the cornerstones of its culture and heritage. Defining the Public Realm plan is intended to complement initiatives underway, to highlight community interests and concerns and to raise our combined understanding of the complex cultural landscape we inhabit. Like the initial plan it provides a framework for envisioning the opportunities for cultural initiatives available on Toronto’s immense waterfront. Toronto, since its amalgamation five years ago, is still formulating its broader identity, and this waterfront plan assists by bringing together ideas of our shared experiences, our cultural memory, and a vision of a truly great waterfront city. Rita Davies Executive Director, Culture Division 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PAGE 3 LARGER CONTEXT PAGE 5 GOALS AND VISION PAGE 7 PRINCIPLES PAGE 9 CULTURE AND HERITAGE INFRASTRUCTURE GRID PAGE 11 THE URBAN SPINE AND WATER’S EDGE PAGE 14 CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES PAGE 18 NATURAL CORRIDORS AND BIRTHPLACES PAGE 24 WATERFRONT COMMUNITIES PAGE 28 CULTURAL FACILITIES PAGE 32 NEXT STEPS PAGE 34 GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS PAGE 35 METHODOLOGY PAGE 37 APPENDICES PAGE 39 CREDITS PAGE 42 2 INTRODUCTION This plan extends the exploration of the culture and heritage of Toronto’s waterfront initiated by Canada’s Urban Waterfront – a waterfront culture and heritage infrastructure plan (www.city.toronto.on.ca/culture/waterfront_plan.htm) The initial plan highlighted the diversity of the central waterfront and brought forward an infrastructure framework based on two significant concepts: Cultural Corridors – Canada’s Urban Waterfront defined new ways to connect the centre of the city to the water’s edge, called Cultural Corridors. Starting from the commonly held notion that the central core of the city was disconnected from its waterfront, the plan defined cultural corridors that demonstrated the potential for a reconnection. The plan used cultural and heritage resources to overcome perceived barriers and knit the waterfront back into the fabric of the city. Cultural Opportunities – Canada’s Urban Waterfront illustrated the concept of a waterfront that is already amazingly rich and complex by identifying twelve major cultural and heritage resource areas, called Cultural Opportunities. This concept focused on the unique sense of place and the deeply embedded history that is part of Toronto’s central waterfront. This report adds two additional concepts to the framework of the infrastructure plan: Waterfront Communities – In the immense variety of Toronto’s waterfront, recognition is given to the character of the stable neighborhoods and former villages which line the water’s edge and create unique areas of activity. The waterfront plan must balance the needs of these local communities for cultural and recreational development with larger city-wide attractions and initiatives. The Urban Spine – With Lake Shore Boulevard in the west to Kingston Road in the east, Toronto’s waterfront has two heritage routes that link together the communities and a series of public parks and open spaces. Seen as an Urban Spine these routes are the catalyst for connecting the former municipalities of Toronto, Scarborough and Etobicoke together as a seamless urban waterfront. 3 4 5 LOWER ROUGE RIVER WEST ROUGE ROUGE HILL PORT UNION WEST HILL LOWER HIGHLAND CREEK EAST POINT , is the follow-up GUILD INN SCARBOROUGHVILLAGE SCARBOROUGH BLUFFS CLIFFCREST CLIFFSIDE BIRCH CLIFF R.C. HARRIS FILTRATION PLANT BALMY BEACH SCARBORO BEACH KEW BEACH LESLIEVILLE Defining the Public Realm LARGER CONTEXT TOMMY THOMPSON PARK RIVERDALE PORTLANDS DON RIVER THE DISTILLERY CHERRY BEACH CORKTOWN WARD’SISLAND waterfront vision, it was recommended fully explore the City’s ronto’s waterfront are all important elements of Canada’s urban waterfront are all important elements of Canada’s ronto’s ST. LAWRENCE ronto. however, just one part of a much larger waterfront and a much however, larger city with a range of diverse cultural and heritage resources stretching from Etobicoke to Scarborough. To that studies be commissioned to look at the many cultural and heritage opportunities along the entire waterfront. The cultural the Rouge, the Scarborough Bluffs, landscapes of the Humber, High Park and the rich heritage of the Guild Inn, the Lakeshore Assembly Hall site, and