2020 The Canadian City Parks Report

Highlighting the trends, challenges, and leading practices in 27 Canadian cities to inspire action, share learning, and track progress in city parks across the country. Foreword

Our cities’ green spaces have Thank you to the team at Park People for continuing to develop this valuable resource never been more important as for city parks’ management and staff. Our communities grapple with the Foundation is proud to support this important realities of a global pandemic. work and are grateful for all that Park People does to improve equity and inclusion, and increase connections to urban parks in Canada. Parks have been closed, and then opened, and then filled beyond capacity. Whether you are a frontline I also want to recognize and thank the dozens of worker, a single parent with restless children, or are municipal staff who took the time out of already experiencing homelessness, our city parks have busy schedules to give Park People the data and become essential spaces to restore our physical and stories needed to create this report. We hope you mental well-being at a stressful and uncertain time. continue to find it a valuable and useful tool to share best practices and spark conversations for The Canadian City Parks Report is an in-depth the betterment of our parks and our cities. look at the state of these essential parks in municipalities across the country. This year’s It is reassuring to see growing commitment report focuses on the importance of urban to improving biodiversity in cities across the biodiversity, and the role that city parks can play country from volunteers, staff and city leaders. to support and connect valuable ecosystems. Now more than ever we need our parks to be Increasingly, studies show the strong connection healthy and thriving to meet the needs of all between biodiversity and well-being, making the communities. Our well-being depends on it. theme of this year’s report especially relevant. Tamara Rebanks - Chair Restoring and protecting biodiversity in Canadian The W. Garfield Weston Foundation landscapes is a key part of our Foundation’s mission. Scientific data tells us that biodiverse ecosystems are our best defense to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. But data is not enough— we know that in order to protect biodiversity, we need to feel connected to the land and nature that surrounds us. And as more and more Canadians move to larger urban settings, city parks offer one of the best opportunities to make those connections.

2 CONTENTS

ACTIVATION 53 INTRODUCTION 4 Take me out to the dog park 57

Feed them and they will come 61 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5

INCLUSION 65

THEMES 6 The Trouble with Displacement 68

Forging a Different Path 71 NATURE 6 From Displacement The Feel Good Factor 11 to Inclusion 75

Small is Mighty 15 Accessibility Beyond Design 78

Deepening the Conservation Conversation 20

Connecting the Dots 24 NEXT STEPS 81

GROWTH 29

The Space Squeeze 34 METHODOLOGY 82

The New Wave of Parks 39

CITY PROFILES 84 COLLABORATION 42

Don’t just tick the box —think outside of it 46

Power to the People 51

3 This report came at a strange moment.

INTRODUCTION

As we worked on stories about The Canadian City Parks Report is an annual report on the trends and challenges facing city parks. It’s biodiversity, creative park not meant to be an encyclopedia of everything. development, community Each year will shift in focus as we shine a spotlight engagement, and homelessness, on made-in-Canada solutions in five theme areas: the world changed around us. nature, growth, collaboration, activation, and inclusion. The 2020 report was built on the feedback But it quickly became apparent we received from the 25,000 people who visited that these stories were not made the website and downloaded the 2019 report. irrelevant, but more urgent than This year we dive deep into urban biodiversity—a ever. topic of great importance as pressures on our natural environment from urbanization and climate change threaten the ecosystems that sustain us. We have As COVID-19 has thrown into sharp relief, parks form not only reported stories and compiled key data, but a critical backbone of community infrastructure, created an online biodiversity resource library where strengthening our resilience during times of crisis. you can learn more about biodiversity’s connection Parks are places where we grow our own food, to climate change, well-being, Indigenous land where we let anxieties melt away on a nature walk, management, habitat restoration, and more. where we create social support networks, and even where we may find shelter during a trying time. You’ll also find stories on how scarce and expensive land (and now physical distancing measures) is Work on this report started in October 2019 and driving innovative new public spaces, how we can while we incorporated the emerging impacts of more meaningfully engage people, and what cities COVID-19, much was still in flux at the time of can do to lead the conversation about homelessness this report’s final writing in mid-May 2020. We’ve and parks with care—a topic that has taken on also seen a growing and necessary conversation heightened importance due to COVID-19. about racism and parks, and specifically anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism. Our goal with the Canadian City Parks Report is to provide opportunities for shared learning, increased Publishing this report is just the start of a longer action, and inspiration. We hope you find stories that conversation about Canadian parks. Over the resonate with you, but also challenge your thinking. next year, we will be reviewing the impacts of And that you come away feeling invigorated about COVID-19 and continuing to spotlight issues of Canadian city parks and what you can do to make equity, building on the ideas in this report with them even a little bit better in your community. additional content. To read more on our thoughts about parks and COVID-19, please read this special blog post. And keep in touch with our continuing analysis on parks and COVID-19 on social media and by signing up to our newsletter.

Introduction 4 A report this size is a team effort.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Authors: Jake Tobin Garrett and Adri Stark

Data coordinator: Molly Connor

Researchers: Caroline Magar, Stephanie Stanov, Kelsey Carriere

Translation: Sophie Côté, Review by Clémence Marcastel

Design: Hypenotic

First, huge thanks to the dozens Dobbie, Minaz Asani-Kanji, Nakuset, Nina-Marie Lister, Pamela Zevit, Rachael Putt, Ron Buchan, Ron of city staff that worked with Buliung, Sarah Winterton, and Vanessa Carney. us to compile city data, answer We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to The our questions, and respond to W. Garfield Weston Foundation for its foundational interview requests. We know support in the creation and launch of this report. this takes a tremendous amount We would also like to thank RBC for its support of work and this report is not of the Nature section’s biodiversity stories, stats, possible without you. and online Biodiversity Resource Hub. Finally, we would like to thank the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation for its support of the research We’d also like to thank the parks professionals, into small-scale urban biodiversity projects. community members, non-profit staff, and academic researchers who provided their time and expertise, Lastly, thank you to the entire Park People including Adam Vasilevich, Alex Harned, Andrea team for their support and input. Doiron, Ann-Marie Nasr, Anna Cooper, Asima Sponsors Jansveld, Camil Dumont, Cara Chellew, Carly Ziter, Cheyenne Sundance, Chris Hardwicke, Chrissy Brett, Christall Beaudry, Craig Nicol, Daniel Fusca, Dave Hutch, Don Carruthers Den Hoed, Dorothée de Collasson, Eric Code, Hallie Mitchell, Jay Pitter, Jeff Rose, Jennifer Pierce, Joce Two Crows Tremblay, Jode Roberts, Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Kevin Dieterman, Lisa Kates, Pete Ewins, Mahnaz Ghalib, Marie Pierre Beauvais, Matt Hickey, Michelle

Acknowledgements 5 Nature

INTRODUCTION Biodiversity is the splendour of life on this planet— the intricately linked mix of flora and fauna that sustains us. And yet biodiversity is under threat due to degraded and fragmented habitats from urbanization and increased ecosystem stress from climate change.

In 2017, the World Wildlife Fund-Canada reported That’s why we’ve focused this section on a that 50% of monitored species in Canada are in special look at urban biodiversity, diving deep decline, including federally protected at-risk species. into its impacts on our well-being, how small And Canadian researchers have warned that bee spaces add up to big impacts, why we need populations are in severe decline, putting at risk the to increase habitat connectivity, and what pollination required by nearly 75% of food crops. we can do to deepen the conversation.

In Canada, some of the areas most rich in The COVID-19 pandemic has only bolstered biodiversity are also the areas most densely settled, arguments for the importance of access to making biodiversity both an urban challenge and nature and healthy ecosystems. Stories from opportunity. As places where nature and people across the country showed how people found come together in cities, our local parks have a new relief in exploring natural spaces, running large role to play in protecting and enhancing outdoors, and using parks to decompress. biodiversity—and increasing our understanding As the stories in this section show, biodiversity of its importance to our planet and to our lives. is a key ingredient in the resiliency of both our ecosystems and our mental health.

Nature 6 Nature

INSIGHTS TAKE-AWAYS

* Nearly two thirds of cities * Recognize and promote the reported protecting biodiversity psychological well-being benefits and enhancing natural areas of biodiversity and use public as a top challenge, while only 1 health as a “doorway” to bring in 5 reported having a citywide new people into the conversation, biodiversity strategy in place. especially as the COVID-19 response turns to addressing an Nature experiences are in * increasing mental health crisis. demand as 70% of cities reported increasing demand for park * Leverage the attachment naturalization projects and 56% people have to their local of cities reported increasing neighbourhoods to promote demand for volunteer stewardship small-scale projects like pollinator opportunities. gardens that make urban biodiversity tangible for people, As extreme weather continues * and use them as springboards to impact parks, nearly three into wider environmental quarters of cities reported conversations. increasing demand for green infrastructure like rain gardens * Work towards the protection and and bioswales that can help restoration of natural spaces— mitigate impacts, but few large and small—but ensure cities have citywide green they are also connected through infrastructure strategies in place biodiversity corridors at the that include parks. multiple scales of neighbourhood, city, and region.

Nature 7 Nature / Indicators

19% 70% of cities have a citywide of cities reported increasing biodiversity strategy and 52% demand for park naturalization of cities have biodiversity projects. objectives embedded within other environmental plans.

This year we separated standalone biodiversity strategies from other city environmental plans that contained biodiversity objectives, suggesting there is more work to be done to create holistic citywide urban biodiversity strategies. 63% 74% of cities listed protecting and of cities reported increasing enhancing biodiversity and demand for green infrastructure natural environments as a top like bioswales and rain gardens. challenge.

Nature 8 Nature / % of parkland that is natural parkland

Park systems are made up of both manicured parks (sports fields, playgrounds) and natural areas (woodlots, meadows). As we seek to adapt to climate change and increase biodiversity, it’s important to ensure we are protecting natural spaces as cities grow. On average, 45% of park systems are natural areas, representing 33,600ha across all cities. *Arranged by population size

Nature 9 Nature / % of parkland that is environmentally significant/protected

This chart shows the percentage of total city parkland that is under special protection as ecologically sensitive. While the policies are different in each city, it gives a sense of the quantity of protected urban habitat—8,300ha in total or equivalent to nearly 21 Stanley Parks—a number that could help contribute to Canada’s target of 17% protected land in the country. *Arranged by population size

Nature 10

1. The Feel Good Factor

How urban biodiversity improves our well-being and why that matters even more during COVID-19.

Take a walk in a park. It’s something many of us intuitively do when we’re feeling anxious, which, as COVID-19 courses through our lives, is a growing collective emotional state. Nature is even something doctors have begun prescribing. But are all parks created equal in their benefits to our psychological well-being? Mentally Significant Area. Credit: TRCA Pioneering research from the 1990s showed how exposure to environments. Studies have that people report a greater sense nature—even getting a glimpse of looked at the length of time spent of well-being in areas that they it out of a window—could reduce in biodiverse areas (the longer perceive to be more biodiverse—a stress, improve concentration, time the greater the positive finding that has deep implications and help us heal faster. However, effect), thetypes of vegetation for how we plan and engage this research often painted nature present (bright flowers were people in urban biodiversity. with a broad brush: green space stimulating, green plantings was green space whether it was The importance of access to were soothing), and whether the a wild space or a treed lawn. nature and biodiversity for our presence of park furniture like mental health becomes even more Recent research has been going benches reduced the well-being urgent in light of COVID-19. As deeper by exploring people’s impacts of natural areas (it didn’t). the pandemic increased stress and response to different natural Overall, the research has found severed personal support networks

Nature 11 for many, half of Canadians home” with a desire to get some people took refuge in places reported worsening mental health fresh air and clear their heads. close to home, highlighting the and the Canadian Mental Health A global survey of 2,000 people pressing need to ensure natural Association warned of a potential found mental and physical areas are equitably distributed “echo pandemic” of mental illness. health were key drivers of public throughout our cities. space use during the pandemic. People were left trying to balance The same survey found that government direction to “stay

A NEW FRONTIER

A walk in the woods. Credit: Park People

The benefits of biodiversity are Associate Professor and Director “The sooner we often couched in environmental of the Ecological Design Lab at impacts and ecosystem services— Ryerson University, who added recognize that we the work that natural areas do that the area is a “new frontier.” take psychological to help clean the air, provide “Never before have our parks solace being in food, mitigate flooding, control and public green spaces been extreme temperatures, and nature, the better we more important to city dwellers, more. Viewing nature as green are able to protect especially in terms of the mental infrastructure is critical, but it health and wellness benefits nature for our own misses how these same spaces are of urban nature,” she said. also psychological infrastructure. well-being,” she “From birdsong to sunshine, added. “The intersection of the richness wildflowers and shady walks, of life on earth with human well- we now know that the ability being is now well established in to safely access the outdoors is Don Carruthers Den Hoed, science and is fast becoming an a critical necessity—and a vital a researcher at Mount Royal imperative in design and planning prescription for wellness.” University who also manages practice,” said Nina-Marie Lister, the Canadian Parks Collective

Nature 12 for Innovation and Leadership, Canadian Index of Well-being democratic engagement and has conducted his own studies as a model for how to talk about community vitality? Through on the connection between the multiple benefits of parks. the Index, cities can make the biodiversity and well-being. case that volunteer stewardship Understanding how parks He argued that the well-being programs aren’t just about natural contribute to Index areas like narrative can be a “doorway” restoration work, he said, but also leisure and environment are a through which to get more people about strengthening community “no-brainer,” Carruthers Den involved in conversations about vitality and well-being. Hoed said. But what about parks and biodiversity, noting the

EDUCATION, RESTORATION, AND WELL-BEING: A WIN-WIN-WIN

The impacts of well-being and biodiversity often depend as much on people’s perceptions as on actual levels of biodiversity present in a natural area.

For example, one 2012 study found people reported high levels of well-being in areas they perceived to be more natural, even if their perception did not align with actual levels of biodiversity.

This leads to an opportunity, the researchers pointed out. Closing the gap between perception and reality through natural education and stewardship initiatives could “unlock win-win scenarios” that “can maximize both biodiversity conservation and human well-being.”

In other words, the more we improve the biodiversity of our city and provide people ways to This place is for the birds. Credit: Park People learn and steward these areas, the more people are able to “Restoring land without restoring appreciate natural spaces and the relationship is an empty exercise,” better they will feel as a result. she wrote. “It is relationship that Robin Wall Kimmerer wrote will endure and relationship that of this reciprocal relationship will sustain the restored land. between land stewardship and Therefore, reconnecting people human well-being in her book, and the landscape is as essential Braiding Sweetgrass, which as reestablishing proper hydrology weaves together Indigenous or cleaning up contaminants. knowledge and natural science. It is medicine for the earth.”

Nature 13 A MISSED OPPORTUNITY?

Lister views the public health and well-being impacts of biodiversity as a “missed opportunity” in Canada. “For a country rich in biodiversity, we are behind on protection strategies that can improve human well-being. I think it’s an urgent necessity to put biodiversity and health together in our public policies.”

Carruthers Den Hoed pointed out that park managers often speak about the spiritual benefits of nature and yet “that’s not Canoeing the Humber River in Toronto. Credit: Park People mentioned in any management plans. It’s one of the really mental health and biodiversity, As health researcher Nadha important values people come to Vanessa Carney, Calgary’s Hassen found, racial and nature for and yet it’s just kind of Landscape Analysis Supervisor, socioeconomic inequities in shuffled to the side of the table.” said that one of the goals of the access to quality green spaces Our review of Canadian city’s work mapping ecological can be a determinant of mental biodiversity strategies found networks “is to help find ways health outcomes. “In urban that while they mention the to expand Calgarians’ access to settings, neighbourhoods with human well-being benefits of park spaces to include more easily low-income, newcomer, and biodiversity, they do so often only accessible nature experiences.” racialized populations tend to have in general terms rather than in lower access to available, good The well-being benefits of policy or recommended actions. quality green spaces compared experiencing biodiversity to other groups that are higher and nature raise important However, that doesn’t mean income or white,” she wrote. cities aren’t thinking about the questions about equitable access connection between biodiversity to these spaces—especially Equity is a “massive piece of and public health. Recognizing given rising mental health work,” Carruthers Den Hoed the scientific link between pressures due to COVID-19. noted. Indeed, equity is a missing lens from many biodiversity strategies. He argued that equity should not just be about access (do people have nearby nature to enjoy?), but about inclusion (how involved are people in shaping those natural spaces?).

“Where’s the equity focusing on the decision-making, the employment, the economic benefits of the things that are happening in that park?” Carruthers Den Hoed said. “That’s where I think the most Reclining under a tree. Credit: Park People interesting work will go.”

Nature 14

2. Small is Mighty

How seemingly small actions and community-led urban biodiversity projects across the country are having a big impact.

The destruction and Even small spaces can support fragmentation of habitat from a large number of local species urbanization is one of the most with the right kind of native pressing challenges facing urban plants, as one 2019 study showed. biodiversity. In this context, it For example, a citizen science becomes increasingly important survey in Vancouver observed to find every nook and cranny we the second highest number can to support habitat creation. of pollinator species within a small community-planted While large natural areas are pollinator garden compared critical, research shows that to nearby green spaces. small-scale urban biodiversity projects—like pollinator gardens— As the Cougar Creek are important pieces of the puzzle. Streamkeepers have shown, local projects can have big impacts over According to Carly Ziter, time. This group of industrious Assistant Professor in Concordia volunteers works in Surrey and University’s Biology Department, Delta with city staff and local small-scale initiatives are key: at schools to create rain gardens the ecological level they diversify that support the health of local habitat and improve connectivity, streams to bring back salmon to and at the social level they the area. Their annual counts of facilitate access to nature and salmon populations have tracked opportunities for stewardship. Small pollinator garden in raised bed. an increase of 50% since 2017. Credit: Park People

Nature 15 FIND TOEHOLDS TO CREATE CONNECTIONS

the drive behind David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Project, which encourages resident-led native plant gardens in Toronto, Richmond Hill, Victoria, Vancouver, and Montreal.

To increase naturalized areas, Sarah Winterton, formerly Director of Nature Connected Communities at World Wildlife Fund-Canada, argued that cities could consider designating a percentage of every park as a naturalized habitat.

Some cities are taking the lead on Butterflyway Map Vancouver. Credit: David Suzuki Foundation this. For example, Ottawa’s park development manual establishes Connecting larger green Roberts from the David Suzuki targets for naturalization in new spaces through native plant Foundation pointed out, you parks. Halifax is planning to gardens along streets and parks can’t play soccer on a meadow. naturalize underused park areas can help restore lost habitat with the help of local stewards, and Roberts said he looks for smaller networks—a key focus of many Victoria has already naturalized toeholds in underused spots in city biodiversity strategies. 62 locations within their park parks. “Urban landscapes are so system. Meanwhile, Fredericton However, with park space at fragmented that even adding little is turning infrastructure into a premium, naturalization patches here and there is great for living habitat by building living projects could create tension continuity for species, especially retaining walls in three parks. between different users. As Jode wild bees,” he said. That’s part of

CULTIVATE THE PLANTS OF THE FUTURE

As the climate changes, so too will its greenhouses to growing the plants that can thrive. As part native plants through a pilot of its climate resiliency planning, that it expanded in 2020, with Victoria developed a plant plants made available for city selection list for parks that parks and other naturalized includes climate adaptive native planting programs. Over 75% of plants that are drought-tolerant, the seed for the 2020 program pest/disease resistant, and was collected from within the pollinator-friendly, but also low city itself. Similarly, Winnipeg allergen and low maintenance. is protecting genetic diversity One third of its annual plant by harvesting seeds from inventory is now transitioned to native plants in restoration naturalized plantings. projects and propagating them in the city’s nursery. Pollinator visitors. Credit Guelph also devotes space in Dallington Pollinators

Nature 16 UPDATE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES

Good maintenance and design in natural nutrient cycles and COVID-19 pandemic kept people are critical to the success of habitat for nesting insects. For inside, allowing native flowering smaller projects as they are example, Montreal has begun plants to take over and provide often in areas that are heavily leaving dead/dying trees in more habitat for pollinators. used and may be under stress. parks (when safe to do so) to Since lawns—whether in parks promote biodiversity, as several or on private property—often This includes ensuring enough species rely on woody debris. represent the largest vegetative sunlight, keeping dogs and areas of cities, these practices people out of sensitive areas Conservationists were even can result in large impacts. through low fencing, and leaving encouraging people to let fallen leaves and sticks to assist their lawns grow wild as the

THINK BEYOND THE PARK

Finding space for habitat in an members, provides small- approach. A six-week long urban landscape necessitates scale habitat and social space summer 2019 pop-up plaza, creative thinking. Concordia in the city’s boroughs. Other WexPOPS provided a green oasis University’s Carly Ziter noted that community-led projects in a strip mall parking lot in opportunities for local biodiversity championed by the boroughs Scarborough’s Wexford Heights. projects can be found in urban include the initiative “Faites Its numerous native plantings agriculture, laneways, abandoned comme chez vous”, which helps attracted pollinators, creating a spaces and vacant lots, sidewalks, residents create small habitat hotspot where residents could and private yards. patches on their own property. interact with local wildlife in what was previously just a parking lot. Montreal’s network of green Toronto’s community-led alleys, managed by community WexPOPS took a different

WexPOPS. Credit: Park People

Nature 17 “It’s been quite dramatic to watch said. “The garden is constantly It’s a striking example of how the monarch’s progress from buzzing and visitors tend to small pin-pricks of nature in an larva to adult butterflies, and to be surprised and delighted to otherwise sea of pavement— see how much milkweed they eat experience this much life in the even in temporary spaces— in the process,” Brendan Stewart, middle of a huge parking lot.” can help support biodiversity one of the project team members and threatened species.

