Mark Hazelden and his fiancée moved into their gritty-but-improving Lansdowne Ave. neighbourhood expecting to have children who will play and splash in MacGregor Playground.He was upset Thursday to learn from the Star that his playground’s wading pool is among five slated for closure in Mayor Rob Ford’s proposed 2012 budget.
“I think it’s wrong-headed. If you look at the neighbourhood, more and more strollers are here and (housing) developments are coming and softening what has been a hard edge on the city,” he said. “To remove a community gathering point is the wrong thing for a community on the upswing.”
The proposed budget unveiled by Ford on Monday includes $88 million worth of cuts, including the wading pools, two swimming pools and closing 10 arenas on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City staff had refused to release the list of affected facilities, arguing that city unions and workers whose jobs could be affected needed to be notified first. The city released the list Thursday after the Star obtained it independently and published the lists.
The other wading pools targeted for closure are:
• Fred Hamilton Playground, on Roxton Rd. near College St. and Ossington Ave.
• Alexandra Park, at 275 Bathurst St. south of Dundas St. W.
• Wellesley Park, at 500 Wellesley St. E. near Rosedale Valley Rd.
• Kempton Howard Park, 86 Blake St., east of Jones Ave. and south of Danforth Ave.
The two outdoor swimming pools that would be mothballed are Fairhaven, on Golfwood Heights near Islington Ave. and Dixon Rd., and Stanley Park pool, on Walnut Ave. in the Trinity-Bellwoods area. This after the city spent $592,000 last year on the building for the Stanley Park pool.
Closing the seasonal swimming and wading pools would save taxpayers $157,000, according to budget documents that did not name the affected facilities.
On Thursday, Ford told reporters: “We saved 100 pools, we’re closing down two — one in my former ward, Fairhaven, it’s barely used. And we need that money.”
The Ford administration also advocates saving $260,000 by closing 10 arenas during the “off-peak” hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Critics say the cut could exacerbate Toronto’s critical ice shortage if it pushes adult recreation leagues, now using day ice, into the busier evening and night hours.
The arenas are:
• Long Branch at 75 Acadian Circle in south Etobicoke
• Chris Tonks at 2801 Eglinton Ave W. at Black Creek Dr.
• Bayview at 3230 Bayview Ave. north of Finch Ave.
• Lambton at 4100 Dundas St. W. west of Scarlett Rd.
• Habitant at 3383 Weston Rd. south of Finch Ave.
• Commander Park at 140 Commander Blvd. near Brimley Rd. and Huntington Dr.
• Phil White at 443 Arlington Ave. north of Vaughan Rd.
• Pine Point at 15 Grierson Rd. west of Albion Rd.
• John Booth at 230 Gosford Blvd. west of Jane St. and south of Steeles Ave. W.
• Baycrest at 160 Neptune Dr. south of Highway 401 and east of Allen Rd.
A city document also suggests that “the animal operations recommended for ceasing of operations are High Park Zoo and Far Enough Farm” at Centre Island. In September, council narrowly passed Councillor Sarah Doucette’s motion to explore the potential of creating a “conservancy model” to keep the small zoos open.
Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, on Thursday called the city withholding the list of targeted facilities for days “highly troubling.”
“The city should be open and transparent so that residents can give full voice to closures that deeply affect their communities,” he said. “I believe the information was withheld by the Ford administration purely to protect politicians from political backlash.”
Origin
Source: Toronto Star
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