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A HISTORY OF THE ARTIFICIAL ICE SKATING TRAIL IN COL. SAM SMITH PARK
June 1996 Master Design and Implementation Plan for the Lakeshore Grounds by consultants Moore George Associates
Page 47
“The Pleasure Skating Track
“A pleasure skating track (4-5 meters wide) is proposed to be constructed adjacent to the Power House. Initially this was proposed north of the building but alternative sites should be investigated prior to making a final decision. Concern had been raised about the possible impact that this would have on existing bird habitat.”
April 28, 1997 adoption of Resolution 178 by Etobicoke Council
“Goal, Design Principles and Site Management Guidelines” for the Lakeshore Grounds
“1.Goal: To conserve the heritage features, evoke historical land uses and restore ecological integrity to the site while providing a place that is distinctive, accessible and conducive to the public’s education, recreation and well-being.
2.5 Public Recreation Principles: Parts of the former hospital grounds were specifically designed and constructed to provide a place for recreation. This use should be continued and expanded
-Areas and facilities for active and passive recreation should be provided with the qualification that passive recreation facilities should dominate at this location
-Recreation facilities and areas should only be developed in a manner that is compatible with existing heritage and environmental features
-Public recreation should be provided in a manner that encourages multiple use of areas. Single purpose facilities which occupy large land areas should be discouraged at this specific site.
-In recognition that this is a waterfront site, provide leisure facilities and services that are water dependent or related as top priority, especially within the waterfront viewshed area.
7.0 Implementation of the plan:
-Establish a Design and Management Committee
-Appoint a Public Advisory Group
-Initiate a formal Design Review Process”
July 2004: South Etobicoke Community Services & Facilities Study by IBI Group in conjunction with the City and Lakeshore Area Multi-Services Project.
“Exhibit I: Recreation Facilities – Existing Need for Additional Facilities and Recommendations
Community Centres: Immediate need for the development of a community centre
Gymnasium: Need for multi-purpose recreation space to serve a variety of activities e.g. indoor basketball
Arenas: No need for additional facilities”
September 2004: Recreation Facilities Report adopted by Council.
“Chapter Three: Current Facilities and Future Needs
Inventory of Outdoor Artificial Ice Facilities and provision rate by former municipality
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Municipality
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# of Pleasure Pads
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Provision Rate by Population (1 per)
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East York
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2
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57,593
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Etobicoke
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10
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33,812
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North York
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2
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304,144
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Scarborough
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1
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593,297
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Toronto
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14
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48,311
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York
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0
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Recommendations:
-The City should continue research into the use and role of outdoor artificial ice rinks as part of the City’s supply of artificial ice facilities
-The City should assess the need for and viability of outdoor artificial ice rinks where major investment is required to remain operational
-For any additional or replacement outdoor artificial ice facilities, the City should consider low provision areas a priority and any such facilities should focus on designs that emphasise pleasure skating.”
October 2005: City announces that a 1500 sq. meter skateboard park will be built in the meadow south of the Power House in Col. Sam Smith Park.
June 16 2006: Citizens Concerned about the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront (CCFEW) request the Minister of the Environment to designate the proposed skateboard facility as an undertaking to which the Enivronmental Assessment Act would apply.
July 14th 2006 Letter from Councillor Grimes announcing establishment of a committee chaired by Councillor Glen De Baeremaeker to “address location issues and other concerns surrounding the location of a proposed skatepark in South Etobicoke. At the completion of the consultation process, I will expedite the committee's findings and move towards completing the skatepark in South Etobicoke.”
September 2006 A Report on the Skateboard Park Proposal for Etobicoke’s Col. Sam Smith Park - Advice and Recommendations by Councillor Glen De Baeremaeker to Councillor Mark Grimes
“In 1996 after an extraordinary citizen effort to protect this area, local residents thought they had signed a sacred trust with their local government that would ensure the perpetual care of this precious green space. The vision and goals for the newly created park were set out in the Lakeshore Grounds Master Design and Implementation Plan.”
“Citizens fought to save this area from being bulldozed and to protect it as a peaceful sanctuary for nature and passive recreational use. A large skateboard facility is rightly seen as an improper intrusion into this green oasis and as a proposal that runs contrary to the spirit and intent of the original implementation plan given to this area in 1996. The gentle sounds and green beauty of the park would be replaced by the clattering of skateboards, the shouts of large groups of people and the grey of cement.”
“I am recommending that Councillor Grimes consider undertaking the following:
1)fulfil the former City of Etobicoke’s original 1996 promise to create a citizen’s advisory group to help protect and restore Col. Sam Smith Park to its full ecological potential
2)Assist in the raising of approximately $100,000 to undertake extensive ecological restoration projects within the park including:
-extensive tree planting that will double the tree canopy of the current park and assist Toronto in achieving its goal of increasing tree cover across the city
-restoration of the North Creek with the goal of re-establishing a clean year round base flow and populations of both invertebrates and fish
-increasing the width of riparian buffers along North Creek and the park’s sensitive wetlands
-re-establish the ground cover that has been removed just north of the Power House community centre
-build an ice-skating path that improves public access while not removing significant biomass. (Note: a ribbon of an ice-skating path winding through the area should not have the negative impact of a huge skateboard park but great care and sensitivity must be taken to limit any possible damage from construction activities and extensive replanting and restoration plan should be part of the ice-skating plan)
-create a young naturalist’s programme (based out of the Power House) to introduce urban youth to the miracles of nature hidden throughout Sam Smith Park.”
September 26, 2006: Etobicoke Guardian “Sam Smith skateboard park plans officially dead: Councillor Mark Grimes told the Guardian last night that he has accepted Councillor DeBaermaeker’s recommendation and taken Sam Smith Park off the table as a site for a skateboard park.”
April 19, 2007: City holds public meeting to unveil plans for an artificial ice skating trail in the meadow where the skateboard facility was planned. Over 75 people appear in opposition.
No further consultation or information until
June 5, 2008:
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