MAKE IT LOCAL TO MAKE AN IMPACT

Sarah Winterton argued that The program aims to build said. “But it’s got to have the working on local initiatives awareness amongst people who emotional factor plugged in.” may trigger people to be “are not people who are already Ryerson University Associate more aware of biodiversity’s doing it,” WWF-Canada’s Lead Professor Nina-Marie Lister importance, creating support for Specialist in Species Conservation agreed. “If you’ve got a pollinator other environmental issues. Pete Ewins said, adding that one garden on your property, you are of the biggest ways cities can That’s why WWF-Canada more likely to be the person who boost urban biodiversity is to launched the In The Zone will support your government transition people to use native program, which, like the for investing in very large scale plants in their own gardens. Butterflyway Project, initiatives,” she said. People can encourages resident-led native “Part of the problem [is] that be “messengers of goodness” plant gardens. The program environmental groups have for in their community, spreading includes a “zone tracker” where 50 years thought that a bunch ideas at the same time as they gardeners can track the impact of numbers and statistics under contribute to local habitat. of their garden and see how it a powerful brand will change contributes to wider change. people’s priorities,” Ewins

CREATE A PLACE FOR PLANTS—BUT ALSO PEOPLE

Local projects provide “an opportunity for people to come together to reduce social isolation and disconnection,” argued David Suzuki Foundation’s Jode Roberts. Residents meet other gardeners, chat with community members walking by, or swap plant advice.

Mahnaz Ghalib, founder of Toronto’s Dallington Pollinator Community Garden, said that while the garden is a place for the community to address issues like climate change and declining biodiversity, one of the key drivers was bringing people in the neighbourhood together. To do that, the group Dallington Pollinators Mural. Credit: Dallington Pollinators

Nature 18 hosts programming like youth generations—something Marie- area can help strengthen social garden clubs and speaks to people Pierre Beauvais found from ties in the neighbourhood, both living in the neighbourhood’s her involvement in Les Amis young and old, she said. The high-rise buildings about how du Champ des Possibles, a group hosts programming like they can bring a little piece of vacant lot turned naturalized seasonal clean-ups, botanical garden to their own balconies. landscape in Montreal. drawing lessons, and discovery walks to reach different people. Local projects can also Getting involved in setting up a be a way to reach across project like a garden or naturalized

OFFER A HELPING HAND

When Ghalib started the pollinator garden she said she “had no idea about environmental stewardship. I jumped into it. And as I worked there was a lot of joy.”

Ghalib said that assistance from the city is crucial for gardens like hers, which are tended by volunteers who have their own busy lives. In addition to grants offered to help initially set up a garden, Ghalib said that helping to engage local residents and communicating the benefits of urban biodiversity and garden projects would be helpful. Additionally, assistance with site and plant selection Community pollinator garden. Credit: Dallington Pollinators and guidance through the permitting process would help ease the burden on volunteers. We found a range of supportive create wildlife habitat around Beauvais agreed that cities need to programs and grants for waterways, pollinator gardens, step up for people to get involved, community-led urban and remove invasive plants. perhaps by creating management biodiversity projects, including: * Guelph’s Healthy Landscapes funds to support projects. Cities * Ottawa’s Community Program includes a free site can also help by supporting Environmental Projects Grants visit from city staff to discuss the creation of resident-led give out 50k per year to groups. native plant tips like creating rain committees and groups that have gardens and attracting pollinators. delegated responsibility for these * Richmond Hill’s Community The city also runs a pollinator spaces. For example, Beauvais’s Stewardship Program works community garden program. group consists of a board of with volunteers to plant trees, remove invasive species, restore * Toronto’s PollinateTO volunteers that liaised with streams, and host workshops such grants provide funding and the city, residents, and experts as bird boxes and frog watching. tips to residents to support they hired, such as biologists, local pollinator gardens. to help out with the project. * Waterloo’s Partners in Parks stewardship program helps

Nature 19

3. Deepening the Conservation Conversation

How we can both deepen the conversation about biodiversity and broaden it to include more people

With climate change and biodiversity loss increasing stress on ecosystems, engaging residents in urban conservation is more important now than ever.

The question becomes how to reach people in their busy lives, respect traditional knowledge, and bring more people into the conversation about conservation. Trillium Park in Toronto. Credit: Park People

Nature 20 CONSIDER THE METHOD AND THE MESSAGE

In order to reach people, we neighbourhood-scale urban like Guelph’s rebate program need to articulate biodiversity biodiversity projects, one of the does—more people can be in a way that is meaningful for benefits of local initiatives is brought into the conversation. them, said Jennifer Pierce, a how they can make biodiversity Another way to reach people is by biodiversity researcher at the tangible and relevant. Recent working with youth. Schools are University of British Columbia. research has also shown how a great cross-section of society, people’s exposure to local She recommended starting Ryerson University Associate nature can positively impact from questions such as “how Professor Nina-Marie Lister said. their involvement in wider does biodiversity relate to their Students can bring back messages environmental issues. lives. To what they value?” of the importance of biodiversity This may mean dropping the By leveraging people’s to their parents, the same way solely environmentally focused attachment to their own home that they did with recycling in the arguments and connecting or neighbourhood—and by 1980s. “It was kids that pressured biodiversity to other top-of- showing them how native plant their parents to recycle,” Lister mind issues for people. gardens and rain gardens could, said. “They led by example.” for example, save them money As we noted in our story on

RESPECT AND HONOUR INDIGENOUS LAND STEWARDSHIP

Joce Two Crows Tremblay is an Earth Worker with the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle in Toronto who works directly with street-involved youth and urban Indigenous populations planting and tending Indigenous species in local parks and public spaces.

These gardens are an important way of connecting with the land, traditions and ceremony—ties which have been severed through the colonization process.

“For the 50% of Indigenous populations that are now living in urban settings, parks are often Friends of Watkinson Park. Credit: Elder Marlene Bluebird our only place to connect with the land,” explained Tremblay. “A lot of healing happens by just re-enacted in how we manage of their Three Sisters gardens getting your hand in the ground.” species and landscapes. was accidentally mowed down. It is as important for the staff Introducing new ways of Tremblay’s work extends to cutting the grass as it is for thinking needs constant effort, compiling research and educating management to understand and reinforcement of intentions about less-invasive management efforts to increase biodiversity through all layers of staff, as practices with a keen awareness and reconciliation work in parks. of how colonial thinking is often Tremblay learned when one

Nature 21 How little we embed Indigenous recognize that many Indigenous While not looking specifically knowledge and land management organizations and communities at city parks, the importance of practices into our biodiversity are often stretched to capacity. Indigneous land stewardship work “is an enormous gap, practices was highlighted by “It’s long been recognized that and it’s also an irresponsible a 2019 University of British patterns of colonization and gap,” Lister argued. Columbia study which found colonial history are repeated and biodiversity was highest She pointed out that while city entrenched through the way we on Indigenous-managed staff have good intentions with build our landscape,” Lister said. lands—finding a40% greater biodiversity strategies and are “And we know that there needs to number of unique species. aware of the need for more be, in Lorraine Johnson’s words, Indigenous involvement, they also an unsettling of the garden.”

ENGENDER RESPECT AND CARE

Getting to a place of collective care can be challenging. Some people may “love a place to death” while others may be ignorant of sensitive ecosystems, dumping trash or allowing their dog to run around.

However, as research by Mount Royal University’s Don Carruthers Den Hoed has found, how a place is framed—the name we give it and the narrative we embed in it—can impact people’s understanding of its importance. Humans are constantly looking for cues that suggest how we should act or what a place is for.

Carruthers Den Hoed pointed to one study where by telling people they were going to a park, people perceived it as a restorative place before they even got there. Even by naming something a “park” or a “sensitive landscape” Bose Forest Interpretive Signage in Surrey. Credit: Pamela Zevit we frame it in such a way that it affects how people relate to it. connected with Indigenous narrative of the place they were Another research study set up by elders who talked about the presented with, whether through Carruthers Den Hoed included place’s spiritual significance. signage or story. As a result, he a “blind taste test” of nature. noted it’s important to think about Carruthers Den Hoed found that He brought participants to the what the amenities, signage, and people’s perception of the space— same place through different management of a park says about the importance and the level of ways: one group saw a park sign, its significance and purpose. one saw no sign, and another care needed—was affected by the

Nature 22 CREATIVE WAYS TO REACH OUT AND BRING PEOPLE IN

Here are some of the creative practices that cities and communities are using to involve people in the preservation and enhancement of urban biodiversity.

LEVERAGE THE POWER OF ART.

* Montreal’s Les Amis du Champ des Possibles hosted botanical drawing sessions to reach artists and local residents in a vacant lot turned naturalized area.

* Montreal collaborated with students in Concordia University’s Communication Studies program to create a collection of 25 artistic short films called Les Champ des Possibles in Montreal. Credit: Park People Portraits d’Arbres aimed at increasing urban tree awareness. cameras and partners on an sightings and provide information * Mississauga engaged in its first amphibian monitoring program. to help people feel more ever partnership between the comfortable coexisting with the Culture Division and Parks to * Regina hosts Ladybug Day, city’s coyote population (the city create a public art bee hotel in where residents are invited also has a coyote management Jack Darling Memorial Park. to release thousands of plan that emphasizes ladybugs to control aphids. resident collaboration). DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE QUIRKY. * Montreal partnered with WWF- Canada to host Biopolis, MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE. * The David Suzuki Foundation which profiles projects and launched the tongue-in- includes a resource library. * Montreal’s Nana buses connect cheek Bee-BnB campaign to urban residents to the larger transform the idea of a home- * Winnipeg operates the Living natural areas surrounding the sharing network for pollinators, Prairie Museum, which city that are not readily accessible encouraging people to plant conducts research into pollinator through public transit. neighbourhood native gardens. diversity across the city and control of invasive species. * The Into the Greenbelt program in southern Ontario offers bursaries TURN NATURE INTO A for day-trip greenbelt bus tours LEARNING LABORATORY. DEMYSTIFY WILDLIFE. to underserved communities. * Edmonton’s Urban Bio Kit * Ottawa organizes free wildlife * Ottawa’s online natural areas helps people conduct citizen talks bringing in experts to talk map provides directions and science and monitoring in about the animals found in the city. hiking information, including their own local park. * Toronto produces a series wheelchair accessible trails. * Cities including Calgary host of biodiversity booklets the multi-day City Nature exploring bees, spiders, fish, Challenge where residents and other local critters. collect information on local wildlife. Calgary also works with * Montreal launched a coyote residents to monitor wildlife info line for residents to report

Nature 23

4. Connecting the Dots

Why habitat corridors are important for urban biodiversity and what cities are doing to make sure parks large and small are connected.

While small-scale biodiversity projects are important, there’s no question that when it comes to nature, size matters: larger spaces allow for a greater diversity of plants that in turn support a greater diversity and number of species. They also provide critical ecological services, such as cleaning the air, managing stormwater, and mitigating urban heat—all of which only become A Rendering of the Meadoway at Highland Creek in Scarborough. Credit: TRCA more important as climate change increases environmental stress. Program for its large parks, and planning that examines key Cities use different policy and Fredericton released two new species, develops education planning levers to protect large park management plans. and stewardship plans, and sensitive urban ecosystems identifies habitat corridors. or important habitat links, However, with 19% of cities often designating them as reporting citywide biodiversity Environmentally Sensitive/ strategies in place, and a further Significant Areas. For example, 52% who have biodiversity Toronto expanded its ESA’s by objectives embedded in other 68 areas, Montreal instituted environmental plans, there’s a an Ecosystem Management need for more holistic citywide

Nature 24 CONNECT AT ALL SCALES

It’s not enough to have habitat patches—even large ones—if they are isolated.

Whether it’s an urban landscape or a pristine natural area, you need connected networks for ecosystems to function properly, said Pamela Zevit, Surrey’s Biodiversity Conservation Planner.

Connectivity ensures wildlife are not confined to what Zevit called “habitat islands,” which can easily become degraded by pollution, Bose Forest Boardwalk in Surrey. Credit: Pamela Zevit disease, or disturbance, leaving wildlife with nowhere else to go. as the “urban matrix”—all those to naturalize existing parks. This is why Surrey has spent so other land uses outside of parks Until this evaluative work was much energy planning what it and natural areas that have underway, Calgary didn’t have calls its green infrastructure an impact on biodiversity. “a mechanism to set citywide network: a series of cross-city “The [guidelines] are this long priorities for biodiversity habitat corridors connecting larger overdue, comprehensive approach conservation or habitat habitat hubs. While important to linking all the existing design restoration,” with actions largely at the city scale, planning must guidelines and construction done as needed over time, said also connect within regional documents and everything that the city’s Landscape Analysis networks—after all, animals don’t we have around us and saying Supervisor, Vanessa Carney. stop at city borders—so Surrey how do we integrate biodiversity Like many Canadian cities, has made sure their network objectives into everything that she said, urban development matches up with the natural the city does,” said Zevit. happened neighbourhood systems of neighbouring cities. by neighbourhood, meaning Calgary is another city that “Surrey has a very strong environmental planning has has been working hard at desire to be a leader,” Zevit occurred largely at the local scale, restoring natural spaces and said. “So we made this effort rather than comprehensively ensuring connectivity through early on to connect a lot of across the city or region. a biodiversity strategy the the dots and we’ll be able to fit city approved in 2015. “While this approach helps to into whatever happens over conserve highly biodiverse and time at the regional level.” Over the past two years, landscape diverse parcels of land the city has identified and Within its own borders, the city is as public, we’ve been missing that evaluated the components also working towards approving ecological backbone that allows of its ecological network so it its first biodiversity design us to look at how neighbourhood could prioritize restoration and guidelines. The guidelines will development contributes or enhancement projects. It has cover not just natural areas but constrains citywide and regional even produced a guide on how places in what Zevit referred to connectivity,” Carney said.

Nature 25 To perform its evaluation, the city examined the permeability of landscapes for wildlife movement, the size of habitat areas and their adjacent land uses, and how integral the space was to the functioning of the overall ecological network.

Despite the citywide view, Carney said that both small and large parks play a role in connectivity. The larger parks serve as “biodiversity reservoirs,” while smaller parks—whether natural or manicured—provide Nose Hill Park in Calgary. Credit: Chris Manderson habitat for smaller species, serve as stepping stone habitats, and to preserve and enhance green corridors and buffers to allow people to connect with connectivity. For example, through support biodiversity and Red nature in their everyday lives. its Greenway Amenity Zoning, Deer creates Ecological Profiles Langley Township ensures for new subdivisions to ensure At this smaller scale, cities can every community includes natural features are protected. turn to development policies

RESTORE WATERWAYS

aiming to combine nature with art, heritage, recreation, and social space. The city has released a heritage plan and public art strategy, along with a management plan that highlights opportunities for recognition of Indigenous history, practices, and plants through programming, signage, and naming.

Led by Waterfront Toronto, Toronto is also undertaking a massive restoration project in naturalizing the mouth of the Don River, which flows into Lake Ontario. Naturalized Mouth of the Don River. Credit: Waterfront Toronto The project, which also includes creating biodiverse “park streets” Riparian areas (habitat along as part of new neighbourhood from increased extreme weather waterways) are particularly rich development in the area, will damage. areas for biodiversity and can help create flood protection and create important habitat Surrey’s Nicomekl River Park restore lost landscapes. connections. They are also project will restore and enhance At a smaller-scale, Vancouver is important for climate change unique riverfront ecological moving ahead with daylighting mitigation as flood protection zones into a 3km linear park,

Nature 26 a creek through Tatlow and as part of urbanization. creek to aboveground will Volunteer Parks, restoring a create new aquatic habitat, The project acts on priorities in waterway into English Bay. manage stormwater, improve Vancouver’s new parks master The creek is one of many that water quality, and create habitat plan, VanPlay, for restoring have been buried throughout for birds and pollinators. wild spaces and increasing Vancouver’s development— connectivity. Restoring the something many cities did

TURN HYDRO CORRIDORS INTO BIODIVERSITY CORRIDORS

The often large swathes of mowed grass in hydro corridors that cut for kilometres through cities are also increasingly being seen as areas ripe for habitat connections.

Take The Meadoway, a project of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority in partnership with the City of Toronto, Hydro One, and philanthropic funder The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.

Already partly constructed, the plan will naturalize a 16km hydro Meadoway Western Gateway. Credit: TRCA corridor across Scarborough connecting two large natural areas on either side: Rouge National Urban Park and the Lower Don Ravine. When finished, The Meadoway will feature hundreds of acres of meadow habitat with restored wetland areas, a connected trail, and social gathering spaces. An online visualization toolkit showcases the potential of the project, which is expected to be completed by 2024.

Montreal has also announced plans for a biodiversity corridor in a Saint-Laurent borough hydro Meadoway Childs Eye View corridor. “Climate change issues in Toronto. Credit: TRCA are requiring us to act quickly with innovative solutions,” said the on 450 hectares of land, the borough’s mayor, Alan DeSousa, project will include native habitat, calling the project a “laboratory” trails, and green roofs installed Saint Laurent Biodiversity Corridor. from which others can learn. on neighbouring buildings. Credit: Table Architecture, LAND Ultimately constructed Italia, civiliti, Biodiversité Conseil

Nature 27 MAKE BIG PLANS FOR BIG PARKS

Here’s what other Canadian cities urban park operated by the city. are doing to create and enhance The land was formerly a landfill large nature parks and increase turned golf course and includes habitat connectivity: Belle Island, which has significant importance as an Indigenous * In 2019, Montreal’s mayor burial ground and is co-owned announced a vision to create between the Mohawk Nation a large green space system in Council of Chiefs and the city. the city dubbed Grand parc de The new plan calls for promoting l’Ouest. Situated on Montreal’s biodiversity through naturalization West Island, the park will projects and creating recreational stitch together existing parks access such as trails. and 1,600ha of new green * Richmond Hill is moving ahead spaces for a total 3,000ha. with a large woodlot restoration * Halifax is working with the Nova project in the 40ha David Dunlap Blue Mountain Wilderness Connector. Scotia Nature Trust to preserve a Observatory Park as set out in the Credit: Nova Scotia Nature Trust 230ha wilderness area 20 minutes park’s 2016-approved master from downtown Halifax called plan, which also identifies the Blue Mountain Wilderness wetlands and wildlife corridors. Connector. Nova Scotia Nature Local advocacy resulted in Trust Executive Director Bonnie the land being saved as a park Sutherland told CBC that the rather than developed. land is “one of the last large intact * Toronto approved an wilderness areas that we have implementation plan for its in the greater Halifax area.” The Ravine Strategy in 2020 for area is home to several at-risk this network of ecologically rich species and was previously slated areas that thread throughout the to be a housing development. city. The plan creates a special * In 2019, Kingston approved a new ravine unit to oversee work and master plan for Belle Park, setting added extra funding towards the stage for a 15-year restoration conservation, clean-up measures, of the 45ha park—the largest and community stewardship.

Nature 28 Growth

INTRODUCTION In many Canadian cities, scarce and expensive land presents both a challenge and an opportunity for park building. These constraints lead to parks that are more expensive to design and maintain, but they are also driving innovation, producing some of the most unique parks in the country.

