Constructing Connections: Urban Forestry and Toronto's West

View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Érudit Article "Constructing connections: urban forestry and Toronto’s West Don Lands revitalization" Paul L. Nichols Environnement Urbain / Urban Environment, vol. 3, 2009, p. 83-93. Pour citer cet article, utiliser l'information suivante : URI: http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/037602ar DOI: 10.7202/037602ar Note : les règles d'écriture des références bibliographiques peuvent varier selon les différents domaines du savoir. Ce document est protégé par la loi sur le droit d'auteur. L'utilisation des services d'Érudit (y compris la reproduction) est assujettie à sa politique d'utilisation que vous pouvez consulter à l'URI https://apropos.erudit.org/fr/usagers/politique-dutilisation/ Érudit est un consortium interuniversitaire sans but lucratif composé de l'Université de Montréal, l'Université Laval et l'Université du Québec à Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. Érudit offre des services d'édition numérique de documents scientifiques depuis 1998. Pour communiquer avec les responsables d'Érudit : [email protected] Document téléchargé le 12 février 2017 04:38 Dossier thématique Urbanisme et développement durable Urban planning and sustainable development Special Issue CONSTRUCTING CONNECTIONS: URBAN FORESTRY AND TORONTO’S WEST DON LANDS REVITALIZATION Paul L. NICHOLS RÉSUMÉ Les West Don Lands ont joué un rôle de premier plan dans l’histoire de Toronto. Du milieu du dix-neuvième siècle jusqu’au milieu du vingtième siècle cette zone est connue comme centre industriel. Aujourd’hui, force est de constater que le quartier subit les conséquences négatives de la désindustrialisation. Des travaux sont en cours pour revitalisation les West Don Lands et freiner la dégradation de ce milieu. L’étude se penche sur les initiatives proposées par la Société de revitalisation du secteur riverain de Toronto dans son plan de réaménagement, en mettant l’accent sur le rôle de la foresterie urbaine dans la création de liens physiques et sociaux. MOTS-CLES Foresterie urbaine, développement durable, West Don Lands, revitalisation, liens ABSTRACT The West Don Lands played an important role in Toronto’s history, primarily as an industrial centre from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Therefore, the negative impacts of de-industrialization on the precinct can hardly be considered surprising. However, efforts are being made to revitalize the West Don Lands and redress the decay experienced by the precinct. This paper examines these efforts, detailed in the Waterfront Toronto’s Precinct and Block Plans, with particular focus being placed on the role that urban forestry can play on the creation of physical and social linkages. KEYWORDS Urban forest, sustainable development, West Don Lands, revitalization, linkages Coordonnées de l’auteur : Paul L. Nichols, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University , 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, courriel : [email protected] ENVIRONNEMENT URBAIN / URBAN ENVIRONMENT, volume 3, 2009, p. a-83 à a-93 EUE y Constructing connections y a-84 part of the inhabitants” (Pirnat, 2000, p. 135-36). INTRODUCTION However, it must also be acknowledged that street trees and trees on private property are also part of Within the broad discourse concerning the the “urban forest” (Heynen et al., 2006). More benefits to be gained through the development and academically defined, “urban forestry” is a concept nurturing of the urban forest, the existing literature is which, emerging in mid-1960s from a student research extensive (Treiman and Gartner, 2006); however, project, aimed to use trees to provide “environmental much less emphasis has been placed on the benefits and social benefits for urban populations” (Johnston, resulting from the redevelopment of brownfield sites 1996; Jorgensen, 1986, p. 179). This broad definition is into urban forests. In the search for unique case- still valid today and has been further detailed to studies of brownfield to urban forests transformation, highlight the environmental and social benefits while Toronto contains multiple examples worthy of study. diminishing the traditional econo-centric focus of With a well established urban forest incorporating the forests and their products (Heynen et al., 2006; Don River and large scale brownfield redevelopment Konijnenedijk, 2003). For example, urban forests and in the West Don Lands, an examination of the parks have been noted as components of urban potential for creating physical and social connections stormwater management and air filtration (Solecki and through redevelopment can be conducted. This paper Welch, 1995). There is also on-going discussion as to examines the existing plans for