Chapter 7 7.1 Concept Site Plans here is nothing like getting your hands dirty to focus the mind. The concept site planning exercise is designed to engage local participants in the watershed study, raise awareness of the watershed plan, promote innovative Tapproaches, and kick start the implementation of the plan. Each of the concept site plans provides practical representations of how key watershed recommendations/strategies/actions could be applied on a local or neighbour- hood basis. The concept sites were chosen to be typical of locales throughout the watershed that are targeted for regeneration and retrofit attention. Many of the components in the preliminary designs presented in this section could be replicated time and again, tailored to meet local needs and expectations, during the implementation of the Don River Watershed Plan. Concept site plans were a notable feature of the previous Don River watershed study, Forty Steps to a New Don (1994). That strategy suggested a number of specific “shovel in the ground” actions that addressed multiple broad objectives, but focused on site-specific subwatershed projects. Each concept site project was aimed at addressing one or more of four key objectives: the creation of aquatic habitat, the creation of terrestrial habitat, the improvement of water quality, and/or the control of water quantity. Six of the subwatershed plans presented in Forty Steps to a New Don included a “concept site plan” to demonstrate regeneration techniques at a local level: $Rupert’s Pond (Upper West Don) $Pomona Mills Park (Upper East Don) $Harding Park (German Mills Creek) $G. Ross Lord Park (Lower West Don) $Cummer’s Mill (Lower East Don) $Terraview Park & Willowfield Gardens Park (Taylor/Massey Creek) No concept sites were included in the Lower Don subwatershed plan because several promising regeneration projects — including the Don River Brick Works park, were already underway. A description of the successful work undertaken at the Don Valley Brick Works, Harding Park in Richmond Hill, and Terraview/Willowfield Gardens in Scarborough follows this introductory section. 7—1 Don River Watershed Plan, 2009 Chapter 7 Success Story #1: Greening a Brownfield Evolution of the Brick Works Don Valley Brick Works, Toronto Once a derelict industrial brownfield, this site is being regenerated into a showcase for ecological rebirth, environmental sustainability and innovative green design. The former quarry and grounds have been contoured and replanted to reflect the native flora of the Lower Don watershed. The runoff flowing through Mud Creek is being cleaned in a series of stormwater ponds and wetland features. The historic build- ings are being restored to recall the industrial heritage of the site and to host a number of environmental, educational and cultural experi- ences. he 16-hectare Don Valley Brick Works is located in the watershed of Tthe Lower Don, four kilometres north of Lake Ontario. It is hemmed by the curving Bayview Extension to the south and east and by the long- established residential areas that rim the valley to the north and west. The Don River and Don Valley Parkway parallel the site to the east of Bayview. For almost 100 years, the Brick Works provided the tiles, bricks and other clay products used to construct many of Toronto’s homes, public buildings and institutions. When TRCA acquired the site in 1987, it began an ambi- tious regeneration and water management project, in partnership with the City of Toronto, that has restored the native habitat and attracted wildlife. The park, opened in 1997, features: $a series of five new ponds and wetlands that hold and filter the inflow- ing water from Mud Creek before discharge to the Don, while providing habitat for frogs and other amphibians, fish and water birds; $a re-naturalized quarry featuring native gardens and wildflower mead- ows that contain the grasses and other plants common to southern Ontario; $a protected valley wall that shows the fossil-rich layers of shale and limestone that underlie much of Toronto; and $a network of walking trails, viewing areas and interpretive signs. With the help of Evergreen, the Brick Works is being further transformed into a premier environmental education and cultural centre. A number of exciting projects are under development, including: the creation of the Centre for Urban Sustainability that will bring environmental innovators, Top: the old quarry before restoration educators and leaders together; a series of eco-pavilions that will host began; youth programs to connect children with nature in the city; a year-round Middle: aerial photo after the habitat market, stores and restaurants featuring the produce of local farmers and restoration project was implemented; artisans; and the restored heritage brick factory that will provide meeting Bottom: design rendering of the areas, gallery space, and displays of the industrial heritage of the site. planned Green City Garden (Image credit: Claude Cormier architectes With on-going involvement