These new parks often necessitate new partnerships COVID-19 creates further urgency and challenges. and are up-ending the business-as-usual Cities are grappling with physical distancing approach of acquiring a piece of land to build rules that put pressure on already crowded parks a park. New plans feature elevated pathways, as people seek more space to spread outdoors, sports fields on malls, and parks along rail lines. accelerating the need for outside-the-box thinking.

And with the pandemic shining a light on the already present inequities in who has access to, and feels safe in, public spaces, many are raising questions about how we prioritize equitable park development as we move forward.

Growth 29 Growth

INSIGHTS TAKE-AWAYS

* Consistent with 2019, the top * Both for immediate COVID-19 challenges cities reported were relief and longer-term aging infrastructure, acquiring transformations, broaden the view parkland to meet growth needs, beyond parks to include streets, and insufficient operating laneways, hydro/rail corridors, budgets. However, just 63% of schools and other open spaces cities reported having updated as part of a connected network park system plans to address of temporary/permanent public growth. spaces. * COVID-19 has accelerated actions * Prepare to study new to convert streets to public space— management models, funding both temporary and permanent— arrangements, and equity- as cities seek to expand the based development tools as amount of room for people to new park development relies gather outdoors. more on partnerships between different landowners, community While there is a combined $441 * organizations, and government million in capital dollars budgeted agencies/departments. towards new and upgraded parks in 2020 (Toronto and Vancouver * Ensure long-term park system make up more than half of that planning balances improving total), cities are grappling with the the performance and quality of financial impacts of COVID-19, existing parks with identifying which will likely impact park growth areas to acquire land development budgets and ahead of development. timelines.

Growth 30 Growth / Indicators

63% of cities have park system master plans approved within the last ten years. $441 M total budgeted for capital parks spending in 2020.

Growth 31 Growth / Ha of parkland / 1000 people

This chart shows the amount of parkland for every 1,000 residents. While there is no “correct” amount of parkland per population as it depends on local context, Canada’s major urban centres have similarly lower levels of parkland per population as they deal with higher densities and development pressures. Ensuring these numbers do not decrease as populations grow will be key to meeting future parkland needs. *Arranged by population size

Growth 32 Growth / $ in operating budget/person

As with parkland per population, there is no “correct” operating budget amount. Tracking dollars spent per person over time helps shed light on whether budgets are keeping pace with population growth, which puts additional pressures on park systems. Already cities reported insufficient budgets as a top challenge two years running. Average operating budgets remained consistent with what was reported in 2019; however, COVID-19 impacts on 2020 budgets have not been reported yet and will inform the basis of analysis in the 2021 report. *Arranged by population size

Growth 33

1. The Space Squeeze

As populations and development boom in many cities, finding space for new parks is creating challenges— and spurring innovation

Much of the low hanging fruit is gone, but cities are finding the fruit higher up tastes a bit more interesting. Or, as Ann- Marie Nasr, Toronto’s Parks Development and Capital Projects Director put it: “Part of not having a lot of land around to turn into parks means you become more inventive, right?”

Nasr is overseeing a burst in innovative park building, Smith and Richards Park Rendering. Credit: Vancouver Park Board including rooftop recreation facilities, parks over rail corridors, and linear parks in hydro While the majority of the projects However, as these constraints corridors. Vancouver’s experience in this article were in development push public space creation into is similar, with designs for a before COVID-19, physical so-called “leftover” spaces in a new downtown park including distancing requirements have city, such as under a highway an elevated walkway. “We need put additional pressure on cities or along rail lines, it can have to think in three dimensions,” to creatively and quickly expand unintended effects. This includes Dave Hutch, the Vancouver Park public space, potentially bolstering displacing people occupying Board’s Planning Director said, arguments for and accelerating those spaces for shelter and and “use every square inch, planning for new public spaces. potentially spurring gentrification. especially on small sites.”

Growth 34 Despite its popularity, many have Friends of the High Line spun out The Network has published criticized New York’s elevated a new entity called the High Line toolkits with strategies for High Line park as contributing to Network to advise infrastructure community-based planning and unaffordable housing and catering reuse parks on more inclusive equitable development principles, to overwhelmingly white visitors practices. Toronto’s Bentway and which can be a helpful guide despite the racial diversity of the The Meadoway are the group’s as Canadian cities embark on neighbourhood. In response, the only Canadian members. a new era of park building.

PUT A PARK ON IT

One trend likely to grow is building parks on top of other infrastructure, like a parking garage. These are called strata parks because of their stratified ownership: the city doesn’t own the land underneath, just the layer on top.

On its face, it seems like a win- win situation. A property owner gets to build something and the city gets a park on top. But in reality, strata parks present a number of logistical, design, and legal challenges with which cities are grappling. Rendering of Oakridge Mall park green space. Credit: Vancouver Park Board

The structural integrity of what is below dictates the amount Manager, leading developers with areas for social gathering, of soil you can place on top, to maximize land by pushing gardening, and sports. Using the which impacts landscaping. parking underground. roof allowed the city to create a Additionally, when the waterproof much larger park, Hutch said. Aside from the design challenges membrane separating the park of strata parks, there’s a host of The Park Board worked hard to from the structure below needs legal and logistical implications, negotiate an ownership structure replacing or maintenance, the like long-term financial liability with the mall, Hutch said, park must often be scraped off for future upgrades. Recognizing including a provision that park and rebuilt. These parks can end that this pressure is not abating, maintenance and future capital up less green because of these Richmond Hill has commissioned renewal are paid for and done by factors, Nasr said—an issue when a study to look at strata parks the landowner, not the Park Board. cities facing climate change and help guide its decisions on A first for the Park Board, this was want to add more greenery accepting this type of parkland. negotiated due to the complexity for stormwater management of having multiple maintenance and urban heat mitigation. Vancouver’s plans for a new crews on site and liability if a park partially on top of the One city that has seen rising Park Board staff person damaged redeveloped Oakridge Mall pressure to accept strata parks is the protective membrane. An shows both the promise and Richmond Hill. “Land value has operating committee including complexity of strata parks. The appreciated quite substantially in Park Board and mall staff will be 3.6 hectare park will rise from the last 10 years,” said Michelle created to troubleshoot issues. ground level onto the mall’s roof Dobbie, the city’s Park Planning

Growth 35 CONNECTING THE NETWORK

As we reported in last year’s Canadian City Parks Report, parks planning is increasingly concerned with connectivity. Linear parks, trails, and other green spaces that thread their way through tight spots—repurposing rail corridors and hydro corridors to do so—are becoming more common.

One such project is the Edmonton High Level Line, a vision by a group of community members that has caught city officials’ attention. The plan proposes connecting neighbourhoods along a 4km route using an existing rail corridor across the North Saskatchewan River. It’s an idea that follows the principles of connectivity High Level Line Grandin Junction in Edmonton. Credit: High Level Line put forward in the city’s 2019 Downtown Public Places Plan. their sites to open up onto the acts as a real barrier,” said Kevin The project envisions tying Line or provide amenities. Dieterman, spokesperson for existing parks together, but the group. But the project isn’t “Edmonton has this great asset also plays off opportunities just about moving from A to in the North Saskatchewan River on private lands. For example, B, he said, it’s “the experience and the River Valley...but it also property owners could develop that you have along the way.”

FROM STREET TO PARK

Land in the public right-of-way, However, it’s Montreal that has While street reallocations have such as streets, is increasingly been a pioneer with 15 shared/ been happening for years, the being viewed as a resource pedestrian streets developed in practice accelerated during for temporary and permanent the last five years adding to the COVID-19. Starting in April, public space creation. 50 already in existence. The city’s cities across Canada including Shared and Pedestrian Streets Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, New designs that employ Program (“Le Programme de and Vancouver, began turning low curbs and special paving rues piétonnes et partagées”), over car lanes to pedestrians to allow streets to be used more which has developed an create temporary public space to flexibly. Toronto calls this design inspirational catalogue, help with physical distancing. approach “parks plus.” As Nasr supports the implementation of explained: “If you think of it as Advocates and urbanists have projects that reflect the culture an equation, parks plus streets since deepened that conversation. of a neighbourhood, including equals an amazing public realm.” For example, placemaker Jay a participatory design process. Pitter highlighted the “spatial

Growth 36 inequities” that underscore the socioeconomic inequities, and racism in public spaces, for limits of such reallocations and specifically anti-Black racism, as example, have also been reported which populations they serve. She cities expand public space—a call in Canada during the pandemic. has called for the need to centre that other writers have echoed. discussions around racial and Rising incidents of anti-Asian

Montreal pedestrian Street. Credit: Park People

PRIVATE SPACE, PUBLIC AMENITY

Over a third of cities we surveyed requirements for parks. They can reporting increasing demand also help take some pressure off for privately-owned public parks in dense areas, Nasr said. space development (POPS). However, the “publicness” of POPS are built and maintained POPS have been called into by private property owners, question with disputes over with city agreements to ensure access and encroachment from public access. Cities like Toronto businesses. And since they’re and Vancouver already have privately owned, these spaces many POPS, while Mississauga, could be redeveloped over time, Richmond Hill, and Waterloo said as has happened in Vancouver. they were contemplating their use. In a bid to raise awareness and “I think being clear about [POPS’] promote better design and role and function is really visibility, Toronto mapped POPS important,” said Nasr. In Toronto, and produced design guidelines POPS have been used to create and a signage strategy to clarify a more connected public realm, that POPS were public spaces. like a landscaped walkway or small gathering space in the front of a building, but not to replace

Growth 37 TO EXPAND OR IMPROVE?

Weighing the cost and benefits of expanding parkland versus improving the parkland you have should be part of the discussion, said Chris Hardwick, Principal at 02 Planning + Design, who has worked on park plans in Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto, and Winnipeg.

In cases where land is expensive and scarce, the best strategy may be to deploy resources to improve parkland to ensure it’s performing its best, Hardwick argued. However, it’s critical for cities to get ahead of development by targeting land acquisition in areas that are slated for growth, as opposed to playing catch up later.

Different challenges exist in different urban contexts, depending on growth and demographic change, he said. Square One redevelopment public space rendering in Mississauga. Some cities are dealing with a Credit: Oxford Properties Group and Alberta Investment Management Corporation lack of park space, while others are dealing with too much or the wrong kind of spaces. For the parks they need as they grow. in which parks become an example, Prince George reported For example, Surrey reported organizing element to inform turning underused baseball land banking in growth areas to those transformations.” said Nasr. diamonds into dog parks. prepare for future development. Toronto has three major mall Other cities are in between. Toronto’s Nasr said that suburban redevelopments underway They’re shifting from a more malls are becoming another that contain new anchor parks, suburban style of development focus of new park development, including Cloverdale, Yorkdale, to higher density development, with some malls slated to be and Agincourt. In neighbouring necessitating shifts in policies, transformed into the centres of Mississauga, the redevelopment financial tools, and planning to new, dense neighbourhoods. of Square One Mall will include ensure new neighbourhoods have “They’re big blocks of land 37 towers and new parks.

Growth 38

2. The New Wave of Parks

Leading examples of projects that use creative measures to expand parkland

In Park People’s 2015 Making Connections report, we profiled creative strategies cities were using to ensure parks kept pace with growth. Pressures have only intensified since then, and will continue to intensify due to COVID-19, resulting in further innovations in planning and design.

High Level Line Aerial in Edmonton. Credit: High Level Line

Growth 39 LAYERING: PARKS UP TOP—AND UNDERNEATH

Cities are planning for spaces that do double—or even triple—duty by layering parks on top of or underneath rail corridors, highways, malls, water filtration plants, and more.

* Vancouver’s park on top of Oakridge Mall, will swoop up from ground level to ensure accessibility and provide space for sports, naturalized areas, and social gatherings.

* Calgary’s Flyover Park, a new park built underneath an overpass, was created through a partnership between University Rendering of Oakridge Mall park woodland area. Credit: Vancouver Park Board of Calgary landscape architecture students and local sixth graders and the Bridgeland Riverside * Montreal’s 62-hectare Parc downtown rail corridor, is north Community Association. Frédéric-Back is built on top of a new running track and of a former landfill, which basketball court built on top of * Langley Township’s Jericho will include large naturalized the Canoe Landing Community Reservoir Park is a new water areas and social spaces. Centre and near The Bentway, reservoir being built that will a public space underneath include a park sloping onto its top, * Toronto’s Rail Deck Park, a an elevated expressway. providing amenities like pickleball. planned 8-hectare park over a

STITCHING: GREENWAYS TO TIE A CITY TOGETHER

As cities turn to bolstering connectivity within their park system, linear parks and greenways are helping to stitch parks and neighbourhoods together.

* Edmonton’s High Level Line is a community project seeking to tie green spaces and neighbourhoods together using an existing rail line.

* North Vancouver’s 35km North Shore Spirit Trail, a collaboration with the Squamish Nation and other levels of government, ties together the waterfront with community facilities, including High Level Line Railtown Green in Edmonton. Credit: High Level Line a mini-suspension bridge.

Growth 40 * Vancouver’s Arbutus Greenway is a 9km trail along a former rail corridor connecting multiple neighbourhoods through a newly approved master plan.

* Waterloo’s Laurel Greenway is a priority initiative from the recently adopted 2019 Uptown Public Realm Strategy, which will connect Laurel Creek, a new LRT station, and Waterloo Public Square.

* Toronto’s Green Line Implementation Plan will create a 5km linear park through an urban hydro corridor and The Meadoway will connect Scarborough neighbourhoods through a 16km trail in a hydro corridor. Spirit Trail Ravine Connection. Credit: City of North Vancouver

RE-ALLOCATING: OPENING UP STREETS FOR PEOPLE

By temporarily or permanently re- * Kingston’s City Hall pop-up allocating space within the public pedestrian plaza on Ontario Street right-of-way, cities are using ran for two summer weekends their own streets as a resource in 2019, creating space for salsa dancing, yoga, and a DJ. for enhancing public space. * Guelph’s Guelph Market Square * Spurred by COVID-19, Toronto was redesigned with a flexible is creating “quiet streets” that adjacent street that can be closed target those adjacent to parks, off to cars to accommodate Montreal is planning a network events and programming. of “active family streets,” and Vancouver is studying longer * Longueuil’s redeveloped Empire term pedestrianization. Park, removed a street that crossed the park to improve * Toronto’s Berczy Park included safety and user-friendliness. the redesign of an adjacent street as a curbless, flexible space.

* Vancouver’s new parks master plan, VanPlay, includes policies to explore street closures for parkland acquisition and temporary activations, cementing in policy the city’s practice of piloting new plazas on streets, such as Jim Deva Plaza, and temporary street activations through VIVA Vancouver.

Growth 41 Collaboration

INTRODUCTION Demographic shifts and urban growth are changing park use in many cities, with Canadians desiring more—more variety in programming, different cultural amenities, and opportunities to be involved.

It can be hard for cities to stay on the pulse These pressures necessitate shaking up the and manage often competing desires for the standard community meeting format with methods same space. In this environment, it becomes that reach new people and provide them with even more important to ensure people have meaningful ways to participate that help build opportunities to be involved—from before a design bridges across real and perceived differences. And, is conceived to long after the ribbon is cut. as COVID-19 has shown, new digital techniques for engagement must be used that go beyond static surveys and allow for collaboration.

Collaboration 42 Collaboration

INSIGHTS TAKE-AWAYS

* Many cities are experimenting * To help build community strength with creative methods such as through engagement, provide park pop-ups, culturally specific space for conversations about activities, participatory budgeting, a park’s social dimensions, like and take-home toolkits to reach cultural practices, not just physical new people. design/amenities. * The top two challenges * Engage before the “start” and community park groups said beyond the “end” by involving they anticipate due to COVID-19 people as local experts were funding and re-engaging before designs are produced residents in park programming, and developing long-term making city support critical. programming partnerships so amenities are used. * While 77% of cities said they had developed non-profit * As COVID-19 precautions partnerships, 58% said private persist, create one-stop shops investment in parks (e.g., for residents to find city support, philanthropy and donations) was funding, and information on how staying the same and 23% said it to re-engage their communities was decreasing. safely in parks.

Collaboration 43 Collaboration / Indicators

56% of cities offer a community park group program (e.g., adopt- a-park) for residents to get involved long-term in their park. 70% 77% of cities offer a community grant of cities have at least one non- program that can be used for profit park partnership for park projects. programming or operations.

Collaboration 44 Collaboration / # of community park groups

The number of community park groups varies widely across cities. Two thirds of cities reported demand for this type of involvement is stable, while one third of cities say demand is increasing. In our survey of park groups, the top three impacts groups saw their work having were: strengthening their communities, improving local quality of life, and enhancing the natural environment. *Arranged by population size

Collaboration 45

1. Don’t just tick the box —think outside of it

Why community engagement requires going deeper—and broader—to provide meaningful opportunities for people to see themselves reflected.

Most parks engagement conversations start with design. Do we want a splash pad here? A playground? What kind of benches? But for author and placemaker Jay Pitter, who has led projects across Canada and the U.S., this misses an important dimension: the social.

Skipping over a discussion of the Parc Jarry consultation. Credit: Charles-Olivier Bourque social dimension of a park—and the lived experiences and power dynamics of its users—means “One might come in with the conversation in a slower more missing out on the opportunity to intent to revitalize or design a open-ended manner that invites a create responsive well-designed public space when the community holistic conversation exploring the amenities, Pitter argued, but it actually needs to talk about spatial and social aspects of a site.” also misses larger conversations safety concerns or interpersonal To address this, Pitter builds her that might need to happen. tensions pertaining to that engagement methods around public space,” Pitter said, adding reciprocity—not just asking that “it’s advisable to begin the questions that “gather data

Collaboration 46 for a particular placemaking see their concerns as overlapping? safety concerns and disabled project,” but asking questions “If the community engagement peoples sharing a righteous “in a way that strengthens process hasn’t served the larger unwillingness to be erased from and unifies communities.” purpose of building bridges public spaces due to physical across difference and fostering barriers and an erasure of the Take community gardens. new relationships, then it hasn’t social parts of their identities.” “Communing with the earth served the community,” she said. and growing food have special “Traditional community meanings across most cultures,” The dialogue about public space engagement processes lack the Pitter said. “So why not leverage is becoming more complex with agility and compassion to respond the design and programming “people sharing intimate and to these and other complex issues,” of community gardens to build oftentimes difficult place-based she said. “Urbanists must catch cross-cultural understanding stories that have historically up quickly because communities and appreciation?” been silenced,” she said. This are insisting on shaping public includes “Indigenous peoples space conversations and the This reciprocity is an important sharing stories to decolonize design of their public spaces.” metric of success for Pitter. Did public spaces, women and gender- the process bring people together diverse individuals sharing who wouldn’t normally interact or

START SMALL

Pitter recommends small-group While small-group engagement Before beginning any engagement engagement in non-traditional can help break down power process, being vulnerable and settings like walks or small imbalances, Pitter argued it’s inviting the community to workshops, which help break important to recognize that “vet” you by asking you tough down the “power imbalance” no engagement is “neutral,” questions is important, Pitter embedded in the large town hall and to believe so obscures said. It helps to “level power format where one person gets the power dynamic inherent imbalances” and conveys that the microphone. Pitter often in an urbanism professional “you’re clear that you are not starts engagement in semi- coming into a community. entitled to be in their community.” public or even private settings, “When you’re leading a like small dinners, faith-based community engagement, it’s community centres, union “I’m honoured important to be mindful of the halls, or the homes of elders. every single time a considerable power and privilege This is a practice also used by Matt you possess…so for me, the act community vets me Hickey, an architect with Two-Row of going into a community is an and entrusts me to Architects who leads Indigenous act of personal reflexivity and co-lead processes engagement. “We use talking humility,” she said. Urbanists need circles a lot,” Hickey said, which to recognize “their individual that will not only are “gatherings of smaller groups power based on aspects of their shape a public space that allow for people to express identities such as race, ability, but the quality of information in an oral format.” and gender” and also their This approach allows for personal professional relationship with their experiences interaction that can create a a client like an urban design within it,” she said. more supportive and comfortable firm or city government. atmosphere for expression.

Collaboration 47 START BEFORE THE BEGINNING

Too often engagement starts after a project’s beginning, inviting people to provide feedback on already formed concepts. However, it’s important to involve people before any design has been set, said Daniel Fusca, Manager of Public Consultation within Toronto’s Parks, Forestry, and Recreation Division.