the more than 20 communities along To waterfront. This plan, JARVIS STREET ALQONQUIN ISLAND study commissioned by the Culture Division of the Economic Department at the City of Development, Culture and Tourism To ROYAL CANADIAN YONGE STREET YACHT CLUB JOHN STREET TORONTO ISLAND PARK HARBORFRONT QUEEN’S WHARF & ISLAND WATERWORKS BATHURST QUAY GIBRALTAR POINT FORT YORK CORONATION PARK plan remained ONTARIO PLACE GARRISON CREEK was one of those CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION LIBERTY VILLAGE Canada’s Urban Waterfront – Urban Waterfront Canada’s PARKDALE YACHT CLUB SUNNYSIDE HIGH PARK SWANSEA LOWER HUMBER RIVER Canada’s Urban Waterfront Urban Waterfront Canada’s HUMBER BAY LOWER MIMICO CREEK MIMICO NEW TORONTO THE ASSEMBLY HALL LONG BRANCH relate to the City’s Secondary planning exercise for the Central relate to the City’s aterfront, the focus of MARIE CURTIS PARK In November 1999, the three levels of government announced a 46-kilometer waterfront. As bold new vision to revitalize Toronto’s Force was formed part of this announcement, a jointly-funded Task to report on the implementation costs, investment, timing, and assets and opportunities for government and private sector Revitalization involvement. In December 2000, the Waterfront Intergovernmental Steering Committee commissioned a number of studies to analyze and refine the vision. a waterfront culture and heritage infrastructure plan studies. To W within the central waterfront area. The central waterfront is, BOYS EXPLORING WATER’S EDGE AT SUNNYSIDE, 1928 6 GOALS AND VISION GOALS OF THE PLAN A VISION FOR THE WATERFRONT The goals of the Waterfront Culture and Heritage Canada’s Urban Waterfront developed a vision for a revitalized Infrastructure Plans are to: waterfront that is reiterated here and is maintained as a core Create a distinctive framework through which to visualize component of this plan. the cultural landscape of Toronto’s waterfront; The three elements of the vision set out in this Plan are: Identify some of the important places in the cultural Protect, enhance and promote the natural, cultural and landscape that are strategic cultural and heritage resources; heritage resources of Toronto’s waterfront; Articulate a cultural and heritage vision for the waterfront Establish a strong visual identity for the entire 46- and establish the principles, objectives and opportunities for kilometer waterfront; and culturally conscious development; and Promote and enhance cultural activity and public life on the Make general recommendations and suggest specific next waterfront. steps to advance efforts to achieve the vision set out in this report. Our vision of a revitalized waterfront includes all the diversity of Toronto’s urban life and showcases Toronto as an imaginative and creative model of civic identity for 21st century urban Canada. 7 A VISION TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC REALM AND STRENGTHEN THE URBAN SPINE AT KINGSTON ROAD THE CITY OF TORONTO’S REURBANIZING OF ARTERIAL CORRIDORS 8 PRINCIPLES CREATIVE REUSE Creative reuse and integration of existing facilities and resources should be integral to any redevelopment of the waterfront. The revitalization of what we already have is important, including extending the life of buildings and seeking adaptive, creative new uses for existing structures and facilities. An excellent example of creative reuse is the CULTURAL DIVERSITY Lakeshore Assembly Hall. It is important to recognize and promote social inclusion and cultural diversity. The development of the waterfront cultural zones should be based on wide public debate, partnerships and collaboration with all of Toronto’s communities. COMMUNITY VISION In the east and west waterfronts, it is important to recognize the waterfront communities as stable, long-standing YEAR ROUND ACTIVITY residential neighborhoods whose community needs must be It is important to attract visitors and sustain activities all measured with other civic interests. Cultural and heritage year round on the waterfront. Open space should encourage facilities should have commercial and community attractions winter uses and interior public spaces should be designed to and both the waterfront communities and cultural support cultural and artistic programming that builds on communities need
Recommended publications
  • Sec 2-Core Circle