of many partners, including Evergreen, the City with Ferruccio Sardella.) of Toronto, TRCA and the community, the future looks bright for this ecological gem in the heart of the city. Don River Watershed Plan, 2009 7—2 Chapter 7 Success Story #2: A Fresh Approach to an Urban Park Harding Park, Richmond Hill The transformation of Harding Park represents a fresh approach to urban park planning and a blueprint for other stormwater management projects. The traditional detention ponds were naturalized so that runoff would also be filtered and cleaned before discharge into German Mills Creek. Native terrestrial and in-stream habitats were re-established, while trails and recreational facilities were constructed. Today, Harding Park is a successful example of a quantity-to-quality stormwater pond retrofit pro- ject and illustrates the effectiveness of pond-wetland systems. It has also become a much-loved natural refuge in a very busy urban area. ocated to the east of Yonge Street and south of Major MacKenzie Drive in Lthe heart of Richmond Hill, Harding Park is surrounded on all sides by established residential neighbourhoods, condos and commercial areas. There were two standard stormwater detentions ponds, one located on each side of German Mills Creek, as well as a manicured playing field on the east side of the creek, a playground at the north end of the site, and a bicycle trail. Busy Weldrick Road borders the south side of the park. Constructed in two phases by TRCA and the Town of Richmond Hill, the work was completed in 1996. The old stormwater ponds were re-naturalized with multi-cell wetland filters to improve the quality of the stormwater collected from the area's houses and roads. New marshland and water-tolerant plants also created a more diverse habitat for birds, amphibians and other wildlife. In addition, small sediment basins were constructed at the inflow points to each detention pond to collect coarse grit, and the ponds were excavated to increase capacity. The surrounding parkland was regraded to encourage the infiltration of precipitation. The site was planted with thousands of native flowers, shrubs, grasses and other plants to re-establish a more natural terrestrial habitat. Native trees and shrubs were planted around the perimeter of the wetland ponds. Transition buffer zones were also created where residential properties backed onto the park. Sections of the stream were naturalized to create riffles, pools and riparian cover to improve in-stream fish habitat. New trails and interpretive signage provide access and awareness of the diverse new habitat areas. The water quality improvements have been significant: 2002 monitoring data showed the stormwater ponds and wetlands are removing up to 86 per cent of phosphates, 80 per cent of total suspended solids and lesser amounts of other contaminants. They are also effective in detaining the peak flow of stormwater to German Mills Creek. Harding Park is a great place to go for a Ongoing study has taught some valuable lessons that are being implemented secluded walk, to play baseball and other in other stormwater naturalization projects. For example, it is estimated that sports, or just to relax and watch the ce- the ponds will have to be dredged to remove accumulated silt every 13 to 22 dar waxwings feasting on berries and years. A number of other technical upgrades to increase retention time and listen to green frogs crooning for female further improve water quality have also been identified. company. 7—3 Don River Watershed Plan, 2009 Chapter 7 Success Story #3: The Rebirth of a Concrete Creek Terraview Park & Willowfield Gardens Park This stunning retrofit project, undertaken in the mid-1990s, liberated the headwaters of Taylor/Massey Creek from its barren concrete channel. Today, the creek meanders through the two adjacent parks, while a se- ries of green wetlands, pools and stormwater management ponds collect and settle much of the sediment and other pollutants carried in by runoff and outfalls. The stormwater control facilities also reduce peak flows, maintain baseflows, and reduce the risk of erosion and flooding. The sur- rounding community now enjoys a series of new bike and walking trails, sports facilities, a playground and a water play area. The Forty Steps concept site illustrates the need to engage the neighbourhood and local government in creating and realizing an innovative regeneration plan. ituated in west Scarborough, the two parks hug Taylor/Massey Creek as Sit flows south of Highway 401, just east of Pharmacy Avenue. The contiguous parks are surrounded, primarily, by residential neighbourhoods of single family detached homes, with some commercial and industrial proper- ties nearby. Penworth Road separates Terraview Park in the north from Willowfield Gardens Park in the south. The southeastern edge of Willowfield connects with an Ontario Hydro corridor (north of Japonica Road). Developed in the 1950s, the area does not meet current standards for storm- water drainage and management.