Fusca is cultivating a new approach to engagement, involving people in what he calls “primary research” rather than just asking for feedback. City of Toronto Consultation. Credit: Daniel Fusca

The difference is subtle, he said, but divided people into groups and amenities. These designs were provided them with a grid of then posted online where over important. the park to design the dog park 500 community members voted. themselves using sticky notes. “Now we have all of this really For a project that involved The tactile nature of the exercise rich data on what people are squeezing an off-leash dog area helped people think through comfortable with in terms of into a small park, rather than spatial constraints, making the layout of the park,” Fusca getting feedback on proposed trade-offs on the size of the said, which will inform the brief configurations, his team dog park and space for other for the landscape architect.

DON’T END WHEN THE RIBBON IS CUT

For architect Matt Hickey, how you “When a park is designed to engage people after the project is facilitate cultural communities or “finished” is almost as important cultural happenings or ceremonies as what happens before it starts. and gatherings,” Hickey said, the question should be “how Hickey, who has led Indigenous does that get programmed into engagement in parks, noted those spaces in the future so they that parks may be designed don’t just get designed for it, but with Indigenous programming they’re actually used for it?” and cultural spaces, but there is little thought to how those For Hickey, it’s about relationship spaces will be continually used building with vendors and afterwards. The “if you build it, service providers that provide they will come” mindset may work cultural activities within their sometimes, but other times these own spaces or buildings and amenities may sit underused inviting them to bring that Chief Mathias Joe Park post-occupancy or, worse, not used at all. programming to the park. study. Credit: City of North Vancouver

Collaboration 48 Another key element is assessing Planner. “In the past we did public can be used to modify designs how already built designs are engagement before or during and make better decisions about performing and being open design, but it should be carried future parks. By focusing on to alterations in response to through to the space being used.” studying off-leash dog areas feedback—a practice the City and children’s playgrounds The city has begun doing post- of North Vancouver does. specifically, he said the city occupancy evaluations, which has been able to better inform “Typically most organizations involve behavioural observations designs for play equipment, do not do evaluations or review of use patterns and conducting shade, and social spaces. once a facility is open to the on-site park user surveys. public,” said Adam Vasilevich, Vasilevich said the evaluations the city’s Parks and Greenways offer critical information that

GO BEYOND THE ONLINE SURVEY

Digital engagement is often how comfortable people are we’re going to see that there’s relegated to online surveys or going to be with meeting other a lot of benefits to engaging project websites. While these can people in groups,” he said. the public in this way.” provide important information, The city is looking at tools that However, there are equity they miss out on the potential allow for online meetings that implications—something the of collaborative online tools. include break-out discussion city is still working through, Toronto’s parks consultation groups and others that facilitate Fusca said. Given that libraries manager Daniel Fusca said that digital mapping. While the and other public places where COVID-19 has necessitated best engagement still happens people access the internet have reaching new strategies for in person, it’s important to been closed, “it’s really hard to digital engagement, likely try to bridge that quality gap think about how you’re going changing the way cities will between online and off, since to engage people online, when engage permanently. “Even so many people participate in there are some people who don’t when this ends, we don’t know civic life online, he said. “I think have access to the internet.”

ENGAGE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

We’ve all seen the flyers. Come to a Kingston, Vancouver, Calgary, and about local playground designs school gymnasium or community Toronto are directly reaching park and has held engagements in centre on a Wednesday night at users in parks. Kingston has hosted playgrounds to directly get ideas 6pm in the middle of February meetings in community gardens from kids, not their parents. and Calgary has even outfitted Similarly, Prince George engaged for a public meeting. a mobile engagement van. a local seven-year old to help For some, this works well, but good design a new playground. * Decide on funding together. engagement meets people where Participatory budgeting processes * Give homework. For Vancouver’s they are: whether that is physically involve residents directly in VanPlay master plan, the city (in an apartment building lobby, proposing projects and making created downloadable workbooks for example) or whether that funding decisions, as Longueuil so people could host their own means meeting a language, does with $100,000 per project. community engagement. Over 450 accessibility, or childcare need. participants completed workbooks * Talk to kids. Toronto is that included discussion guides considering providing schools * Pop-up in the park. Cities and activities. The Park Board with classroom assignments including Hamilton, Halifax, is also developing decolonizing

Collaboration 49 toolkits to support community groups and partners to decolonize their practices and programs.

* Be culturally and linguistically relevant. Calgary has a cultural marketing plan that is used to reach audiences in linguistically diverse neighbourhoods. In 2020, the city will be using infographic signs and educators who speak specific dialects.

* Engage internally, too. It’s not just the public that should be engaged, but a city’s own staff across multiple departments. Gatineau hosted an internal parks forum with speakers and brainstorm sessions to kick-off their parks master plan process, inviting city councillors, city staff, and non-profit partners to help shape the vision.

* Provide info online—and keep it up to date. Most cities Toronto playground pop-up. Credit: Daniel Fusca offer project updates online, but many leave a lot to be desired in ease of use and up-to-date information. Ottawa’s online engagement website provides key project information—meeting dates, maps, design materials—as well as direct staff contacts.

Collaboration 50

2. Power to the People

Park groups of all types are delivering outsize impacts for their communities through collaborative programming—but they need support in order to thrive.

More and more, residents and organizations are getting involved in local parks—bringing new ideas, programming, and partners.

A 2020 Park People survey conducted of over 200 Canadian park groups found a broad range of organizations, including arts organizations, social service agencies, and neighbourhood associations.

These inspiring groups put on fun activities, enhance nature, advocate for improvements, and create more inclusive places: Seniors tend to a roadside garden in Toronto. Credit: Park People

* Vancouver’s Vine Arts Festival produces park performances that * Gatineau’s community-based for an epic water fight. “Play is a work towards decolonization Fondation Forêt Boucher recently great way to bring people together and address social issues around signed a 3-year agreement and we were trying to tackle race, class, and gender. to work with the city on a some of the social issues that Boucher Forest Master Plan. we have in our neighbourhood * Winnipeg’s Spence in a cheeky and playful way,” * Calgary’s Crescent Heights Neighbourhood Association said CHCA engagement Community Association brought manages 15 green spaces in a low coordinator Kevin Jesuino. income community to promote together residents of the diverse local food and social gathering. and socio-economically divided Crescent Heights community

Collaboration 51 The impacts of these efforts * 83% said they developed an by park groups are clear: they increased awareness of how support neighbourhoods and to protect and enhance green cities that are more socially spaces through their park work. connected, civically engaged, * 82% said they developed and environmentally friendly. an increased awareness of civic engagement and how * 96% said their work in parks helped to work with city staff. build a stronger sense of belonging in their community. Crescent Heights waterfight. Credit: Crescent Heights Community Association

HOW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECTED PARK GROUPS

When the COVID-19 pandemic and pivoting programming * 42% of groups said they had hit Canada in March, many park online. Relatedly, the top two responded directly to community groups had to quickly change areas park groups will need needs (e.g., purchasing groceries their programming and get long-term help with are funding for vulnerable people). Of those and re-engaging community groups, nearly half said that their creative. In April, we conducted members in park gatherings. involvement in a park group a special COVID-19 survey helped them better respond to and got nearly 120 responses. * 63% of groups said their work the COVID-19 crisis. For example, was on hold, but nearly a third of Here’s what we learned: Toronto’s Flemingdon Community groups said they were developing Support Services pivoted to * The top two challenges facing park new ways of offering services. organizing people to sew masks. groups are financial uncertainty

RESIDENT GROUPS NEED SUPPORT

Even before or renovations), as well as a to get involved beyond one-time separate grant for community- or event-based opportunities. COVID-19, we based environmental projects. We found 56% of cities have consistently found created some kind of adopt- A few cities have created a-park program where people that accessing funds neighbourhood units that act as can self-organize to care for was the number one one-stop support shops. Waterloo’s and animate local parks. challenge facing newly created Neighbourhood Services group supports the To learn more about available park groups. creation of neighbourhood community grant and park groups, providing access group programs, check Some cities offer support: to toolkits, information on out the City Profiles. 70% of cities reported some neighbourhood programming, kind of financial program and grant opportunities. that can be used for park Surrey’s Neighbourhood activities or improvements. Team also connects residents to grants and services. For example, Ottawa offerscost- sharing grants for projects Another way to support is through both minor (tree planting, park a formalized volunteer program furniture) and major (new facilities that offers pathways for people

Collaboration 52 Activation

INTRODUCTION People come to parks for all sorts of reasons—to exercise, to play, to relax, to rejuvenate. It can be hard to accommodate everyone’s desires, especially when some park uses—like community gardens and off- leash dog areas—often require setting aside precious dedicated space. The dog park especially has become a lightning rod for conflict.

And yet both food and dogs provide important places an essential service and Edmonton included off-leash for people to come together, forging social ties and dog areas in the first wave of itsreopening plan. providing outlets for physical activity. Governments If parks are lessons in how we learn to share common recognized this during the COVID-19 pandemic space with others, then the dog park and the when some provinces declared community gardens community garden are good classrooms to start in.

Activation 53 Activation

INSIGHTS TAKE-AWAYS

* There is a need for more off- * Consider community leash dog area planning. 85% of management models to foster a cities reported increasing off- sense of shared responsibility in leash area demand, but just a off-leash areas and surrounding third of cities have strategies in natural areas, but don’t expect place with policies guiding new these models to be a long-term development. solution to funding. * Park-based food amenities * To meet demand, experiment like community gardens and with ideas like promoting off- orchards is a growing area, with leash amenities within condo three quarters of cities reporting developments and creating increasing demand. temporary/seasonal off-leash areas. * Increasing demand was reported by 93% of cities for multi-use * Consider food amenities and trails, 74% for adventure play programming in the planning areas, and 48% for outdoor fitness of all parks—like gardens and equipment. communal dinners—as part of a community resilience strategy.

Activation 54 Activation / Indicators

52% of cities have a policy to waive park permit fees based on financial need. 33% of cities have a citywide off- leash dog park strategy that includes planning and design criteria for establishing and managing these areas citywide.

Activation 55 Activation / # volunteers / 1,000 people

Shows the number of volunteers through city parks programs, controlling for population by representing it as a ratio of volunteers per 1,000 residents. *Arranged by population size

Activation 56

1. Take me out to the dog park

How cities are dealing with the high demand for—and high controversy around—dog parks.

If you want to see a park staffer cringe, just mention dog parks. There’s hardly a park amenity more controversial than setting aside space for dogs to run off- leash in green space.

But off-leash dog areas are also increasingly in demand, as 85% of cities noted in our survey, and they can provide important social benefits. However, cities are challenged to find suitable land and deal with community concerns.

The COVID-19 crisis further complicates the issue as many Canadian cities including Edmonton, Ottawa, Calgary, and Toronto restricted, or closed, off- leash parks to encourage physical distancing. In May, Edmonton opened up off-leash parks as part of its first phase of re-opening. However, longer-term physical distancing requirements may challenge cities already struggling to provide enough off-leash space. Etobicoke Valley Dog House Mississauga. Credit: Eric Code

Activation 57 THE STRUGGLE OVER LIMITED SPACE

As cities grow, so does our population of four-legged friends. Many cities are under pressure to create more space for dogs, while juggling demand for other park uses, which leads to conflicts.

In 2011, Waterloo dropped a pilot to create six off-leash areas due to lack of public support and is now looking to expand their one off-leash area to three. Guelph city council nearly closed the city’s only fenced-in leash-free park due to community complaints, before reversing course. The animosity can quickly reach ridiculous heights. In Toronto, someone locked up an off-leash dog area and a resident played Dogs off-leash area. Credit: City of Calgary recordings of barking out a window to rile up the dogs.

Conflict with natural areas is The number of off-leash areas and others, said Eric Code, founder another area of concern, with varies widely between cities of the 2,000 member Toronto the potential for off-leash dogs and many appear to have been Dog Park Community Group. to trample sensitive plantings planned in an ad hoc manner. “If you’re going to walk across a and disturb wildlife. Finding appropriate sites to tight-wire, you need a pole,” he locate off-leash areas is difficult, said. “That’s what policy is.” Ron Buchan, Parks Community especially in cities already We found one third of cities have Strategist for the City of Calgary, dealing with park deficiencies. said that the city has turned off-leash strategies that include down community requests for “There are many areas in planning and design criteria for new off-leash areas adjacent to Hamilton that are parkland establishing and managing areas natural areas. However, of the deficient,” Hamilton city staff citywide. In Calgary, Buchan said city’s 152 off-leash areas, only 11 said. “There is a bit of a tug of war the city’s decade old management are fenced, meaning that in parks between folks who want land for plan helped “tremendously” by where existing off-leash areas abut people and those that want it for providing a clear decision-making natural spaces, there is nothing dogs.” In an indication of how framework for where and how physically stopping dogs from challenging space constraints to expand off-leash areas and heading into sensitive habitats. have become, the last two off- clarity in responding to residents. leash areas the city created were In Ottawa, the city uses a point To address this, Calgary is approved by council direction system to designate off-leash working on initiatives that even though they didn’t conform areas. The city allows dogs include a park ranger program to the city’s policies on size. targeted to high user conflict off-leash in 175 parks and in areas, education on habitat A citywide strategy for managing 62 others only in certain areas restoration and dog etiquette, and expanding off-leash areas or at certain times, with nine and an adopt-a-park program can go a long way to alleviating of these areas fenced-in. to encourage stewardship. concerns—both from dog owners

Activation 58 THE SOCIAL BENEFITS OF DOG PARKS

For Eric Code, the benefits of the dog park go far beyond being a place for his dog to play—they create a sense of community, providing a “third space” between work and home where he connects with others.

Taking your dog to the park makes it easier to start up a conversation with a stranger, Code said. You wouldn’t necessarily go up to people throwing a ball around and start chatting, Code said. But you can easily meet new people at the dog park.

“In today’s world, especially Etobicoke Valley Mississauga. Credit: Eric Code in Toronto, where life can be a bit cold, there’s a small town feeling in dog parks that you just One study found having dogs increase the chance of building can’t get elsewhere,” he said. increased the likelihood of social support networks. Dog parks people meeting others in their have also been shown to increase The importance of dog community, acting as an ice- perceptions of safety as dog parks for social connection breaker, while another study owners use parks in the “off hours” is backed up by research. found that dogs help reduce of early morning or evening. feelings of social isolation and

INSTILL A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY

Some Canadian cities rely on, or 1,200 member Aylmer Canine are developing, programs that Club has an agreement with involve community members to the city to run an off-leash fundraise for and manage dog area in Paul Pelletier Park. parks—a response to both But it’s Mississauga that has the budgetary pressures and desires most developed community-run for greater community off-leash arrangement out of engagement. the cities we surveyed. In 1997, After noting the city’s “limited a city by-law created off-leash resources”, Edmonton is studying zones in parks, but also placed the creation of community- the costs and management on operated off-leash areas to help a non-profit called Leash-Free expand offerings. Montreal’s Mississauga; however, in 2016 Club d’Agilite de Montreal is run due to funding challenges as by a community non-profit that demand grew, the city stepped provides space for dog agility in with financial support. training. And in Gatineau the P.U.P.P.Y patrol. Credit: City of Calgary

Activation 59 In Calgary, where the city runs Eric Code noted that programs not respecting the rules. a volunteer program called to get residents more involved “If you make people volunteers, PUPPY (pick up pooches poo in dog parks can be a way to and give them the ability to yourself), Buchan said that dog harness people’s frustrations make the dog park better, they’re park community groups help for good. It can help build a going to take that much more reduce complaints as people sense of responsibility, reducing care and pride in it.” Code said. take on a stewardship role. incidences of dog owners

GET CREATIVE

High Park dog hill in Toronto. Credit: Eric Code

* Find space outside parks. * Create temporary spaces. * Listen to feedback—and react. Calgary hopes to create more Edmonton and Regina have North Vancouver is piloting off-leash areas within hydro created temporary off-leash a new off-leash area along its corridors, while also encouraging areas in facilities like tennis waterfront, collecting public developers to create dog amenities courts when they’re not being feedback and updating a website within new developments. In used. Guelph has approved the to show what’s been altered. the hopes of encouraging the use of 41 sports fields for off- * Turn poop to power. Both same, Toronto released its Pet- leash use when not occupied. Waterloo and Mississauga Friendly Design Guidelines for * Create separate spaces. have dealt with the issue of High Density Communities. Hamilton piloted an enclosure growing dog waste in parks * Improve existing spaces. for small dogs only at one park by testing designated bins that Kingston is increasing lighting and plans to expand the offering divert dog poop to facilities at its dog parks to make them after positive feedback. that turn it into energy. safer and more inviting to use at night and in winter.

Activation 60

2. Feed them and they will come

How creative community groups and city support are growing connections through food in parks.

With their impressive array of social, health, and food security benefits, amenities like community gardens have become a staple in many cities.

Community food infrastructure holds even greater value in times of crisis, as we saw when provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and New Brunswick declared community gardens an essential service during COVID-19.

As community resilience takes on heightened importance, roughly three quarters of cities reported demand for food opportunities in parks is also on the rise, creating an opening for cities to use food in parks to strengthen communities. Victoria leads gardening workshops as part of Growing in the City. Credit: City of Victoria

Activation 61 DESIGN FOOD AMENITIES INTO PARKS—AND GET CREATIVE

When Halifax was hit by Hurricane Dorian leaving residents without electricity, the Park Avenue Community Oven group in Dartmouth stepped up to provide pizza to the community at a local park’s bake oven. And in response to the COVID-19 crisis, Victoria temporarily reassigned park staff to growup to 75,000 food plants for residents in need.

These examples showcase how park-based food amenities and the support networks they create offer “an important buffer from stressful life events,” as one 2019 study found.

Yet it often falls upon community groups to advocate for features Volunteers make pizza at Park Avenue Community Oven in Dartmouth, Halifax. Credit: Lorrie Rand like community gardens after the park is built, said Alex Harned, Food Systems Coordinator at steps in the right direction: spaces, involving residents the City of Victoria, noting that and non-profits. * When planning the green space this can be cumbersome and outside Regina’s mâmawêyatitân * In Waterloo Park, neighbours involve competing for space centre, a community hub that can dine together thanks to with other user groups. includes a high school, library, a functional art piece in the form of a harvest table Instead, Harned sees great and recreational spaces, the city worked with Indigenous that seats 200 people. potential for cities to start Elders and the school chef to integrating these amenities * In Ottawa, Halifax, Calgary, include fruit trees, herbs, and into the (re)design phase as “a and Toronto, bake ovens can berries for community access. necessity within every park, be found in parks—including and not just an afterthought.” * Released in 2020, Longueuil’s tandoor ovens in the latter two urban agriculture policy cities—where community groups While Harned noted this is largely emphasizes the importance have formed around them, such “a shift that’s yet to happen,” we of building food amenities as in Ottawa’s Bayshore Park. found some cities are taking into neighbourhood public

SUPPORT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PROJECTS

Whether a garden, bake oven, Cities can lend a helping hand community-led food projects or edible forest, food amenities by providing coordination and in green spaces—from small- often depend on the maintenance resources, as Victoria has since scale commercial agriculture, and programming efforts 2016 through Growing in the City. to boulevard gardening, to fruit of dedicated volunteers. Created in response to community tree stewardship, and more. demand, GITC supports

Activation 62 GITC provides support to groups at the start-up phase and beyond. For example, the city helps connect community garden groups to available land and offer start-up funding (new in 2020), but also offers $10,000 grants for garden volunteer coordinators to ensure the work remains sustainable over time and to support garden-based programming.