    Sec 2-Core Circle

    TRANSFORMATIVE IDEA 1. THE CORE CIRCLE Re-imagine the valleys, bluffs and islands encircling the Downtown as a fully interconnected 900-hectare immersive landscape system THE CORE CIRLE 30 THE CORE CIRLE PUBLIC WORK 31 TRANSFORMATIVE IDEA 1. THE CORE CIRCLE N The Core Circle re-imagines the valleys, bluffs and islands E encircling the Downtown as a fully connected 900-hectare immersive landscape system W S The Core Circle seeks to improve and offer opportunities to reconnect the urban fabric of the Downtown to its surrounding natural features using the streets, parks and open spaces found around the natural setting of Downtown Toronto including the Don River Valley and ravines, Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands, Garrison Creek and the Lake Iroquois shoreline. Connecting these large landscape features North: Davenport Road Bluff, Toronto, Canada will create a continuous circular network of open spaces surrounding the Downtown, accessible from both the core and the broader city. The Core Circle re- imagines the Downtown’s framework of valleys, bluffs and islands as a connected 900-hectare landscape system and immersive experience, building on Toronto’s strong identity as a ‘city within a park’ and providing opportunities to acknowledge our natural setting and connect to the history of our natural landscapes. East: Don River Valley Ravine and Rosedale Valley Ravine, Toronto, Canada Historically, the natural landscape features that form the Core Circle were used by Indigenous peoples as village sites, travelling routes and hunting and gathering lands. They are regarded as sacred landscapes and places for spiritual renewal. The Core Circle seeks to re-establish our connection to these landscapes.
  • Historic Walks in Harbord Village

    Historic Walks in Harbord Village

    HISTORIC WALKS IN HARBORD VILLAGE an explorer’s guide, to a Toronto neighbourhood 13,000 YEARS AGO TO 1787 Harbord Village Residents’ Association acknowledges Indigenous presence in our area with this statement, adapted from one prepared by the Elders’ Circle of the University of Toronto First Nations House: We acknowledge that the area we call Harbord Village has been a site of human activity for many thousands of years. This land is the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat First Nation, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Before European settlement, the area was included in the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy and the Confederacy of the Ojibwe and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We respect that agreement and honour the history of past care for the land where we now stand. Formed 13,000 years ago from the lakebed of Lake Iroquois at the end of the last glacial period, the sandy Toronto Plain midway between the Rouge River and Etobicoke Creek, south of Davenport, east and west of the Don Valley is flat. In our neighbourhood the the beds of Taddle Creek to the east, Garrison Creek to the west and Russell Creek through the middle are perceptible, but today’s Harbord Village lacks streambeds. Nor does it does provide archaeological evidence for settlement before the European period. It was, however, part of a rich hunting ground during the millennia when Indigenous people lived on the Iroquois Plain.
  • Fort York and Garrison Common: Parks and Open Space Design And