creating such the impact of forest size on increased biodiversity connections using the Waterfront Toronto’s area (Guirado et al., 2006). Additionally, reductions in projects. The objectives of this examination are to: stress and violence as well as contributions to social integration have all been linked to the presence of 1. Illustrate the broad relationship between urban forests and green space (Hunter, 2001; urban forest and social benefits, and to Germann-Chiari and Seeland, 2004). However, as with contextualize this relationship in terms of any social constructed concept, the term “urban Toronto’s West Don Lands’ revitalization. forests” will be defined in unique and often contrasting ways from one group to another. The way such a term 2. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of is defined is highly dependant on the values and urban forest component integration in the West requirements one places on nature or “green space” Don Lands’ redevelopment plans. (Tyrväinen et al., 2007). In contrast to the broad and somewhat theoretical academic definition, for those 3. Highlight how the West Don Lands’ focused on urban planning and management, urban redevelopment will increase the potential for forests often represent the most multifunctional and social connection creation in the precinct and dynamic opportunity to provide green space to urban subsequently address key current social issues. residents (Van Herzele, 2006). And for the residents themselves, the concept of urban forests has been To this end, current proposals for the linked to areas within the city where the individual can development of parks will be critically reviewed and feel that they are closer to nature (Cole and Bussey, the proposal’s attention to the physical creation of 2000). linkages between parks and existing urban forests will be discussed. This will be followed by a discussion of Interestingly, the same social constructions that the potential social benefits and externalities that may help to describe the connotations of and associations be expected from the realization of such proposals. to urban forests also influence the physical structure Finally, conclusions regarding the potential utility of of those forests as well. While policy does and should current plans for urban forestry in the West Don play a role in pro- and retro- active planning of green Lands will be drawn. However, before any such spaces and their connectivity (Jim, 1999; Jim, 2004), analysis can be undertaken, an appropriate contextual the policy is (or at least should be) a reflection of the and epistemological background should be public’s demands of such green spaces. Quite often constructed. these demands are culturally linked (Tyrväinen et al., 2007); however, gender, age and various other factors 1. DEFINING “URBAN FORESTRY” also contribute to the demands placed on the urban forest. Konjinendijk (2003) identifies that an urban Generally speaking, “[u]rban forests are [areas] forest’s multifunctionality is the key to addressing the situated within a town area, they are part of city diverse needs of a city’s population, and thus its infrastructure and are daily accessible by means of success. For example, Cole and Bussey (2000) note public city transport, cycling and walking to at least a that at 2 ha, woodlands are appealing to all ages; EUE y Constructing connections y a-85 however, adults prefer the potential for exploration problems were compounded with the de- that blocks of woodlands provide. Yet, others put industrialization of Toronto which then became home emphasis on the appearance of green space as to a large complement of unutilized or underutilized “natural” (Hull IV et al., 1994), thus suggesting that brownfield sites. However, perhaps due to the fact there may be a need or benefit from complementing that the Don River has traditionally been viewed with the planned portions of urban forests and green regard to its importance and potential (Desfor and spaces with areas that are left as “wild” (Thompson, Keil, 2000), its problems were not left to fester. 2002; Jim, 2004). The more rugged areas of an urban forest can contribute in ways that traditional parks The Task Force to Bring Back the Don, a cannot (Jim, 2004), such as through providing a sense primarily volunteer citizens’ organization formed in of adventure for those seeking local opportunities for 1989 is attempting to redress some of the damage rural exploration. An urban forest should therefore be done to the River over the past two centuries through structured in a way that appeals to the old, the young, projects such as tree planting and wetland restoration women, men, bicyclers, ramblers, pedestrian (City of Toronto, 2007c). And while redevelopment of commuters, and various

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