All of this work is overseen by Victoria’s full-time Food Systems Coordinator—a unique role based out of the parks department, created as part of GITC. Victoria leads gardening workshops as part of Growing in the City. Credit City of Victoria Other cities are also helping to coordinate garden groups, either sharing information and regular with Just Food—a community- directly or through partnerships: meetings where volunteer based organization that, garden coordinators discuss best among other things, manages a * In Guelph, city staff convene practices, grant opportunities, Community Gardening Network the Community Gardens and upcoming events. that assists with garden start- Network Working Group, which up, provides grants, and offers * For almost two decades, Ottawa includes an online forum for skill-building opportunities. has been collaborating closely

GROW YOUR OPTIONS FOR GETTING INVOLVED

While some enjoy the labours of * Edmonton created an online gardening or running a bake oven, map of all the publicly accessible there is a need to ensure accessible edible trees in the city, as did food opportunities for those with Red Deer of its community food forests, which are often less time to commit. managed in partnership One way to do so is through with community groups. providing free publicly accessible * In Prince George and Fredericton, produce. A 2019 study of an edible city staff help maintain edible orchard in Montreal found that landscaping in parks that the food bearing plants can enhance public is encouraged to forage. residents’ social capital, place * Kingston has a community attachment, and food knowledge— orchard and edible forest policy all without requiring a high level that encourages community-led of time, skill, or commitment. planting and harvesting of fruit Nelson Park Community Garden in and nut trees on public lands. Vancouver. Credit: Park People

Activation 63 USE FOOD AS AN ANCHOR FOR CREATIVE PROGRAMMING

Volunteer at Gordon Neighbourhood House community dinner in Vancouver. Credit: Matthew Schroeter

Community groups across * In Saskatoon, the askîy project—a providing creative training and the country are showcasing container garden located on leadership opportunities for youth. a brownfield site—is run by how food can create a starting * Langley’s Learning Farm, Indigenous and non-Indigenous point for learning and Fredericton’s Hayes Urban Farm, youth through a summer connecting with one another. North Vancouver’s Loutet Farm, internship program that focuses and Hamilton’s McQuesten Farm on building skills, sustainability, * Toronto is home to the first ever show how urban farms can double and cultural connection. shipping container grocery store as learning spaces by offering in Canada: the Moss Park Market, * Local food groups can take educational programming. run by Building Roots. With pay- up residencies in Vancouver’s what-you-can and pay-it-forward parks through the Fieldhouse options, the market is a response Activation Program, such to the community-identified need as the Working Group on for accessible and affordable Indigenous Food Sovereignty, local grocery options. Much of providing space to garden and the produce is grown down the host free, public events. road at Ashbridges Urban Farm, where some patrons of the market * In Halifax, two youth-based have since become volunteers, social enterprises, Hope Blooms said Building Roots’ Lisa Kates. and BEEA Honey with Heart, use parks as their homebase for

Activation 64 Inclusion

INTRODUCTION On the surface, parks are open to all—but the reality is much more complex. Whether due to design features like inaccessible park washrooms, or social discrimination based on race, class, gender, ability, sexuality, and housing status, parks can be spaces of exclusion, discomfort, and even harm.

For this year’s report, we take a closer look While COVID-19 has underscored the risks at how these physical and social barriers of sheltering in public space and urgent need shape the experiences of two groups of park for permanent housing, it’s also made clear users—people experiencing homelessness, that even during times of crisis, unsheltered and people with disabilities—and how homelessness remains an enduring reality in cities are working to address this. many of our city parks. This reality highlights the need to ensure parks are safe, functional, The urgency of addressing equity issues in parks, and accessible for this community. and homelessness in particular, has been brought to the forefront by the COVID-19 pandemic. With Meaningfully addressing exclusions related to reduced access to shelters, washrooms, and indoor homelessness and accessibility is complex work, community spaces, cities have seen rising numbers but, as some Canadian cities show, it also creates of people residing in public spaces, facing multiple opportunities to strengthen communities. Through vulnerabilities with little ability to meet public health thoughtful and intentional policies and programs, directives around physical distancing and sanitation. parks can allow people of different life experiences to exist together safely, confront stereotypes and stigma, and learn how to better live together.

Inclusion 65 Inclusion

INSIGHTS TAKE-AWAYS

* Despite listing homelessness in * Value and engage people parks as a key social challenge, experiencing homelessness as few cities reported examples of a community of local experts in responses that are not centred park design, stewardship, and on encampment monitoring and employment opportunities, rather enforcement, showing a need to than defaulting to approaches that prioritize equity-informed work in aim to deter and displace. this area. * Challenge community concerns * There is a need, exacerbated related to homelessness and parks by the COVID-19 pandemic, that are often rooted in stigma for essential amenities, like through investing in public washrooms, and services, like education and community-based social workers, to be integrated efforts to change perceptions, into parks. such as artistic and cultural park programming. * 81% of cities reported universally accessible designs are increasing * Consider social methods in demand, yet less than half of to improve accessibility, cities have accessibility guidelines alongside necessary park design or strategies in place that address upgrades, including thoughtful parks. programming led by people with disabilities and/or aimed at bringing people of different abilities together.

Inclusion 66 Inclusion / Indicators

44% of cities have an accessibility strategy that addresses parks.

This year we tightened our definition to include only approved accessibility strategies and guidelines that include policies or actions for parks. 56% of cities have a seniors strategy that addresses parks.

This year we tightened our definition to include only approved seniors strategies that include policies or actions for parks.

Inclusion 67

1. The Trouble with Displacement

As many Canadian cities grapple with housing crises, parks are filling an important gap on the housing continuum. Now is a critical time to better understand this reality and re- evaluate our current approaches.

When cities were surveyed in early 2020, unsheltered homelessness in parks was the most cited social challenge. Yet, few cities responded to our prompt to highlight inclusive work they do to address this. Bench with centre bars to prevent lying down. This tells us that the use of parks Credit: Cara Chellew as places of shelter is an area we were collectively struggling with even prior to the COVID-19 With homelessness predicted to Our conversations with pandemic—and understandably rise due to recent job losses, it is experts, which took place so. We know that this is an a critical time for cities and park prior to the pandemic but have extremely complex challenge, professionals to ensure they have become only more relevant rooted in issues well beyond clear, well-informed approaches since, invite reflection about the realm of parks, and now that are compatible with the how we might approach this further deepened by COVID-19. current realities of unsheltered issue from a new place. homelessness in Canadian cities.

Inclusion 68 UNDERSTANDING THE REALITIES

Homelessness, by definition, involves a lack of access to private spaces.

This places people experiencing homelessness “necessarily” in the public realm, explained Dr. Jeff Rose, a professor at the University of Utah whose research explores homelessness and parks. “And then if you’re in the public realm—where do you be? Where do you exist?”

The best option, for Defensive benches with third rail and without shelter from elements. many, is a park. Credit: Cara Chellew

This has become even more apparent as COVID-19 has and people with disabilities. play a life-saving role amidst a placed added pressures on national overdose crisis where Anna Cooper, a lawyer and the shelter system. But even encampments can serve as homeless rights advocate at Pivot prior, many shelters were not de facto overdose prevention Legal Society in Vancouver, accessible to all, due to factors sites, Cooper said. It also makes noted that, in this context, parks such as restrictions on pets, it easier for outreach workers can be places of relative safety. partners, and/or substance use, to stay in contact with people a lack of adequate storage for Being surrounded by community they’ve connected with when belongings, and/or inadequate lends a sense of security, and can they know where to find them. supports for trans communities

RETHINKING COMMON APPROACHES

Despite these realities, many A classic example is the park all—especially other vulnerable of our standard approaches bench with a third rail to groups like seniors, people with focus on displacement. prevent lying down. Defensive disabilities, and people with design in parks can also look chronic health conditions. Defensive urban design—defined like “ghost amenities”—the by researcher and founder of As COVID-19 has made clear, absence of amenities thought DefensiveTO Cara Chellew as amenities like washrooms “are to attract “undesirable” users, “an intentional design strategy basic things that all humans like sheltered gathering areas or used to guide or restrict people’s need, that should be in public public washrooms, said Chellew. behaviour in urban space as a spaces,” Chellew said. “When we’re form of crime prevention or order But Chellew noted that not trying to exclude a certain group maintenance”—is one such tactic. only does this approach fail to of people, we’re really making address root problems, it also the park hostile for everyone.” makes parks inhospitable for

Inclusion 69 Rocks in unused space to discourage camping. Credit: Cara Chellew

Encampment clearances are in more isolated spaces where said Cooper, is due to a lack of another common response. But they face increased health and resources to challenge them. these measures are expensive, safety risks, new research shows. “As a homeless person, you ineffective, and inhumane when On top of the ethical and can’t go to your local Legal Aid people have nowhere else to go, economic issues, park office and ask for funding for said Anna Cooper. “We shouldn’t clearances often rest upon the a lawyer to help you challenge be using resources to constantly shaky foundation of bylaws a bylaw,” she said. “There is a displace people from public spaces that are “constitutionally huge access-to-justice issue to nowhere. It’s a bad policy, which suspect,” Cooper said. where there’s just no funding.” is doomed to fail, because people have to occupy space,” she said. Some cities have had their bylaws In light of these realities, prohibiting sheltering in parks it’s easy to wonder what the Dr. Rose agreed, adding that struck down, on the grounds alternatives are to our current these measures “often have the that they violate individual approaches. Fortunately, we can perverse outcome of supporting rights to safety and security of look to Canadian cities that are what they’re trying to work the person, set out in Section showcasing other possibilities. against.” His research has found 7 of the Canadian Charter that being forced to relocate of Rights and Freedoms. or stripped of belongings can create setbacks in people’s efforts While some cities have worked to improve their situation. to bring their bylaws into alignment with these rulings, Displacement from parks can many have not. A key reason also push people to take shelter these bylaws continue to exist,

Inclusion 70

2. Forging a Different Path

A look at the complexity and lessons learned from striving toward a non-displacement approach to homelessness in Vancouver and Montreal.

Responding to homelessness can be outside the comfort zone of park professionals, but initiatives in Vancouver and Montreal offer insights on how to approach complex issues— from safety concerns to park revitalization—with care. Co-creating art in a Montreal park. Credit: Chloé Barrette-Bennington for Exeko

THE CASE OF VANCOUVER’S OPPENHEIMER PARK

Until May 2020, Vancouver’s Rather than clearing the park, the However, the Provincial Oppenheimer Park was Vancouver Park Board adopted Government intervened to the site of one of Canada’s an approach centred on better clear the park in early May 2020 largest and longest-standing understanding and meeting when COVID-19 left residents encampments, lasting one the needs of park residents, exceptionally vulnerable, offering and a half years and home to with the goal of coming to a temporary housing in hotels. roughly 300 residents at times. collaborative resolution.

Inclusion 71 Interviews for this piece took time of writing in May 2020. on other possibilities for place in February 2020, prior addressing homelessness in Still, looking back on Vancouver’s to these interventions, and the parks, and strategies for moving experience offers insights situation remains fluid at the the conversation forward.

A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

Oppenheimer Park is located comfortable with taking that as and provide recommendations in the heart of Vancouver’s an isolated action,” Dumont said. about enhancing safety, Downtown Eastside, a improving support, and “We sort of interpreted that neighbourhood that faces seeking appropriate shelter. as an act of displacement in significant challenges around a neighbourhood, and within The Park Board also directed extreme poverty and has a community of people, staff to strengthen relationships been at the forefront of the who have pretty significant with the city and BC Housing, opioid crisis, but also has a challenges just from a survival and revise bylaws on camping strong sense of community. perspective,” he said. “The act in parks to bring them in line “This is a park that sort of of physically removing them or with legal precedents. acts as a lightning rod for a criminalizing them … I think The plan required actions to lot of social issues, and health only would have led to those be taken in consultation with issues, and economic issues folks being further isolated.” park residents, and within a in our city and in our province Instead, the Park Board hired commitment to reconciliation. and in our country,” said Park PHS Community Services Only with these conditions met Board Chair, Camil Dumont. Society, a non-profit housing would the Park Board consider When advised by staff to seek an organization with strong roots seeking an injunction. injunction to clear the park in in the Downtown Eastside, to fall 2019, the Park Board “wasn’t connect with park residents

WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY, CONSIDER HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

One of the most contentious when, in summer 2019, they it, as there are few other green issues when it comes to pulled staff from a fieldhouse spaces in the neighbourhood. encampments in parks is safety— in the park that ran vital To assess these competing and conflicting perceptions community programming. concerns, the approach that the and concerns around it. The closure of the fieldhouse Park Board has taken is to apply According to Chrissy Brett, along with perceptions of a “hierarchy of needs” lens. former part-time resident and unsafety deterred some “From a parks perspective, I liaison in Oppenheimer Park, the residents of the surrounding think the needs of those who are most pressing safety concerns of neighbourhood, many low taking refuge in the park are quite Oppenheimer residents related to income or precariously housed obvious,” Dumont explained. “The the ability to meet basic needs— themselves, from accessing the needs of those in the community including access to washrooms, park. Dumont acknowledged who need the park are less front heating during the colder months, that there’d been “an incredible and center, but it’s not a voice that and harm reduction supports. negative impact” to people is lost on us either by any means.” who relied on the space and no But safety concerns were also longer felt comfortable using the reason cited by the city

Inclusion 72 “We know that this park needs to of the ‘how we get there’ that’s more complicated due to the be returned to a programmable complicated,” he added—a recent interventions and new space at some point, it’s kind process that will become even considerations COVID-19 brings.

CULTIVATE SUPPORT THROUGH EDUCATION

Another strategy for managing in parks.” The piece provides residents, where they would alert concerns about encampments a list of suggested messaging each other to the presence of is through public education. for municipalities to use. children to ensure any non-kid- friendly activities were concealed. Housed residents often have At Oppenheimer, Chrissy Brett “Because they’ve never been broad misunderstandings of saw the effects of public education protected, [park residents] are homelessness in parks, scholar in practice. Through casual very protective of the children, so Jeff Rose said, which can be conversations, she took on the they’re very respectful and able problematic when misinformed role of engaging with housed to share that space,” Brett said. complaints place pressure residents in the neighbourhood. on parks departments to take She spoke with them about When she’d educate people about short-term responses. the challenges faced by park this, Brett would “see housed residents—often rooted in colonial people and mothers, like, start Dr. Rose’s 2019 research with structures and practices, with a tearing up.” She added that “it’s co-author Milo Neild suggests majority of the park population amazing to see how people morph that education campaigns identifying as Indigenous—and and change,” noting that some can help to mobilize “the vital the peer-led programs in place. people who previously avoided the public support needed” to park became comfortable using it move from reactive responses For example, Brett often taught once they were better informed. toward “proactive, holistic parents about the “neighbourhood engagements with homelessness watch” program run by park

START THE CONVERSATION AND EMBRACE DISCOMFORT

While acknowledging the work That work begins with starting can be intimidating, Vancouver a conversation, Brett noted, one Park Board’s Camil Dumont that includes park residents, advises parks staff in other cities and respects the need for both to embrace the responsibility to consultation and consent. “I strive for more inclusive solutions. think more municipalities need to have that dialogue around, “It’s pretty uncomfortable for ‘how are we going to deal with everyone, ourselves included, to tent cities?’,” she said. “Because try to forge a different path here,” they aren’t disappearing.” said Dumont, but “as branches of government, from the lowest to the highest, our responsibility is to try to figure out how we can best help people and how we can move away from harm.”

Inclusion 73 THE CASE OF MONTREAL’S CABOT SQUARE

In downtown Montreal, informal public reception area healthcare at a nearby hospital, Cabot Square is an important for Indigenous people, and some have found themselves social space for the homeless Inuit people in particular. Often without a place of residence community. Over the past 30 coming to the city from northern in Montreal upon discharge. to 40 years, it has become an Quebec and Nunavut to access

PLAN FOR INCLUSIVE REVITALIZATION, AND BRING SERVICES TO PARKS

Over the years, advocates have worked with the City of Montreal to ensure that the park remains an accessible gathering space for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and Indigenous homelessness. When the city began planning the revitalization of the square in 2010, one of the proposed steps was to move park regulars into a neighboring vacant lot.

When invited to give input in the planning process, Nakuset, the director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and co-director of the Montreal Indigenous Community Network, Montreal’s Cabot Square is an important gathering space for the Indigenous community. Credit: Lori Calman opposed this approach, stressing the importance of the park as a gathering place for Indigenous let’s give them the services Cabot Square that Nakuset co- people and the need for the they need,” said Nakuset. manages, brought its services to community to remain in place. the park to provide washrooms, After several years of discussions In collaboration with the First food, counselling, and other and negotiations, the city accepted Peoples Justice Center, they resources for people experiencing the recommendations and allowed carried out research, partly paid homelessness. It was one of the Nakuset’s team to hire a social for by the city, outlining strategies first offive outdoor day centres worker, who, since 2014, has and recommendations to support in parks to open in Montreal, provided a presence in the park social inclusion and properly through a partnership between five days a week, allowing people consider the realities of people the city and local organizations. to access culturally appropriate experiencing homelessness services and psychological in the revitalization process. support without leaving the park. The main recommendations were When COVID-19 heightened to integrate two social workers the need for additional services and a mediator in the square. in parks, Resilience Montreal, “Instead of moving people who a new day centre adjacent to are homeless from the park,

Inclusion 74

3. From Displacement to Inclusion

Moving away from displacement-oriented approaches means facing cohabitation challenges—but it also creates opportunities to increase our capacity for inclusion and learn how to better live together.

The stigma of homelessness, which intersects with racism and stigmas attached to substance use and mental illness, can create misunderstanding and social barriers between differently housed park users. As COVID-19 raises the potential for increased prejudice toward people experiencing homelessness, addressing these issues through education and shared experiences becomes even more important.

Instead of avoiding friction through displacement, organizations are using creative strategies to work through these tensions, helping communities to better understand each other and strengthen Using art to engage users of Montreal’s Viger Square in consultations relationships in the process. prior to redevelopment. Credit: Mikael Theimer for Exeko

Inclusion 75 BUILD BRIDGES THROUGH ART

Aboriginal Fridays at Cabot Square in Montreal. Credit: Lori Calman

In Montreal, non-profit Dorothée de Collasson, co-director community of homeless park organization Exeko engages of programs at Exeko, said art regulars and residents of the people experiencing homelessness helps to create shared experiences surrounding neighbourhood. in artistic and intellectual activities and change perceptions. Nakuset, the Native Women’s through the idAction project. The Shelter’s executive director, said project brings a ‘philosophical that despite the added support caravan’—a van stocked up with “By putting a of a full-time park-based social art supplies and a library—to jukebox in a park, for worker, “there was still the public spaces around the city. example, the person issue that … the people around [experiencing the park remained fearful.”

homelessness] To address this, the weekly becomes the dancer, Aboriginal Fridays program or the musician, or invites people into the park to participate in free artistic and the guy who chose cultural activities, including the right song,” she soapstone sculpture workshops, said. The perception dreamcatcher making, hoop dancing and concerts. changes completely. “When everyone gathers, people learn the beauty of our culture,” The Native Women’s Shelter’s said Nakuset, “they are having Cabot Square Project has also a conversation, and it is starting used artistic programming to change their perception Exeko’s idAction mobile van stocked to foster cultural learning with library and art supplies in of Indigenous people.” Montreal. Credit: Mikael Theimer and connection between the

Inclusion 76 CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Exeko’s Dorothée de Collasson recommends recognizing and valuing the skills of people experiencing homelessness, and exploring the potential for park- based income opportunities.

Having a conversation with an unhoused park user about their skills can also be an opportunity to begin building a relationship and learning to collaborate, de Collasson said. “A talent map can be produced to help managers visualize but also make visible the talents of A creative workshop at Place Émilie Gamelin in Montreal. Credit: Audrey-Lise Mallet for Exeko these people in the public space they occupy,” she suggested.

The Roundhouse Cafe, located community-based organization 16-20 Indigenous staff, the cafe in a pavilion within Cabot that supports people offersflexible employment Square, offers one model for experiencing homelessness and arrangements—whether that park-based employment. marginalization, the Roundhouse means working only a few hours is Montreal’s first Indigenous at a time, or receiving wages A project of , a l’Itineraire cafe. Employing roughly in cash at the end of a shift.

ENGAGE PEOPLE IN PARK DESIGN, STEWARDSHIP

For cities looking to create more Montreal non-profit Sentier simple social activities like a inclusive public spaces, researcher Urbain has been doing this for movie night or a picnic to break Cara Chellew advises that there are 25 years through their Jardins the ice. “These initial contacts no set design guidelines to follow. Gamelin project—a participatory allow the various users to share Rather, inclusive design is a garden in a park that offers a positive experiences,” de Collasson process, Chellew said. paid pre-employment training said, “and prepare the ground to Meaningfully involving people program focused on horticultural make people more tolerant and experiencing homelessness in the skills. This approach recognizes empathetic with each other.” planning stage will result in spaces homeless people as local experts that better support their use of and fosters a sense of belonging parks. and accomplishment.