    Fort York and Garrison Common: Parks and Open Space Design And

    FORT YORK AND GARRISON COMMON Parks and Open Space Design and Implementation Plan This document has been prepared for the City of Toronto, and is the result of a collaborative effort between the Policy & Development, City Planning and Culture Divisions. Acknowledgement is made of the significant contribution made by The Friends of Fort York and Garrison Common and The Fort York Management Board. May 29, 2001 du Toit Allsopp Hillier · Philip Goldsmith & Co. Ltd. · Pleasance Crawford · Lea Consulting Ltd. · Gartner Lee Associates TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SECTION ONE: PLANNING STRATEGIES 1. Fort York Park 6 2. Character of Fort York Park 7 3. Connections to the City 8 4. the Built-form Setting 12 5. Views 16 6. Heritage Conservation District 18 7. The Broader Historical Resource 20 8. Archaeological Resource Protection 22 9. Archaeology: Public Outreach/Interpretation 23 10. Fort Restoration 24 11. Industrial and Railway Heritage within the Fort Precinct 26 12. Landform Recovery 28 13. Lake Ontario and Garrison Creek 30 14. Visitor and Program-support Facilities 32 15. Address and Entrance 34 16. Parking 36 17. Servicing 38 18. Fort york Security 39 SECTION TWO: DEMONSTRATION PLANS Long Range Demonstration Plan 43 Short-term Demonstration Plan 45 ii du Toit Allsopp Hillier · Philip Goldsmith & Co. Ltd. · Pleasance Crawford · Lea Consulting Ltd. · Gartner Lee Associates SECTION THREE: PRIORITY PROJECTS Priority Projects 49 Projects related to Fort York Boulevard 50 Archaeological Landscape 50 The South Escarpment and a New Entrance
  • Toronto Discovery Walks: Humber River, Old Mill & Marshes

    Toronto Discovery Walks: Humber River, Old Mill & Marshes

    GETTING THERE AND BACK Follow the path of an ancient Large oak trees, remnants from the time of the Carrying You can reach the suggested start and end point on First Peoples. Discover panoramic Place, still stand along the drive. One hundred and fifty public transit by taking the BLOOR/DANFORTH DISCOVERY WALKS views, river marshes and the ruins of these trees were inventoried and municipally subway to Old Mill Station. proclaimed as the “Tuhbenahneequay Ancient Grove”. of an old mill. They were named after the daughter of a chief of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nations. HUMBERHUMBER ❸ THE ROUTE THE HUMBER RIVER, VALLEY &MARSHES RIVER,RIVER, This Discovery Walk leads you on a loop through the The Humber River watershed is Humber River Valley from approximately Bloor the largest in Toronto. OLDOLD MILL MILL Street south to Lake Ontario. Although It is a significant you can begin this Discovery Walk at corridor for any point along the route, a good migratory song && MARSHES MARSHES starting point is the Old Mill birds and Subway Station (see top left corner monarch The Humber River Photo by Jerry Belan One In A Series of Self-Guided Walks of map). From the subway station, butterflies. the route leads you past the historic More than FOR MORE INFO Old Mill and Old Mill Bridge. 60 species of For more information on Discovery Walks, including Afterwards, you’ll visit riverside fish live in the brochures, please call Parks and Recreation Information parklands, charming neighbourhoods, river including at (416) 392-1111. For more information on area the Humber River and its marshes.
  • Visions Metropolitan Toronto Waterfront Tspace.Pdf

    Visions Metropolitan Toronto Waterfront Tspace.Pdf

    VISIONS FOR THE METROPOLITAN TORONTO WATERFRONT, I: TOWARD COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, 1852-1935 Wayne C. Reeves* Major Report No. 27 Originally prepared as part of a herit.age report for the Metropolitan Toronto Planning Department *Department of Geography University of Toronto Centre for Urban and Community Studies University of Toronto December 1992 ISSN: 0316-0068 ISBN: 0-7727-1401-0 $10.00 CANADIAN CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA Reeves, Wayne C., 1959- Visions for the Metropolitan Toronto waterfront (Major Report, ISSN 0316-0068 ; no. 27) Includes bibliographical references. Partial contents: I. Toward comprehensive planning, 1852-1935. ISBN 0-7727-1401-0 1. Waterfronts - Ontario - Toronto Metropolitan Area - Planning - History. 2. City planning - Ontario - Toronto Metropolitan Area - History. I. University of Toronto. Centre for Urban and Community Studies. II. Title. III. Series: Major report (University of Toronto. Centre for Urban and Community Studies ; no. 27). HT169.C32T67 1992 711' .4'09713541 C93-093175-0 ABSTRACT This paper provides a general overview of waterfront-centred or -related planning in the Toronto area during the period 1852-1935. Plans were brought forth to resolve a host of problems and to take advantage of opportunities along the lakeshore and in the regional watershed. While these challenges were often considered in isolation, over time the plan­ makers adopted a more comprehensive outlook. The topics discussed here include the struggle between the railways and other interests on and near the inner harbour; proposals to develop several major public properties on the waterfront; the systematization of municipal hard services; the emergence of a local planning movement and the development of general schemes for civic improvement; and the creation of a new public port authority, the Toronto Harbour Commissioners (THC), and the nature and evolution of its 1912 plan.
  • Rebuilding the Bathurst Street Bridge by Stephen Otto

