Grange Park Toronto Canada

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GPAC Meeting Minutes


GPAC Meeting Minutes from December 16, 2009

Grange Park Advisory Committee Meeting

Meeting of December 16, 2009

Held at the Centre for Social Innovation

Members in attendance:

Rupert Duchesne, Co-Chair, AGO

Councillor Adam Vaughan, Co-chair

John Burns, St. George the Martyr Church

Peter Caldwell, OCAD

Bev Carret, AGO

Peter Couto, resident

Mike Mahoney, AGO

Debbie McGuinness, resident

Pat McKendry, resident, social housing and co-ops

Mazyar Mortazavi, member-at-large

Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, resident

Debra Shime, University Settlement

Netami Stuart, City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation (alternate)

Observers and guests:

Ralph Daley, President, Grange Community Association

Regrets

Mark Emslie, City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation

Ken Greenberg, resource person, AGO

Marguerite Newell, resident

Matthew Teitelbaum, AGO

Margie Zeidler, member-at-large

Summary of Discussion:

Approval of the minutes of September 14, 2009

Minutes were approved

Business Arising from the minutes

Maintenance initiative for Grange Park

Bev informed the committee that the mulching of all the trees in Grange Park will happen before the end of December. The work will be done by Growers Choice, which submitted the most cost-effective bid to PMA Landscape Architects. As discussed and agreed upon by PMA, AGO and City of Toronto Parks, pine chip mulch with a wood base will be used, which will allow for the necessary aeration and proper drainage for the trees. Mulching will be put 2.5 meters around each tree, covering any exposed roots. The depth will be 3 inches. The total amount of mulch used will be approximately 410 yards.

This maintenance initiative was a good test case to begin developing a new protocol between AGO/GPAC and the City Parks Department regarding future contracted work in Grange. Discussions to formalize the protocol will start in the New Year. Ralph questioned how neighbourhood involvement will be incorporated into the process; it was agreed this element will need to be included as part of the protocol.

Toronto Entertainment District BIA Master Plan – John Street Corridor

The Master Plan brochure from the Toronto Entertainment District BIA was distributed for information. The plan includes a vision for the John Street Corridor from the waterfront up to Grange Park. It was agreed that when a landscape designer is engaged for Grange Park, consultation with the Toronto Entertainment District BIA will be critical to ensure aesthetic harmonization between the two projects. It was also noted that the heritage of John Street and its relationship to The Grange house will need to be recognized.

New Business

Rupert reported that the AGO is actively pursuing one or two major donors to fund the Grange Park revitalization project. Discussions are continuing with potential donors who have expressed interest in the project, not withstanding the current economic climate. This can be a gradual process but progress is being made.

Next Meeting

It was agreed to hold the next GPAC meeting the same evening as the neighbourhood meeting coordinated by the Grange Community Association.

Rupert summarized GPAC’s achievements since the creation of the committee in July 2008:

GPAC will share this recap at the neighbourhood meeting.

Co-chairs Adam Vaughan and Rupert Duchesne thanked GPAC members for their hard work; the Committee ended the meeting giving a tribute to Grange Park and its future.

The next GPAC meeting will be held on Wednesday April 28, 5:30pm at OCAD, Room 284. The Grange Community Association meeting for neighbours will follow at 7:30 pm at OCAD, Main Lecture Hall,