Dorothée de Collasson added Community groups that that this engagement should steward a particular park, such continue after parks are built, as park friends groups, should recommending not to hesitate also look for opportunities to to involve marginalized people connect with marginalized in beautification initiatives, park users, de Collasson said. such as murals and horticultural For example, when groups are Aboriginal Fridays at Cabot Square maintenance projects. in Montreal. Credit: Lori Calman getting started, they can host

Inclusion 77

4. Accessibility Beyond Design

Cities and communities are using creative programming, training, and tech- based interventions to make parks inclusive for people of all abilities.

When it comes to public space, we can reframe our understanding of disability, said Dr. Ron Buliung, Professor of Geography at the University of Toronto and parent of a child with a physical disability.

Rather than thinking of Child wears noise-cancelling headphones at festival in Surrey disability in anatomical terms, Civic Plaza. Credit: Canucks Autism Network we can think about how “it’s actually the environment that Cities we surveyed are aware As cities work toward the is disabling,” he said. “It’s about of the need to improve, with necessary task of upgrading how spaces “[don’t] work in the four in five reporting increasing design, there are a broader range presence of an impairment.” demand for universally accessible of supportive programs and Parks are no exception, with designs, although only 44% have projects that can complement city parks across the country in an accessibility strategy that design interventions, or help varied states of accessibility. includes objectives for parks. reduce barriers in the meantime.

Inclusion 78 INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS ABOUT MORE THAN EQUIPMENT

Dr. Buliung is working on The playgrounds enable sibling equipment, because a child may research, led by colleague Dr. play between differently abled still require emotional and social Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos, to children, and allow families to support in initiating play with evaluate inclusive playgrounds stay together rather than splitting others,” Dr. Arbour-Nicitopolous across the country funded up between different parks. Play said. “We need to think about through the Jumpstart Inclusive across ability is also helping to how to fully engage children Play Project. Seven have educate children about disability together,” she said, suggesting been built so far, including in from a young age, which the that a staff playground leader is Surrey, Calgary, Winnipeg and research team hopes will instill one option—otherwise it falls Toronto. The goal is to identify an inclusive outlook toward on parents to take this role on. successes and recommendations disability as they grow up. On-site educational opportunities for improvement. But the research also suggests could also be beneficial. For While the research is still in areas for improvement—and not all parents, it would help to alleviate progress, interviews with families relate to the physical environment. the need to explain their child’s who use the playgrounds, as well disability to curious park users. An emerging finding is as rehabilitation and education For children, learning about the the need for programming professionals, suggest that the sites different types of play equipment at these playgrounds. are having important benefits. could help them to better share “It’s not just a matter of having the space with others whose physically accessible playground abilities differ from their own.

CONSIDERING INVISIBLE DISABILITIES

A partnership between the understand, support, and to provide sensory-friendly City of Surrey, the Vancouver welcome autistic park users. amenities at festivals and Park Board, and the non-profit gatherings in parks and public A key point emphasized in the Canucks Autism Network spaces. For people who experience training is the importance of (CAN) is making parks more their sensory environment predictability, said Mitchell. inclusive for people with autism intensely, crowding, loud noises, “Outdoor spaces are sometimes and other invisible disabilities. and scents at events can easily unpredictable. We don’t know become overstimulating. Hallie Mitchell, Manager of who will be accessing them, what Training and Community might be happening in that space Sensory Friendly Spaces—tents Engagement at CAN, said, “one at that time, what the weather equipped with features like of the most common things that will be … there might not be a comfortable seating, fidget/ people tell us is that they’ve gone lot of information about how to sensory toys, books, games, and to an event or program at a park navigate through that space.” noise-cancelling headphones— or plaza and they have actually provide a place to escape and Thorough information on parks been asked to leave, or told that relax should attendees become websites, detailed maps or signage it wasn’t a good fit for them.” overwhelmed. Since first piloting on-site, and visual supports that a Sensory Friendly Space at an CAN has provided in-person illustrate the social rules of a event with the City of Surrey in and online training to parks public space can all help to make 2018, CAN has brought them and rec staff in Vancouver and spaces more legible and inviting. to various outdoor events in Surrey to equip them with the In addition to training, CAN Vancouver and Surrey. knowledge and skills to better also works with municipalities

Inclusion 79 TURNING TO TECH

Through the use of an app called Blindsquare, Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB) has made two parks in Regina accessible to people with vision loss.

After learning that some community members were avoiding Victoria Park and City Square Plaza due to disorienting features including a spoke-like path design, CNIB wanted to find a solution to make these parks accessible and safe to navigate, said CNIB Saskatchewan’s Executive Director, Christall Beaudry.

People can use the app for free and navigate the park using audio cues based on GPS coordinates transmitted from their phone to nearby Navigating Regina’s Victoria Park using BlindSquare. Credit: CNIB beacons installed in the park.

NAVIGATING PARKS TOGETHER

While the support of non-profit group’s founders, Craig Nicol. communities, but also because organizations and cities is The group relies on “sharing parks are less vibrant when some important, what can get lost in the abilities,” as members have are excluded, said Dr. Buliung. conversation, Dr. Buliung noted, is varying levels of visual acuity, “My daughter has something to recognition of the creativity and and all routes are pre-tested offer while she’s in the park,” he agency of people with disabilities by Nicol and his guide dog. said. “It’s not just about what the in navigating spaces that may By switching up walk locations park has to offer her. Her mind, not be perfectly accessible. each week so that walkers are her experience, her way of being, Safari Walking Group, a encouraged to explore new and her generosity are there as volunteer-led walking group neighbourhoods on public transit, gifts for the other kids as well.” run by and for people with “it’s helped teach people more vision loss or blindness, is about the city and give them doing just that, through weekly more confidence,” Nicol said. walks that explore different Whether through design parks and trails in Toronto. interventions or community-led “When you get to places that programming, making parks are sometimes hard to navigate, accessible is important not only to like parks, it’s good to have ensure the rights of people with other people,” said one of the disabilities to participate in their

Inclusion 80 Next Steps

This report was partly written during the If your city is not represented in the report, COVID-19 pandemic and we began to weave please let us know you’d like to see it next the emerging impacts into the stories we were year. And of course, please let us know how reporting. However, there is much more work to you used this report, what you found most do to make sense of the impacts of COVID-19 on interesting, and how to improve it next year. park systems across the country and how we can Thank you for reading. move forward together—both in the near term as part of recovery and in the longer-term.

Park People is committed to doing that work with you. We will be using the learnings from this report to help frame that work, which will also shape the next Canadian City Parks Report for 2021.

Next Steps 81 Methodology

PROCESS CHALLENGES AND LEARNINGS This year’s report contains 27 Canadian cities—an Part of what makes Canada’s increase of four over 2019—including 20 returning cities, and seven new cities. We aimed for diversity landscape of city parks so in size, geography, and official language, and exciting is its variety. Climate, prioritized cities that were returning from 2019, topography, and governance are contacted us to participate, or filled a gap. just a few factors that make cities We distributed questionnaires to park staff, unique—but that comes with available in both French and English, that included questions on statistics, policies/plans, challenges for comparability. and projects/practices. The questionnaire included a confidential section about challenges, Differences in which cities participated in 2019 allowing us to report on cross-country trends. and 2020 also made cross-year comparability of data challenging, so we focused on overall trends. To ensure data quality, we verified some responses independently or followed up with Cities are also in very different places regarding questions. All cities had a chance to verify what metrics they track, how they track them, and their City Profile data pre-publication. how they coordinate data internally. For some cities, certain numbers were not available, or were only We also undertook secondary research of available as best estimates (e.g. number of volunteers). media and scholarly sources. To ensure rich analysis and capture diverse perspectives, we Data were collected largely in February 2020, prior conducted expert interviews with city staff, to disruption from COVID-19. Operating and capital academic researchers, park professionals, non- budgets may shift from the ones published here profit staff, and community members. as cities assess new pressures. Since the situation was still very fluid at the time of publication, COVID-19 impacts will be reported on in greater detail in the 2021 Canadian City Parks Report.

We’ve tried our best to ensure consistency and context. For example, we’ve used methods that standardize for city size (e.g., hectares of parkland per 1,000 people). In cases where there are important influencing factors that affect the data, we’ve noted these directly on the City Profile for transparency.

Ensuring common definitions has been another challenge. We refined some of our definitions this year based on city feedback, and will continue improving them.

If you have a suggestion or a comment, please get in touch.

Methodology 82 Methodology / Definitions

Total parkland Community gardens/urban farms Includes both natural and maintained parkland that is owned, Food-growing gardens available for the public to use that may leased, or under a management agreement by the municipality. require membership. This includes community orchards. Natural parkland Off-leash dog areas A natural area is a green space which receives a relatively low Includes both standalone dog parks and off-leash dog areas level of maintenance and supports natural or naturalizing within parks. vegetation. Natural areas may include trails or walkways as well as parking areas and washrooms. Volunteers Environmentally significant/sensitive areas Includes only volunteers who have worked directly with the municipality (not external organizations). Programming refers (ESAs) to publicly accessible activities and events (e.g. yoga classes, Areas designated under special policy protection to preserve nature walks, park cleanups, farmer’s markets, festivals, important environmental attributes, such as rare flora and celebrations, etc.). Programming does not include any large fauna. Only includes hectares of ESAs/protected areas within commercial activities, such as a private party. the public park system. Community park group program Total population A formal municipal program through which residents can get Total population of the municipality based on 2019 sources, involved in parks. An example of would be an adopt-a-park unless otherwise noted. program. The roles of these groups may include environmental stewardship (e.g. clean-ups), social/recreational programming Operating budget (e.g. festivals, yoga in the park), etc. Does not include one-off volunteer opportunities (e.g. volunteering at a specific event). Direct operating expenditures (not including revenues) for the Current Budget Year for maintaining parks and natural areas. Community grant program This includes: A monetary grant offered by the municipality that residents * planting and maintenance of trees in park/natural areas and community groups can apply for, and can be used for the purposes of improving or programming parks. * graffiti & vandalism repair * management, administration & operational staff salaries Non-profit partnership * consultant/contractor costs An ongoing partnership between the city and a non-profit organization that includes a programming or maintenance * parks horticultural plantings agreement in a park. * maintenance of closed cemeteries if carried out from the Parks Operating Budget Parks system master plan * parks litter pickup & waste disposal An overall plan or strategy dealing with the municipality’s * inspection and maintenance of splash pads, current and future park/greenspace provision needs. It usually playgrounds & outdoor fitness equipment includes an analysis of current provision against population and a review of future park/greenspace acquisition/disposal * maintenance & replacement of park furniture needs. * public toilets where maintained from parks budget Universal design * sports field maintenance The design of parks or park amenities to be usable by all people, * snow clearing and ice control for parks & natural areas to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation * any other parks/green space maintenance costs except or specialized modification. This would include people of all cemetery costs where the cemetery is “active” ages, and those with and without disabilities. Green infrastructure Capital budget Also known as low-impact development. The engineering of Capital expenditure for all capital items related to land natural systems that capture, hold, and treat rainwater where improvement works, planned for completion during the it falls. It may include features such as bioretention ponds, rain current financial year. It includes both new and renewal work, gardens, and bioswales. capital items carried forward from previous years, and salaries and wages for all staff involved in the design, planning and delivery of Capital projects.

Methodology 83 City Profiles

BRITISH COLUMBIA ONTARIO

Vancouver Toronto Surrey Hamilton Delta Richmond Hill Township of Langley Kingston Prince George Ottawa City of North Vancouver Mississauga Victoria Waterloo

ALBERTA Guelph

Calgary QUEBEC

Edmonton Montreal Red Deer Quebec City

SASKATCHEWAN Longueuil Saskatoon Gatineau Regina NEW BRUNSWICK

MANITOBA Fredericton Winnipeg NOVA SCOTIA

Halifax

City Profiles 84 Vancouver

BRITISH COLUMBIA POPULATION: 646,700

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* At 110 groups, Vancouver reported * In 2019, Vancouver released the the most park groups and has the final report comprisingVanPlay — second highest rate of volunteers the city’s park master plan that at about 22 per 1,000 people. lays out a 25-year vision for parks that prioritizes equity, asset needs, Vancouver is one of 19% of cities * and connectivity. with a standalone biodiversity strategy, one of two cities with a * The city is investing $4.5 million bird strategy, and one of 63% with in upgrading 7 playgrounds, with a citywide park system master a focus on risky play and social plan updated within the last 10 spaces for all ages. years. * Vancouver has started * At 2 hectares of parkland per 1,000 construction on a new $13.8 people, Vancouver sits in line million downtown park with an with other dense cities such as elevated walkway and cafe. Montreal and Toronto.

City Profiles 85 VANCOUVER / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

2 N/A 1.1 ha / 1,000 38 This is a citywide target. How this applies to neighbhourhoods and Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is communities is determined using # of dog parks people ESA/protected the Parks Asset Target in VanPlay. (Ha total: 1,262) (Ha total: N/A) Parkland provision goal (distance to park 36 38% 11% / ha per 1000 people) # of community gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 482) (Ha total: 11,497)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

21.6 $82

# of volunteers / 1000 people Increase from 2019 due to improvements in data reporting. (Total: 14,000) Operating budget / person (Total: $52,800,000) No $143,700,000 Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget 110 $1,045,710 # of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate Park Stewardship Program N/A Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available Neighbourhood Matching Fund for parkland development.

Community grant program

City Profiles 86 VANCOUVER / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

VanPlay: Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2019

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Biodiversity Strategy 2016 Urban Forest Strategy 2018

Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2012 Bird Strategy 2015

Rain City Strategy 2017

OTHER

Track and Field Strategy 2019

VanSplash - Aquatics Strategy (includes Beaches) - 2019

OnWater - Mon-motorized Watercraft Recreation Strategy 2019

People, Parks, and Dogs Strategy 2017

City Profiles 87 Surrey

BRITISH COLUMBIA POPULATION: 578,236

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* Surrey is one of 19% of cities with * Through a purchase from the a standalone biodiversity strategy. province, Surrey acquired 58 hectares of ecologically With nearly 3 off-leash dog areas * sensitive land as part of the per 100,000 people, Surrey is just city’s Biodiversity Conservation above the median. Strategy. Surrey is one of 70% of cities * The city’s new 10-year parks and that offers a community grant * recreation plan proposes 29 new program for park projects. parks to accommodate growth, changing populations, and preservation of natural lands. * City staff worked with urban agriculture groups to develop best practices for safely keeping community gardens open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

City Profiles 88 SURREY / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

5.2 2% City: 1.2 ha / 1,000 17

Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is Community: 1.0 ha # of dog parks people ESA/protected / 1,000 (Ha total: 3,012) (Ha total: 59) Neighbourhood: 9 39% 10% 1.2 ha / 1,000 in # of community secondary plan gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area areas, 10 minute total parkland as parks walk in town (Ha total area: 1,175) (Ha total: 31,640) centres and urban areas.

Nature Preserves and Habitat Corridors: 4.2 ha / 1,000

Parkland provision goal (distance to park / ha per 1000 people)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $51

Budgets are from 2019. 2020 numbers were unavailable at time of survey as they # of volunteers / 1000 people had not yet been broken down by department. (Total: N/A) Operating budget / person (Total: $29,755,000) N/A

Policy to waive permit fees $11,496,000

Capital budget N/A

# of community park groups N/A

$ sponsorship/donation/corporate N/A

Community park group program 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Provincially legislated tools available Neighbourhood Enhancement Grants for parkland development. Community grant program

City Profiles 89 SURREY / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Parks Rec and Culture Strategic Plan 2018

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2014 Greenways Plan 2012

Environmental Guidelines for Planning, Shade Tree Management Plan 2016 Design, Development and Operations of Parks Coastal Flood Adaptation Strategy 2019

Climate Adaptation Strategy 2013

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Age-friendly Strategy for Seniors 2014

OTHER

Dog Off Leash Area Strategy 2012 - 2021

City Profiles 90 Delta

BRITISH COLUMBIA POPULATION: 103,000

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* Delta is one of 19% of cities with a * To accommodate rising interest standalone biodiversity strategy in pickleball, Delta is planning to and one of two cities with a bird create 18 new pickleball courts in strategy. the city. * Delta has the fourth highest * In May 2020, Delta launched number of volunteers per 1000 a ‘virtual recreation centre’, residents, at about 17. bringing its programming online to support physical activity during Delta is one of 56% of cities that * COVID-19. offers a community park group program. * Delta installed mason bee boxes in four parks to support local pollinators.

City Profiles 91 DELTA / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

6 25% 6 ha / 1,000 12 Parkland provision Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is # of dog parks goal (distance to park people ESA/protected / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 618) (Ha total: 153) 4 49% 3% # of community gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 304) (Ha total: 18,370)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

16.6 $55

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 1,711) (Total: $5,654,378)

Yes $9,275,000

Policy to waive permit fees Increase from 2019 related to new track and field facility. Capital budget 1 N/A # of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate Adopt-a-Rain Garden & Adopt-a-Park 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available Community cost-sharing program of for parkland development. $200,000

Community grant program

City Profiles 92 DELTA / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Invasive Species Management Plan 2016 Birds & Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2018

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Social Action Plan 2018

City Profiles 93 Township of Langley

BRITISH COLUMBIA POPULATION: 131,000

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* With nearly 5 off-leash dog areas * Four hectares were added to the per 100,000 people, Langley is township’s largest park, Campbell above the median. Valley Regional Park, which will help with “ecological and trail Langley is one of 56% of cities that * continuity.” offers a community park group program. * The new Langley Learning Farm is coming to the Derek Doubleday Langley is one of 77% of cities that * Arboretum through a partnership reported having at least one park with the Langley Sustainable partnership in place with a non- Agriculture Foundation. profit. * A new disc golf course opened on the site of a former landfill in Jackman Wetlands Park through a collaborative effort that involved local disc golf enthusiasts.

City Profiles 94 TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

3.5 N/A 3.4 ha / 1,000 6 Parkland provision Increase from 2019 due to GIS % of parkland that is # of dog parks improvements. goal (distance to park ESA/protected / ha per 1000 people) Ha parkland / 1000 (Ha total: N/A) people 9 (Ha total: 458) 1% # of community gardens/urban farms 29% % of total city land area as parks Increase from 2019 due to GIS improvements. (Ha total: 31,600) % of natural area of total parkland (Ha total area: 132)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

6.4 $74

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 839) (Total: $9,750,000)

No $9,100,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

15 $75,000

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

Adopt-a-Program 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Neighbourhood Initiative Program

Community grant program

City Profiles 95 TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2002

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Wildlife Habitat Conservation Strategy 2008 Greenway Amenity Policies

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Age-friendly Strategy 2014

City Profiles 96 Prince George

BRITISH COLUMBIA POPULATION: 78,675

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* At nearly 25 hectares, Prince * In 2019, the first downtown park George has the highest ratio of since 1994 opened as Wood parkland per 1,000 people. Innovation Square. * Prince George is one of 70% of * A local seven-year old girl helped cities that offers a community the city design a new playground grant program for park projects. by surveying other playgrounds in the city. * At 46%, Prince George sits at the average ratio of parkland that is * About three quarters of Prince natural area. George’s ball diamonds and sport fields are jointly maintained with non-profit sports associations.

City Profiles 97 PRINCE GEORGE / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

Community Park: 24.3 12% 1.0 ha / 1,000 4 Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is # of dog parks people ESA/protected Neighbourhood (Ha total: 1,913) (Ha total: 238) Park: 1.2 ha / 1,000 3 Parkland provision 46% 6% goal (distance to park # of community / ha per 1000 people) gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 876) (Ha total: 32,900)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $68

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: N/A) (Total: $5,333,386)

Yes $3,853,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

N/A $10,000

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

No 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Various Community Grants

Community grant program

City Profiles 98 PRINCE GEORGE / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Park Strategy Report 2017

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Community Forest of Prince George: Management Plan 2006

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Age Friendly Action Plan 2017 Lheidli T’enneh First Nations Government and Reconciliation Off Leash Strategies 2011

OTHER

Ball Diamond and Sport Field Strategy 2018

City Profiles 99 City of North Vancouver

BRITISH COLUMBIA POPULATION: 53,000

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* At 54%, North Vancouver’s * North Vancouver is piloting a new ratio of parkland under special off-leash dog area at Waterfront policy protection for sensitive Park at a site selected in response ecosystems is twice the average. to community feedback. * With nearly 23 community * The city banned smoking— gardens per 100,000 people, North cigarettes and cannabis—in all city Vancouver is tied with Red Deer parks and greenways. with the highest ratio. * In 2019, North Vancouver * North Vancouver is one of about a residents planted 100 trees at the quarter of cities that offer a formal new Moodyville Park. park volunteer program, a grant program, and a policy to waive permit fees for groups in financial need.