    Rebuilding the Bathurst Street Bridge by Stephen Otto

    The Newsletter of the Friends of Fort York and Garrison Common v. 10 No. 3 September 2006 2 Garrison Common History: Garrison Creek 5 Site-work Update ­ 4 The Great East Gate Of Fort York 6 Upcoming Events ­ Rebuilding the Bathurst Street Bridge by Stephen Otto Since our founding in 1994, the Friends of Fort York have always made a priority of long term planning for the lands within and around the Fort York National Historic Site. Thus it was when, after much study and discussion, Fort York: Setting It Right was published in June, 2000, it identified the pathway connections under Bathurst Street as important for city-building and for linking the fort to the east side of Bathurst, where the former Garrison Creek once entered Lake Ontario. Again a year later, the wide, cathedral-like area under the Bathurst Bridge was seen as a vital link in the landmark report, Fort York and Garrison Common Parks and Open Space Plan, prepared for the City’s Policy & Development, Planning and Culture divisions, with input from the Friends. Both reports were warmly received and endorsed by City Council. Finally, the continuity of the historic site under the bridge was recognized by the Government of Canada in designating the bounds of Fort York in 2003, and by Toronto City Council in 2004 in passing a bylaw enlarging the boundaries of the municipal Heritage District at Fort York to coincide with those of the national site. The Bathurst Bridge itself seemed an enduring fixture in the landscape, the northern steel-truss portion having been built in 1903 to span the Humber and moved to its present vicinity in 1916; the southern steelplate and concrete section dating from 1929-30 and having been designed to carry Bathurst Street, newly-extended between Front and Fleet, over the tracks into the rail yards.
  • Canada's Urban Waterfront

    Canada's Urban Waterfront

    CANADA’S URBAN WATERFRONT WATERFRONT CULTURE AND HERITAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN PART I - CENTRAL WATERFRONT PREPARED FOR THE CULTURE DIVISION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CULTURE AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT, CITY OF TORONTO BY ERA ARCHITECTS INC. AND JEFF EVENSON 2001 The Culture and Heritage Infrastructure Plan presents a context for implementing a waterfont vision centred on cultural resources, a vision which anticipates the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront under the direction of all three levels of government. These resources include a web of experiences reflecting the diversity of Toronto’s past, present and future. It is our goal to showcase Toronto as an imaginative and creative model of civic identity for 21st century urban Canada. Our Plan includes culture and heritage as essential lenses through which to view future private and public investment. It suggests a rationale for development that affirms a focus on public life and the lived experience of the city. The Culture and Heritage Infrastructure Plan provides a platform on which to structure initiatives, identify projects and manage implementation strategies. While the Plan identifies some important next steps and makes a number of general recommendations, it does not propose one grand cultural initiative. Rather, the Plan identifies a framework of opportunities for the private sector, foundations, all three levels of government and the culture and heritage communities to develop specific initiatives focused by the Plan’s vision. Yours sincerely, Managing Director, Culture Division
  • October 1986

