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Centennial park's upgradeby John Van Dusen
May 27 2007
| | | | As old as the garbage underneath it’s hill, Centennial, Toronto’s second-largest park, starts showing it’s age as leaky roofs and overcrowded fields demand a guiding plan for future development.Centennial Park is having a mid-life crisis. That’s why the city is planning a facelift for the 40-year-old park, developing a master plan with a study team led by design firm The Planning Partnership. “Most of the facilities at the park are at full capacity,” said David Leinster, landscape architect for The Planning Partnership. Centennial’s 526 acres are home to over 15 playing fields ranging from softball diamonds to cricket pitches, many of which are either overcrowded, too small, or in poor game-time condition. “We really need a guiding plan,” said City Parks and Recreation Planner Barbara Carou. “That’s why Planning Partnership is doing the park.” Centennial is the second-largest park in Toronto, beaten by Downsview,. It’s as large as New York’s Central Park, except Centennial’s in the suburbs, beside an airport. It was created out of a federal government program during the ‘60s that matched community fundraising for centennial projects as the nation approached 100 years young. “There wasn’t a larger regional park vision until the centennial process came about,” said Kristen Stein of E.R.A. Architects, which compiled a heritage report on Centennial Park as part of the master plan to revitalize the area. The process began with a workshop in early December that revealed many of the problems park patrons will be facing this summer. Carou led the two-day public forum to discuss the redevelopment with park stakeholders including members from the Olympium, arguably the best swimming facility in Ontario that includes two gymnasiums, numerous club rooms, and an indoor track. Carou listened to several concerns by community members including lack of seating and a leaky roof in the 2,500-seat stadium, crammed picnic areas, abandoned bocce courts, and overused arenas. 56 teams were denied playing time at Soccer City, which lies along Eglington Ave. in the northeast of Centennial. The hockey arena needs another rink, opening the possibility to entice a junior team to Centennial.. The Olympium also needs a deep tank for synchronized swimming, so Toronto can stop being the only major city in the world that can’t hold an international swimming meet. An updated arena and the addition of a third rink would make it possible to bring in a junior hockey team. Ideas for new facilities included a teahouse in the park’s conservatory, a bike-rental facility, bike trails, additional washrooms, and an outdoor skating rink.Besides Riverdale and a handful of the city’s 1,470 parks, Centennial is one of the few real winter parks in Toronto. Many of it’s annual 1.5 million visitors are drawn to the Centennial Park ski hill. Using a progressive approach to the city’s garbage, Etobicoke’s landfill was transformed into a ski hill during the ‘60s. “The ski hill is the central feature of the park. It’s really an identifier for people,” said Leinster. The redevelopment comes during the city’s 15-year plan, Our Common Grounds, which was adopted in 2004 and places renewed emphasis on the importance and value of the city’s 8,000 hectares of parks and open spaces. “We’re looking to create a new renaissance for the park,” said Carou. The Planning Partnership has received the okay from City Council to begin detailed development of the master plan, and a second public meeting is scheduled for September. | | |
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