City Profiles 100 NORTH VANCOUVER / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

3.2 54% 3 ha / 1,000 people 4 Parkland provision Ha parkland / 1000 Includes ESAs rated high only # of dog parks goal (distance to park people % of parkland that is / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 169) ESA/protected (Ha total: 91) 12 53% # of community 14% gardens/urban farms % of natural area of total parkland % of total city land area (Ha total area: 90) as parks (Ha total: 1,183)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

17.4 $42

Includes Park Steward program only. Operating budget / person # of volunteers / 1000 people (Total: $2,250,000) (Total: 924) $4,000,000 Yes Capital budget Policy to waive permit fees $100,000 2 $ sponsorship/donation/corporate # of community park groups 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu City Park Stewards Provincially legislated tools available Community park group program for parkland development.

Living City Grant

Community grant program

City Profiles 101 CITY OF NORTH VANCOUVER / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Parks Master Plan 2010

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Invasive Plant Management Strategy 2013 Corporate Climate Action Plan Update 2017

OTHER

Child, Youth and Family Strategy 2014

City Profiles 102 Victoria

BRITISH COLUMBIA POPULATION: 92,041

NOTES: HIGHLIGHTS

Victoria is making a new investment of $858,000 annually to expedite * A new 1.2-hectare waterfront park implementation of the Urban Forest Master is being developed at Laurel Point, Plan. thanks in part to a transfer of land from the federal government. ANALYSIS * Victoria is promoting citizen stewardship of its urban forest * With about 10 community gardens by aiming to plant 5,000 trees in per 100,000 people, Victoria has 2020 as part of the UN Trees in nearly double the median. Cities Challenge. * At 44%, Victoria is above average * To enhance food security during in percentage of parkland that is the COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria under special policy protection for assigned parks staff to grow sensitive ecosystems. up to 75,000 food plants to be distributed to residents in need. * Victoria is one of 63% of cities with a citywide park system master plan updated within the last 10 years.

City Profiles 103 VICTORIA / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

2.3 44% 400 m 13 Parkland provision Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is # of dog parks goal (distance to park people ESA/protected / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 209) (Ha total: 91) 9 44% 11% # of community gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 91) (Ha total: 1,947)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $115

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: N/A) (Total: $10,543,532)

No $4,480,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

9 $92,000

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

No 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Various grants available

Community grant program

City Profiles 104 VICTORIA / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Parks and Open Space Master Plan 2017

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Urban Forest Master Plan 2013

City Profiles 105 Calgary

ALBERTA POPULATION: 1,267,344

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* With 152 off-leash areas, Calgary * Through a collaborative effort has the second highest total that involved different city number and the third highest departments as well as artists when population is factored in, at and biologists, Calgary opened 12 per 100,000 people. the unique Dale Hodges Park in 2019, also serving as a stormwater Calgary is one of 19% of cities with * treatment facility. a standalone biodiversity strategy. Calgary led public engagement in At nearly $1.7 million, Calgary * * summer 2019 to gauge support for pulled in the second highest a potential pilot project to allow amount in outside funding for alcohol consumption at certain parks. park picnic sites. * Through the Creating Coventry project, the city teamed up with a community association in the Coventry Hills area to engage residents about local park and playground improvements, publishing a report following the process.

City Profiles 106 CALGARY / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

6.6 25% 450 m 152

Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is 5 minute walk # of dog parks people ESA/protected (Ha total: 8,412) (Ha total: 2,100) 2 ha / 1,000 people 56 Parkland provision 55% 10% goal (distance to park # of community / ha per 1000 people) gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 4,630) (Ha total: 84,820)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

3.4 $64

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 4,300) (Total: $81,657,970)

Yes $33,417,788

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

7 $1,695,000

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

Green Leaders 10% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. N/A

Community grant program

City Profiles 107 CALGARY / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Open Space Master Plan 2002

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Our BiodiverCity 2015-2025 Parks Water Management Strategic Plan 2007

Climate Resilience Strategy 2018

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Universal Design Handbook 2010 Inclusive Play Spaces Implementation Plan 2018 Seniors Age Friendly Strategy 2015-2018

OTHER

Off-leash Area Management Plan 2010

City Profiles 108 Edmonton

ALBERTA POPULATION: 972,223

NOTES: HIGHLIGHTS

Edmonton underwent a municipal annexation in 2019. The city also experienced a heavy rain * Edmonton is piloting driverless year, which led to $1.8 million overspent on electric lawn mowers that are turf operations. programmable, self docking and will potentially run on solar

ANALYSIS power, as well as autonomous snow blowers. * Edmonton is one of a third of * In winter 2020, the annual Flying cities with an off-leash dog park Canoë Volant Festival celebrating plan. Métis and francophone culture * With nearly 8 community gardens saw participants fly down per 100,000 people, Edmonton is Gallagher Park’s hill in canoes as above the median of 5. part of a “Canadian triathlon” that also involved log-sawing and axe- * Edmonton is one of 56% of cities throwing. that offers a community park group program. * In May 2020, reopening dog parks was one of the first steps Edmonton took in easing its COVID-19 restrictions.

City Profiles 109 EDMONTON / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

6.4 2% 500 m 43

Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is 10 minute walk # of dog parks people ESA/protected (Ha total: 6,177) (Ha total: 130) Parkland provision goal (distance to park 75 / ha per 1000 people) 30% 8% # of community gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 1,856) (Ha total: 78,310)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

6.3 $42

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 6,106) (Total: $40,830,079)

No $3,150,000

Policy to waive permit fees Excludes staff salaries/wages. Capital budget 12 $800,000 # of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate Partners in Parks 10% of development site or cash-in-lieu Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available N/A for parkland development.

Community grant program

City Profiles 110 EDMONTON / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Breathe Green Network Strategy 2018 Urban Parks Management Plan: 2006 - 2016 - City of Edmonton

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Biodiversity Action Plan 2009 The Way We Green 2011

Climate Resilient Edmonton: Adaptation Urban Forest Management Plan 2012 Strategy & Action Plan 2018

OTHER

Dogs in Open Spaces Strategy 2016

City Profiles 111 Red Deer

ALBERTA POPULATION: 101,002

NOTES: HIGHLIGHTS

A major windstorm in Red Deer in 2017 has required continued clean-up, including this * Red Deer held weekly pop- year. up spray parks to engage the community in neighbourhood parks in summer 2019. ANALYSIS * Red Deer won the parks * With nearly 23 community excellence award at the 2019 gardens per 100,000 people, Red Alberta Recreation & Parks Deer is tied with North Vancouver Association conference in light of with the highest ratio. the city’s leading work renovating Discovery Canyon. * At 20 hectares per 1,000 people, Red Deer has the second highest * As COVID-19 rules were often ratio of parkland per population. framed in terms of what residents can’t do, in May 2020 Red Deer At nearly 20%, Red Deer has the * wrote up positive guidelines highest percentage of city land of what residents can do, area reserved for parks. encouraging them to (safely) get out into parks.

City Profiles 112 RED DEER / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

20 N/A 400 m 2 Red Deer offers special policy 18 ha / 1,000 Ha parkland / 1000 protection to environmentally # of dog parks people significant areas through the A2 people Environmental Preservaton District (Ha total: 2,019) (not parks-specific). Parkland provision 23 % of parkland that is goal (distance to park 49% ESA/protected / ha per 1000 people) # of community (Ha total: N/A) gardens/urban farms % of natural area of total parkland (Ha total area: 990) 19%

% of total city land area as parks (Ha total: 10,701)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

4.3 $103

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 430) (Total: $10,353,702)

No $3,085,558

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

3 N/A

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

Adopt-a-Park 10% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Environmental Reserves taken in accordance with the Municipal Government Act Community park group program also contribute to the City’s parkland development. Provincially legislated tools available N/A for parkland development. Community grant program

City Profiles 113 RED DEER / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

River Valley and Tributaries Plan 2010

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Climate Change Adapation Action Plan 2014

Environmental Master Plan 2019

City Profiles 114 Saskatoon

SASKATCHEWAN POPULATION: 272,211

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* With 12 community gardens per * Saskatoon parks staff lent a 100,000 people, Saskatoon has helping hand to neighbours more than double the median. in Winnipeg with clean- up assistance after a major At 50 groups, Saskatoon reported * snowstorm in October 2019. the third highest number of community park groups. * Saskatoon’s Avalon Dog Park got a 1-hectare expansion in June 2019. * Saskatoon is one of 63% of cities with a citywide park system * Saskatoon sent ‘ambassadors’ into master plan updated within the parks during COVID-19 to provide last 10 years. friendly education to residents about safe park use.

City Profiles 115 SASKATOON / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

3.8 N/A 4 ha / 1,000 people 8 Parkland provision Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is # of dog parks goal (distance to park people ESA/protected / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 1,039) (Ha total: N/A) 33 12% 4% # of community gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 120) (Ha total: 23,633)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $75

Operating budget / person # of volunteers / 1000 people (Total: $20,500,000) (Total: N/A) $1,900,000 No Capital budget Policy to waive permit fees N/A 50 $ sponsorship/donation/corporate # of community park groups 10% of development area or cash-in-lieu N/A Provincially legislated tools available Community park group program for parkland development.

Various grant opportunities

Community grant program

City Profiles 116 SASKATOON / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Recreation and Parks Master Plan 2015

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Green Infrastructure Strategy (in development)

Urban Forestry Management Plan (in development)

City Profiles 117 Regina

SASKATCHEWAN POPULATION: 234,177

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* Regina is one of 56% of cities that * A new 1.3-hectare park that offers a community park group will feature off-leash dog areas, program. disc golf, and a toboggan hill is coming to Regina on the site of a Regina is one of 63% of cities with * golf course. a citywide park system master plan updated within the last 10 * Regina is working with local years. organizations to develop and install communication boards for Regina is one of 77% of cities that * children who are non-verbal at reported having at least one park accessible playgrounds in the city. partnership in place with a non- profit. * Regina has an interactive floral map to help residents identify flowers planted in the city’s public spaces.

City Profiles 118 REGINA / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

Neighbourhood 5.6 N/A Level 1.2-1.6 ha / 2 Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is 1,000 people # of dog parks people ESA/protected (Ha total: 1,321) (Ha total: N/A) Zone Level open space 0.7-1.1 ha / 9 12% 7% 1,000 people. # of community gardens/urban farms Parkland provision Regina is situated on dry prairie. % of total city land area Every tree has been hand planted. goal (distance to park There is not a lot of natural space as parks within City limits. / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 18,243) % of natural area of total parkland (Ha total area: 155)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $58

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: N/A) (Total: $13,578,932)

No $1,060,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

0 N/A

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

Adopt-a-Greenspace 10% of development area or cash-in-lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Community Investment Grants

Community grant program

City Profiles 119 REGINA / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Recreation Master Plan (2019)

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Regina Urban Forest Management Strategy (2000)

City Profiles 120 Winnipeg

MANITOBA POPULATION: 753,700

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* At 36%, Winnipeg is above average * A 2019 audit of Winnipeg’s park in percentage of parkland that is spaces found nearly 60% were in under special policy protection for “very good” condition. sensitive ecosystems. * The Healing Trails project is * Winnipeg is one of a third of cities adding story-based Indigenous with an off-leash dog park plan. art and signage to Winnipeg’s network of public trails to increase Winnipeg is one of 56% of cities * visibility of Indigenous languages that offers a community park and culture. group program. * The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ brought pop-up parks and pop- up public washrooms to the city’s public spaces in summer 2019.

City Profiles 121 WINNIPEG / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

4 36% N/A 12 Parkland provision Ha parkland / 1000 Winnipeg protects natural areas # of dog parks in parks through the Ecologically goal (distance to park people Significant Natural Lands Strategy. The policy uses a broader definition / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 2,994) of sensitive lands that encompasses any natural area within the park system. 41 36% % of parkland that is # of community ESA/protected gardens/urban farms % of natural area of (Ha total: 1,084) total parkland (Ha total area: 1,084) 6%

% of total city land area as parks (Ha total: 46,400)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

2.1 $46

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 1,574) (Total: $34,569,000)

No $8,600,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

N/A N/A

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

Adopt-a-Park N/A

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. N/A

Community grant program

City Profiles 122 WINNIPEG / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Parks Strategy (in development)

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Ecologically Significant Natural Lands Climate Action Plan 2018 Strategy & Policy 2007

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Accessibility Plan 2019 - 2021 Age-friendly Winnipeg Action Plan 2014

OTHER

Athletic Field Review 2018

Off-Leash Dog Areas Master Plan 2018

City Profiles 123 Toronto

ONTARIO POPULATION: 2,956,024

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* Toronto is one of 19% of cities with * In 2019, Toronto released its a standalone biodiversity strategy new Parkland Strategy—a 20- and one of 63% with a citywide year master plan to guide park park system master plan updated development and improve access within the last 10 years. to parks in the city. * Toronto is one of 52% of cities * Toronto is conducting a citywide with a policy to waive park permit study on how to improve off- fees for financial need. leash dog areas to accommodate population growth. * At 2.7 hectares of parkland per 1,000 people, Toronto sits in line * Toronto approved an with other dense cities such as implementation plan for its Montreal and Vancouver. Ravine Strategy that includes extra funding towards conservation, clean-up measures, and community stewardship.

City Profiles 124 TORONTO / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

2.7 23% N/A 75 Parkland provision Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is # of dog parks goal (distance to park people ESA/protected / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 8,096) (Ha total: 1,892) 81 46% 13% # of community gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 3,693) (Ha total: 63,020)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

2 $54

This year’s budgets include only the portion for Parks, whereas the numbers # of volunteers / 1000 people reported for 2019 included the entire Parks, Forestry and Recreation budget. (Total: 6,000) Operating budget / person (Total: $160,115,185) Yes

Policy to waive permit fees $100,729,608

Capital budget 80

# of community park groups $8,100,000

$ sponsorship/donation/corporate Community Natural Ice Rink Program Community Benefits Charge Community Stewardship Program This tool was introduced in 2019 and is still under review. Previous Provincial Community park group program legislation allowed 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu. Provincially legislated tools available Community Investment Funding for parkland development.

PollinateTO Community Grants

Community grant program

City Profiles 125 TORONTO / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Parkland Strategy 2019 Recreation and Parks Facilities Master Plan 2017

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Wild, Connected and Diverse: A Biodiversity Toronto Ravine Strategy 2017 Strategy for Toronto 2019 Sustaining and Expanding the Urban Forest Resilience Strategy 2019 2012 - 2022

Pollinator Protection Strategy 2017 Natural Environments Trail Strategy 2013

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Accessibility Design Guidelines 2004

Seniors Strategy 2.0 2018

Our Common Grounds: Incorporating Indigenous place-making in Toronto’s parks and public realm

City Profiles 126 Hamilton

ONTARIO POPULATION: 579,000

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* With 17 community gardens * John Rebecca Park, opened per 100,000 people, Hamilton in 2019, is built on a converted has the third highest number downtown parking lot, and was of community gardens per partly funded through a $1 million population. donation. * Hamilton is one of about a quarter * In 2020, Hamilton received of cities that offer a formal park Bee City designation for its volunteer program, a grant commitment to supporting program, and a policy to waive pollinators. permit fees for groups showing Hamilton’s Summer Supie financial need. * program which provides free * Hamilton is one of 56% of cities drop-in activities for kids in with a seniors strategy that parks celebrated its 110 year includes parks. anniversary in 2019.

City Profiles 127 HAMILTON / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

2.1 ha / 1,000 4.7 37% people 14 Ha parkland / 1000 Includes ESAs in parks that are # of dog parks maintained, but not owned, by Parkland provision people the city. goal (distance to park (Ha total: 2,717) % of parkland that is / ha per 1000 people) ESA/protected 100 46% (Ha total: 1,010) # of community gardens/urban farms % of natural area of 2% total parkland (Ha total area: 1,240) % of total city land area as parks (Ha total: 112,775)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

1 $38

Includes volunteers engaged in maintenance/stewardship only. Decrease from 2019 due to program review/administration clean-up. Operating budget / person (Total: $22,083,870) # of volunteers / 1000 people (Total: 350) $8,376,000

Yes Capital budget

Policy to waive permit fees $154,000

39 $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

# of community park groups Community Benefits Charge

Adopt-a-Park This tool was introduced in 2019 and is still under review. Previous Provincial legislation allowed 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu. Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Clean and Green Neighbourhood Grant

City Enrichment Fund

Community grant program

City Profiles 128 HAMILTON / PLANS & STRATEGIES

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Urban Forest Strategy (in development) Recreational Trails Master Plan 2016

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Age Friendly Strategy

City Profiles 129 Richmond Hill

ONTARIO POPULATION: 209,286

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* At 67%, Richmond Hill has a * A new youth area in Lake Wilcox higher than average ratio of Park opened in summer 2019, parkland that is natural area. providing a safe and lively gathering place for youth aged Richmond Hill is one of 56% of * 13-19 including a skatepark, cities with a community park beach volleyball courts, fitness group program. equipment and wifi. With nearly 11 volunteers per * Council approved the preparation 1,000 people, Richmond Hill is * of an Urban Open Space Master above the median of 8. Plan to be initiated in late 2020 that will identify opportunities to improve green space connectivity. * The redeveloped Bradstock Park incorporates a unique kaleidoscope-themed design, with interactive and artful play features.

City Profiles 130 RICHMOND HILL / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

1.52 ha / 1,000 5 6% people 2 This total does not include an % of parkland that is # of dog parks additional 935 hectares of natural Parkland provision parkland owned by the Conserva- ESA/protected tion Authority and the Province. goal (distance to park (Ha total: 64) Ha parkland / 1000 / ha per 1000 people) 7 people (Ha total: 1,044) 10% # of community gardens/urban farms % of total city land area 67% as parks (Ha total: 10,100) % of natural area of total parkland (Ha total area: 703)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

10.9 $41

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 2,280) (Total: $8,651,300)

Yes $2,113,900

Policy to waive permit fees Excludes salaries/wages Capital budget 1 $136,300 # of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate Community Stewardship Program Community Benefits Charge

Community Garden Program This tool was introduced in 2019 and is still under review. Previous Provincial legislation allowed 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu. Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Community Stewardship Program

Community Garden Program

Community grant program

City Profiles 131 RICHMOND HILL / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Parks Plan 2013

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Urban Forest Planting Guidelines 2016 Urban Forest Management Plan (in development)

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Multi-year Accessibility Plan 2018 - 2022

City Profiles 132 Kingston

ONTARIO POPULATION: 129,300

NOTES: HIGHLIGHTS

Due to significant storm damage this year particularly along the waterfront, many * Two new community orchards projects have been focused on repairing are being developed at Lakeside infrastructure. Community Garden and Oak Street Community Garden, thanks

ANALYSIS to the city’s community orchard and edible forest policy. * With nearly 4 off-leash dog areas * Kingston community groups per 100,000 residents, Kingston is launched the Gardening for above the median. Good campaign to promote * Kingston is one of 52% of cities food growing in the city and with a policy to waive park permit help advocate for the province fees for financial need. to declare community gardens essential services during * Kingston is one of 63% of cities COVID-19. with a citywide park system master plan updated within the * The city provides free, family- last 10 years. friendly summer programming at local parks through its Neighbourhood Parks Program.