    October 1986

    TORONTO FIELD NATURALIST· Number 382, October 1986 COVER TO COVER: PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2 - THIS MONTH'S COVER 2 - OCTOBER OUTINGS 3 - OUTINGS REPORT 5 - TORONTO REGION BIRD RECORDS 7 - TORONTO REGION MAMMAL REPORT 9 - FOR READING 10 - TFN LIBRARY REPORT 12 - OCTOBER 12 - HISTORICAL STREAMS OF TORONTO 14 - IN THE NEWS 19 - STRANGE SIGHTINGS 22 - NATURALISTS "GO WILD" IN TORONTO 24 - WILL BIRDS HELP MAIL FLY FASTER? 24 - DON ' T EXHAUST MY FUTURE 25 - POLLUTION PROBE'S ECOPARK 26 - IN EXCHANGE 28 - THE WEATHER THIS TIME LAST YEAR 29 - HAIKU 29 - NATURE HOLIDAYS 30 - COMING EVENTS 31 - TFN MEETINGS 33 TFN 382 President's Report This being my first report as president, I've been scratching my head wondering what to write about. A perusal of past reports seems to indicate that much latitude is given. Certainly those matters which directly affect the club and its members will be the prime focus. Through this column I hope you will be able to keep abreast of the major internal and external issues with which the club will be dealing. The individuals who make up the club are, in my opinion, one of its most important ingredients. Therefore, I will give mention, as much as possible, to the volunteers who, of course, are the motive force behind this organization. Jean Macdonald who has done a fine job as president for the past two years, deserves ou1 thanks, as do Mary Smith, Winifred Smith and Muriel Miville who have just retired from the board of directors. Speaking of the board, I should mention that there was only one meeting over the summer and that was to approve the financial statements .
  • The History of the Atlantic Salmon in Lake Ontario John R

    The History of the Atlantic Salmon in Lake Ontario John R

    The history of the Atlantic Salmon in Lake Ontario John R. Dymond,1 Hugh H. MacKay,2 Mary E. Burridge,3* Erling Holm,3 and Phillip W. Bird4 1Royal Ontario Museum (died 1965); 2Ontario Department of Lands & Forests (retired 1963); 3Royal Ontario Museum 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto Ontario M5S 2C6; 4Credit Valley Conservation, 1255 Old Derry Road, Mississauga, ON L5N 6R4 Ã Corresponding author: [email protected] The history of the Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), also referred to as Salmon below, in Lake Ontario is an accumulation of authentic published accounts, which were almost completed by J. R. Dymond before his death. H. H. MacKay completed the work on Dymond’s behalf (Dymond and MacKay, unpublished, 1966), but it remained largely unknown. The present authors (MEB, EH, PWB) have sought to present an updated subset of Dymond and MacKay’s work as the history of Lake Ontario Salmon is a crucial story in the history of the Great Lakes and its fisheries. The information provided should add materially to the knowledge of the causes that led to the decline and ultimate extirpation of a fascinating and valuable fish, notwithstanding all the efforts that were made to restore it by artificial means. Keywords: fisheries, life history, over-fishing, mill dams, deforestation, Alewife How freshwater evidence that Lake Ontario was confluent with the Champlain Sea, but isostatic rebound and eastward populations originate forcing of freshwater, facilitated by glacial melt- water input to Lake Ontario, likely prevented salt- The Atlantic Salmon did not arise in Lake water invasion. Hladyniuk and Longstaffe (2016) Ontario because it was prevented from going to found no evidence that the western end of Lake sea; it was not a landlocked population until the Ontario was at any time marine.
  • Toronto's Acoustic Ecology

    Toronto's Acoustic Ecology

    Jason van Eyk Noise in the city: Toronto’s acoustic ecology Torontonians are bombarded with reports on environmental indicators. We are increasingly obsessed with the quality of those elements that are essential to our basic health: primarily air and water, but also light (u v index) and soil (waste disposal and brownfields). However, one environmental element to which we pay remarkably little attention is sound. All living organisms are affected by their sonic environment. Without concern for healthy-sounding surroundings, we allow ourselves to be exposed to acoustically toxic conditions that negatively affect our health and sense of well-being. The largest culprit of acoustic toxicity is noise, which is defined as ‘unwanted sound’ and is characterized by its intensity, frequency, periodicity and duration. Most people would be surprised to know that we are affected more by noise exposure than any other envi- ronmental stressor. Yet, because the perception of noise is subjective and because the associated health effects of noise exposure are not consid- ered as immediately life-threatening as those of other environmental elements, it is regularly pushed to the bottom of the priority list. The effects of noise exposure on public health have been hypothesized since at least the 1960s. By the 1970s, research on noise and public health was being conducted in most developed countries, and shared through the International Commission on Biological Effects of Noise, a society of research scientists dedicated to co-operation and the distribution of information related to all aspects of noise-induced effects on humans and animals. The cumulative research results were significant enough for several Western European and North American countries to make science-based recommendations for changes in public health policy.
  • Sustainable Urban Forest Management Plan

    Sustainable Urban Forest Management Plan

    Urban Forest Strategic Management Plan Trinity Bellwoods Park Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan 20-Year Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan Trinity Bellwoods Park Presented to: Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park & The City of Toronto January 2010 Management plan presented by: The Trinity Tree Team Brian Volz Annie McKenzie Caroline Booth Mike Halferty Masters of Forest Conservation University of Toronto Trinity Tree Team, University of Toronto ii Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan Acknowledgements The Trinity Tree Team would like to think the Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park, in particular Anna Hill and Victoria Taylor, for welcoming us to their community meeting and sharing with us their interests for the park. Thanks to Councilor Joe Pantalone and his staff for helping us visualize the “bigger picture” for the park in an ecological sense. Thank you to City of Toronto Parks Planning, in particular Richard Ubbens, Patricia Landry and Gary Short, for providing us with information on past and planned works in the park. Thanks to Philip van Wassenaer from Urban Forest Innovations for his advice on tree risk management, and to our classmates (MFCs ‘08) for their camaraderie and support throughout the programme. And finally, a special thanks to Dr. Andy Kenney for sharing with us his exceptional knowledge of the urban forest and for his guidance throughout this project. Trinity Tree Team, University of Toronto iii Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan Table of Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................
  • GARRISON CREEK DISCOVERY WALK HIGHLIGHTS You Can Reach the Suggested Starting Point on Creek Ravine

    GARRISON CREEK DISCOVERY WALK HIGHLIGHTS You Can Reach the Suggested Starting Point on Creek Ravine

    GETTING THERE AND BACK Trace the path of the buried Garrison GARRISON CREEK DISCOVERY WALK HIGHLIGHTS You can reach the suggested starting point on Creek Ravine. Explore parklands, 1 CHRISTIE PITS PARK public transit by taking the BLOOR/DANFORTH traditional neighbourhoods and vibrant Discover the vibrant Christie Pits Park, named subway to Christie Station. 509 QUEENS QUAY main streets. after William Mellis Christie, co-founder of the and 511 BATHURST streetcars serve the vicinity Christie & Brown Cookie Company in the of the suggested tour end point near the Lake THE ROUTES 1860s. Subsequent to entering into the cookie Ontario shoreline. GARRISON CREEK DISCOVERY WALK business, Christie excavated sand, gravel and clay from this site for construction of many of Follow this Garrison Creek Discovery Toronto’s roadways and public buildings. Once Walk along the burried Garrison Creek quarrying was completed in 1909, the site was bed. Although you can start the walk at Enjoy this Discovery Walk at different Garrison named Willowvale Park, but continued use of any location, it is recommended to start at ‘Christie Pits’ led to its renaming in 1983. times of the year. You’ll be surprised how it Christie Pits Park, across the street from the (christiepits.ca/history/history.asp) changes from season to season. Christie Subway Station. You’ll experience a variety of parks and green spaces all the way Creek down to Lake Ontario. 2 TRINITY BELLWOODS PARK One in a series of self-guided walks ACCESSIBLE DISCOVERY WALK Explore the beauty of a landscape that was Working in compliance with AODA once intersected by a owing Garrison Creek (Accessibility for Ontarians with and later lled in with dirt removed from the Disabilities), this Discovery Walk is excavation of the Bloor subway line in the 1950s.