City Profiles 133 KINGSTON / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

5 N/A 5 ha / 1,000 people 5 Parkland provision Ha parkland / 1000 The City of Kingston has a policy in # of dog parks place to designate ESAs, however goal (distance to park people the data for ESAs within the munici- pal parks system is unavailable. / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 644) % of parkland that is 7 ESA/protected 31% (Ha total: N/A) # of community gardens/urban farms % of natural area of total parkland 1% (Ha total area: 201) % of total city land area as parks (Ha total: 45,119)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $52

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: N/A) (Total: $6,700,000)

Yes $5,700,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

5 $569,000

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

N/A Community Benefits Charge

This tool was introduced in 2019 and is still under review. Previous Provincial Community park group program legislation allowed 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu. Provincially legislated tools available Community Garden Grant for parkland development. Community grant program

City Profiles 134 KINGSTON / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update 2020

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Kingston Climate Action Plan 2014 Urban Forest Management Plan 2011

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Facility Accessibilty Design Guidelines 2019 Age Friendly Kingston 2014

OTHER

Off Leash Dog Park Policy 2009

City Profiles 135 Ottawa

ONTARIO POPULATION: 1,001,077

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* Ottawa has the highest total * Ottawa’s first outdoor bike park number of community gardens at opened in 2019 atop a former ski 129, and with population factored hill at Carlington Park, through in, has more than double the a partnership with the Ottawa median with nearly 13 community Mountain Biking Association. gardens per 100,000 residents. * The city has created an interactive * With 237 parks that allow dogs off- map of Ottawa’s natural areas leash, Ottawa has the highest total including descriptions of what number of off-leash dog areas, as nature-lovers will see and well as the highest per population experience at each site. with nearly 24 per 100,000 Park staff worked with the city’s residents. * Environmental Remediation * Ottawa is one of about a quarter Unit to remediate and cap of cities that offer a formal park former landfill and other volunteer program, a grant contaminated sites as part of program, and a policy to waive park redevelopments, including permit fees for groups showing Bayview Friendship Park, financial need. Springhurst Park and Reid Park.

City Profiles 136 OTTAWA / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

4.5 N/A 400 m 237 This number does not include The City of Ottawa has a policy in 5 minute walk In addition, there are 2 large off- provincially or federally owned/ place to designate Environmental leash dog parks on NCC property. managed parkland, which is Protection Zones, however the data significant in Ottawa and estimated for these areas within the municipal Parkland provision # of dog parks at 1600 ha. parks system is unavailable. goal (distance to park Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is / ha per 1000 people) people ESA/protected 129 (Ha total: 4,466) (Ha total: N/A) # of community gardens/urban farms 34% 2%

% of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 1,510) (Ha total: 279,600)

Community Garden Development Fund PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION (offered in partnership with Just Food)

Community grant program N/A

# of volunteers / 1000 people (Total: N/A) FUNDING

Yes N/A

Policy to waive permit fees Operating budget / person (Total: N/A) N/A

# of community park groups N/A Capital budget Adopt-a-Park

Outdoor Rink Program N/A $ sponsorship/donation/corporate GLAD Cleaning the Capital

Community park group program Community Benefits Charge

This tool was introduced in 2019 and is still under review. Previous Provincial Community Environmental Projects Grant legislation allowed 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu. Program (CEPGP) Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Community Partnership Minor & Major Capital Programs

City Profiles 137 OTTAWA / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Greenspace Master Plan 2006

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Ottawa Wildlife Strategy 2013 Urban Forest Management Plan 2018 - 2037

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Accessibility Design Standards 2015 Older Adult Plan 2020-2022

OTHER

Dogs in Parks Designation Policy

City Profiles 138 Mississauga

ONTARIO POPULATION: 777,200

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* With 15 volunteers per 100,000 * New nearly 3.6-hectare Saigon residents, Mississauga has almost Park opening in 2020 honours double the median of 8. Vietnamese culture and history, and also contains stormwater Mississauga is one of 63% of * management facilities. cities with a citywide park system master plan updated within the * The city launched a beach mat last 10 years. pilot project in June 2019 to improve accessibility at two of Mississauga is one of about a * the City’s popular beaches in quarter of cities that offer a formal Jack Darling Memorial Park and park volunteer program, a grant Lakefront Promenade Park. program, and a policy to waive permit fees for groups showing * Guided by the city’s Smart financial need. Cities Master Plan, the iParks pilot project will build nine Mississauga parks with Wi-Fi, allowing for digital screens, smart furniture, and more.

City Profiles 139 MISSISSAUGA / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

Tableland: 1.2 3.7 N/A ha/1,000 people 8 The City of Mississauga has a policy Ha parkland / 1000 in place to designate ESAs, however # of dog parks people the data for ESAs within the munici- 800 m pal parks system is unavailable. (Ha total: 2,912) % of parkland that is Downtown: 400- 11 ESA/protected 800 m 38% (Ha total: N/A) # of community gardens/urban farms Parkland provision % of natural area of goal (distance to park total parkland 10% / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total area: 1,113) % of total city land area as parks (Ha total: 29,243)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

15 $44

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 11,640) (Total: $34,500,000)

Yes $24,000,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

13 $112,000

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

Adopt-a-Park Program Community Benefits Charge

This tool was introduced in 2019 and is still under review. Previous Provincial Community Group Registry Program legislation allowed 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu. Provincially legislated tools available Leash Free Mississauga for parkland development.

Community park group program

Community Grant Program

Small Project Matching Grants

Community grant program

City Profiles 140 MISSISSAUGA / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Parks and Forestry Master Plan 2019

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Natural Heritage and Urban Forest Strategy Climate Change Action Plan 2019 2014 Living Green 2012

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2018-2022 Older Adult Plan 2008

OTHER

Waterfront Parks Strategy 2019

Leash-Free Zones Policy 2018

City Profiles 141 Waterloo

ONTARIO POPULATION: 137,420

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* At 43%, Waterloo is above average * Waterloo is developing its first in percentage of parkland that is woonerf, or ‘living street’, in the under special policy protection for Northdale neighbourhood, which sensitive ecosystems. will include enhanced public space, trees and vegetation, and Waterloo is one of 56% of cities * possibly a snow-melting system. that offers a community park group program. * Waterloo’s annual Lumen festival of light, art, and technology uses At 56%, Waterloo is above average * participatory art installations in in ratio of parkland that is natural parks to engage communities area. with public space in new and non- traditional ways. * Following the installation of an artist-designed community harvest table that seats 200 in Waterloo Park, the city is expanding the harvest table initiative to other parks.

City Profiles 142 WATERLOO / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

6.9 43% 5 ha / 1,000 1 Parkland provision Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is # of dog parks goal (distance to park people ESA/protected / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 946) (Ha total: 405) 4 56% 15% # of community gardens/urban farms Increase from 2019 due to updated information. % of total city land area as parks % of natural area of (Ha total: 6,400) total parkland (Ha total area: 530)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

8.6 $49

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 1,180) (Total: $6,688,122)

No $12,738,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

2 $50,126

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

Partners in Parks Program Community Benefits Charge

This tool was introduced in 2019 and is still under review. Previous Provincial Community park group program legislation allowed 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu. Provincially legislated tools available Neighbourhood Matching Grants and Mini for parkland development. Grants

Community grant program

City Profiles 143 WATERLOO / PLANS & STRATEGIES

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Corporate Climate Change Adaption Plan Stormwater Management Master Plan 2019 2019

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Accessibility Standards 2016

Older Adult Recreation Strategy 2015

City Profiles 144 Guelph

ONTARIO POPULATION: 136,000

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* At about 70 volunteers per 1000 * Throughout summer 2019, people, Guelph has the highest Guelph’s Park Activation rate of volunteers in parks. Stations brought free toys and activities to four parks— At 69%, Guelph has the second * including sensory play, mural highest ratio of parkland that is painting, a mini library, magnet natural area. boards, parachutes, and four-foot * Guelph is one of a third of cities inflatable balls. with an off-leash dog parks Through a partnership with rare strategy. * Charitable Research Reserve, Guelph parks staff and residents helped to identify and protect turtle nesting sites in the city’s green spaces, contributing to the rescue of 2,000 turtle eggs in the region. * Guided by its Natural Heritage Action Plan, Guelph is working to enhance stewardship in parks through developing adopt-a-space, EcoAwards, and educational programs.

City Profiles 145 GUELPH / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

3.3 ha / 1000 10.4 69% population 51 This total does not include an This number captures protected additional 365 hectares of publicly lands designated within the natural # of dog parks accessible green space owned by heritage system (NHS). 5-10 minute walk the Province, University, etc. from residential Increase from 2019 due to GIS % of parkland that is improvements. ESA/protected area served 15 Ha parkland / 1000 (Ha total: 975) Parkland provision # of community people goal (distance to park gardens/urban farms (Ha total: 1,410) 16% / ha per 1000 people) 69% % of total city land area as parks % of natural area of (Ha total: 8,800) total parkland (Ha total area: 975)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

70 N/A

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 9,500) (Total: N/A)

No N/A

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

13 N/A

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

N/A Community Benefits Charge

This tool was introduced in 2019 and is still under review. Previous Provincial Community park group program legislation allowed 5% of development site or cash-in-lieu. Provincially legislated tools available N/A for parkland development. Community grant program

City Profiles 146 GUELPH / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Recreation, Parks, and Culture Strategic Master Plan 2009 (update in progress)

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Natural Heritage Action Plan 2018 Stormwater Management Master Plan 2012 (update in progress) Urban Forest Management Plan 2013-2032 Emerald Ash Borer Plan 2009

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Facility Accessibility Design Manual 2015 Think Youth 2013 - 2018

Older Adult Strategy 2012

OTHER

Leash-free Policy 2019

Guelph Trail Master Plan 2005 (update in progress)

City Profiles 147 Montreal

QUEBEC POPULATION: 1,704,694

NOTES: HIGHLIGHTS

The city is made up of 19 boroughs that are responsible for managing about 1,300 local * In 2019, Montreal’s mayor, Valérie parks. The boroughs also have separate Plante, became ICLEI world powers and budgets to see to the cleaning of ambassador for local biodiversity public spaces and offer social development and will serve as the global initiatives, sports and cultural activities and urban planning services to the local representative of the protection of population. Each borough can decide on how nature and biodiversity by local it breaks up these services. governments.

Montreal is planning the new ANALYSIS * Grand Parc de l’Ouest, which * At 2.6 hectares of parkland per could become Canada’s largest 1,000 people, Montreal sits in line urban park at over 3,000 hectares. with other dense cities such as * Montreal has created a publicly Toronto and Vancouver. accessible map of surface * Montreal is one of 56% of cities thermography in the city, that have a seniors strategy that showing heat islands and tree includes parks. canopy. * Montreal is one of 63% of cities with a citywide park system master plan updated within the last 10 years.

City Profiles 148 MONTREAL / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

2.44 ha / 1000 2.6 N/A people 49 There are 1,953 additional hectares % of parkland that is # of dog parks of green space in Montreal, includ- Parkland provision ing school parks and other green ESA/protected spaces belonging to federal and goal (distance to park provincial institutions. (Ha total: N/A) / ha per 1000 people) 97 Ha parkland / 1000 people 12% # of community (Ha total: 4,470) gardens/urban farms % of total city land area as parks 39% (Ha total: 36,520) % of natural area of total parkland (Ha total area: 1,760)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A N/A

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: N/A) (Total: N/A)

Depends on the borough. N/A

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

N/A N/A

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

No 10% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. N/A

Community grant program

City Profiles 149 MONTREAL / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Plan directeur du sport et du plein air urbains 2018

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Ville de Montréal Biodiversity Report 2013 Toward Sustainable Municipal Water Management 2013 Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Montréal Urban Agglomeration 2015-2020 Plan de foresterie urbaine 2009

Tree Policy of Montréal 2005

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Accessibilité universelle-Plan d’action 2015- 2018

Multiple additional universal accessibility plans

Municipal Action Plan for Seniors 2018-2020

City Profiles 150 Quebec City

QUEBEC POPULATION: 542,298

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* At 62%, Quebec City is above * Through a purchase of four average in ratio of parkland that is waterfront lots and negotiations natural area. with a golf course, Quebec City is on its way to developing a large Quebec City is one of 52% of cities * park along the Montmorency with a policy to waive permit fees River as part of its plan to for financial need. improve riverfront green space * Quebec City is one of 77% of cities connections. that reported having at least one The city has budgeted $105,000 park partnership in place with a * for the design and construction non-profit. of the new Parc de la Rivière- Jaune, addressing a gap in a neighbourhood lacking park access. * Guided by its public art strategy, the city is supporting cultural mediation projects that involve collaboration between professional artists and residents to create public art.

City Profiles 151 QUEBEC CITY / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

Neighbourhood 4.3 N/A park:radius of 2 Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is 500 m # of dog parks people ESA/protected (Ha total: 2,350) (Ha total: N/A) Community park: radius of 1,000 m. 28

62% 5% Parkland provision # of community goal (distance to park gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area / ha per 1000 people) total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 1,452) (Ha total: 45,428)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $19

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: N/A) (Total: $10,400,000)

Yes $7,200,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

N/A $75,000

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

N/A 10% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Places ephemeres

Community grant program

City Profiles 152 QUEBEC CITY / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Plan de mise en valeur des rivières (in development)

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Place aux arbres 2015-2025

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Guide pratique d’accessibilité universelle 2010

Plan d’action pour les aînés 2017-2020

City Profiles 153 Longueuil

QUEBEC POPULATION: 238,479

NOTES: HIGHLIGHTS

23% of land within the city is agriculturally zoned. * Longueuil’s first participatory budgeting process saw five park ANALYSIS and trail projects selected for funding in 2020. * At 65%, Longueuil is above * Through a call for citizen-led average in ratio of parkland that is tree planting projects, Longueuil natural area. supported 17 planting initiatives * Longueuil is one of 63% of cities in 2019, displayed on an online with a citywide park system map. master plan updated within the * In 2020, Longueuil released a new last 10 years. urban agriculture policy. * Longueuil is one of 52% of cities with a policy to waive permit fees for financial need.

City Profiles 154 LONGUEUIL / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

4.6 N/A 1 ha / 1,000 people 4

Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is 7 minute walk to # of dog parks people ESA/protected a neighbourhood (Ha total: 1,087) (Ha total: N/A) park 5 65% 9% 15 minute walk to a # of community community park gardens/urban farms % of natural area of % of total city land area Parkland provision total parkland as parks goal (distance to park (Ha total area: 708) (Ha total: 11,580) / ha per 1000 people)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $43

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: N/A) (Total: $10,300,000)

Yes $22,558,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

8 N/A

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

N/A 10% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Projets communautaires de plantations d’arbres

Community grant program

City Profiles 155 LONGUEUIL / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Plan directeur des parcs et espaces verts 2014

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Politique de protection et de mise en valeur des milieux naturels 2005

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Plan d’intervention à l’égard des personnes Plan d’action municipalité amie des handicapées 2018-2019 aînés 2018-2021

OTHER

Politique d’agriculture urbaine 2020

Politique en saines habitudes de vie 2016

Politique familiale 2017

City Profiles 156 Gatineau

QUEBEC POPULATION: 284,373

NOTES: HIGHLIGHTS

Extreme weather events and floods have had significant impacts on Gatineau’s park system * After 2017 and 2019 floods this year. required residents to vacate their properties in the Pointe- Gatineau neighbourhood, the ANALYSIS city has dedicated $1.4 million to redevelop and beautify the now- * Gatineau has the third highest vacant lots. amount of parkland per population, with nearly 18 * Gatineau hosted an internal hectares per 1,000 people. parks forum with speakers and brainstorm sessions to kick-off * At 66%, Gatineau has the fourth their parks master plan process, highest ratio of parkland that is inviting city councillors, city staff, natural area. and non-profit partners. Gatineau is one of 52% of cities * * In 2019, the annual Grand Ménage with a policy to waive park permit clean-up activity which targets fees for financial need. green spaces had a budget of $32,000 and mobilized more than 16,000 participants who collected around 5 tonnes of waste.

City Profiles 157 GATINEAU / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

Neighbourhood 17.6 <1% park: 800 m 7 This total does not include roughly 2300 hectares of provincially or % of parkland that is # of dog parks federally owned green space in the ESA/protected Community park: city. In addition, 41% of land within the city is agriculturally zoned, (Ha total: 10) 800 to 5,000 m protecting it from development. 22 Ha parkland / 1000 Parkland provision # of community people 15% goal (distance to park gardens/urban farms (Ha total: 5,000) / ha per 1000 people) % of total city land area as parks 66% (Ha total: 34,194)

% of natural area of total parkland (Ha total area: 3,310)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $86

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: N/A) (Total: $24,500,000)

Yes $5,000,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

46 N/A

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

N/A 10% of the development site or cash-in-lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. Grants for the community garden program

Community grant program

City Profiles 158 GATINEAU / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Plan directeur des infrastructures récréatives, Plan de développement du plein air urbain à sportives et communautaires 2012 Gatineau (en voie d’élaboration)

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Plan de gestion des arbres et des boisés 2013 Environmental Policy

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Gatineau, an Inclusive City Plan d’action intégré triennal 2017-2019 Famille, aînés (MADA) et accessibilité universelle

OTHER

Politique de développement social

City Profiles 159 Fredericton

NEW BRUNSWICK POPULATION: 65,197

NOTES: HIGHLIGHTS

Extreme weather events, and Hurricane Arthur in particular, have had significant impacts on * In early 2020, the city released Fredericton’s park system. final draft management plans for Odell Park and Killarney Lake Park that set a long-term strategy ANALYSIS for these two major parks, and designate distinct management * With nearly 8 community gardens zones within each park to balance per 100,000 people, Fredericton is ecology and recreation. above the median of 5. * Guided by public engagement, the * Fredericton is above average in city has developed initial plans for parkland per population, at 12 a new park in the Lian Valcour hectares per 1,000 people. Neighbourhood which will feature * Fredericton brought in $10,000 natural play equipment and all- in outside funding this year, ages design. making it one of 56% of cities who * Fredericton is running a pilot reported funding from corporate project to install smart sensors on or philanthropic sources. infrastructure in parks to capture baseline data on park use prior to redesign.

City Profiles 160 FREDERICTON / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

12.1 N/A N/A 2 Parkland provision This total does not include lands There are 1851 hectares of # of dog parks belonging to the University of New environmentally significant areas goal (distance to park Brunswick, which are also used by (EOS lands) in Fredericton in total, City residents for walking, hiking however the number of hectares / ha per 1000 people) etc. within the municipal parks system is unavailable. 5 Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is people # of community ESA/protected (Ha total: 786) gardens/urban farms (Ha total: N/A)

27% 6% % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 211) (Ha total: 13,410)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

8.4 $38

# of volunteers / 1000 people Operating budget / person (Total: 550) (Total: $2,508,000)

No $559,000

Policy to waive permit fees Capital budget

5 $10,000

# of community park groups $ sponsorship/donation/corporate

N/A 8% or Cash-in-Lieu

Community park group program Provincially legislated tools available for parkland development. N/A

Community grant program

NOTES: Extreme weather events, and Hurricane Arthur in particular, have had significant impacts on Fredericton’s park system.

City Profiles 161 FREDERICTON / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Recreation Master Plan 2008

City Profiles 162 Halifax

NOVA SCOTIA POPULATION: 430,512

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

* At 77%, Halifax has the highest * The new 152-hectare Shaw ratio of parkland that is natural Wilderness Park is coming to area. Halifax, funded by all three levels of government plus private Halifax is above average in * donations. parkland per population, at nearly 13 hectares per 1,000 people. * Halifax is developing a playing field strategy to better Halifax is one of 63% of cities with * understand usage and inventory a citywide park system master requirements, and to create field plan updated within the last 10 quality standards. years. * Accessibility audits in Halifax parks are planned within the 2020-2021 Business Plan.

City Profiles 163 HALIFAX / DATA

INVENTORY / AMENITIES

12.6 N/A N/A 38 Parkland provision Ha parkland / 1000 % of parkland that is Includes dedicated and seasonal goal (distance to park off-leash areas. people ESA/protected / ha per 1000 people) (Ha total: 5,425) (Ha total: N/A) # of dog parks

77% 1% 17

Includes natural areas within all Halifax Regional Municipality is # of community parks greater than 3 hectares. ~5930 km2, where ~75% of the area Increase from 2019 due to im- is unsettled, containing vast areas gardens/urban farms provements in data collection?last of crown land and lakes, which year only natural areas within parks yields a very small percentage of over 50 hectares had been parsed. parkland. % of natural area of % of total city land area total parkland as parks (Ha total area: 4,185) (Ha total: 592,700)

PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION FUNDING

N/A $40

Decrease from 2019 due to last year’s budgets including indoor recreation facili- # of volunteers / 1000 people ties, whereas these budgets are parks-specific. (Total: N/A) Operating budget / person (Total: $17,415,672) No

Policy to waive permit fees $15,010,000

Capital budget 7

# of community park groups N/A

$ sponsorship/donation/corporate N/A

Community park group program 10% of development site or cash-in-lieu

Provincially legislated tools available N/A for parkland development. Community grant program

City Profiles 164 HALIFAX / PLANS & STRATEGIES

PARK MASTER PLANS

Halifax Green Network Plan 2018

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

Urban Forest Management Plan 2013

Park Naturalization Strategy 2019

City Profiles 165 City Profiles 166