GPAC Meeting Minutes
GPAC Meeting Minutes from August 6, 2015
Grange Park Advisory Committee Meeting
Thursday, August 6, 2015 4:00-5:30 pm
Art Gallery of Ontario
Present:
Councillor Joe Cressy (Co-Chair), Ward 20
Ralph Daley, (Co-Chair) Grange Community Association
Rupert Duchesne, (Co-Chair) AGO
Max Allen, Grange Community Association
Bev Carret, AGO
Lisa Clements, AGO
Peter Couto, GCA
Aisha Green, University Settlement
Joan Heeler, St. George the Martyr Church
Patricia Jacobs, University Settlement
Sandy Ladouceur, AGO
Mike Mahoney, AGO
Pesha McKendry, Representative of social housing residents
Mazyar Mortazavi, TAS Design Build (member-at-large)
Vanessa Nicholas, OCAD University
Katie Nikota, Toronto PFR
Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, GCA
Alex Shevchuk, Toronto PFR
Eric Stadnyk, Toronto PFR
Peter White, Toronto PFR
Margie Zeidler, UrbanSpace (member-at-large)
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
Approval of the minutes of May 21, 2015
Minutes were approved.
Business Arising from the minutes
- Heritage designation for Grange Park:
Joe confirmed that City Council adopted on June 10 the amendment to the designating bylaw for The Grange and Grange Park as heritage properties. Five heritage attributes were identified for Grange Park:
- The placement of The Grange (house) in Grange Park. The landscaped setting an design reflecting the Picturesque Movement which combines open spaces, groves of trees and the views across Grange Park to and from The Grange
- The open space around The Grange and the terraced landscaping in front of and adjoining the south principal elevation
- The near-circular driveway that frames the open lawn in front of The Grange
- The groves of trees along the west side of Grange park adjoining Beverley Street
- The view corridor of the south elevation of the Grange, and the path leading up to it through Grange Park, from John Street at Stephanie Street
Ralph thanked Joe for his leadership in finalizing the amendment and bringing it to City Council.
Project Update
Mike advised the meeting that design details are being documented for inclusion in the request for proposal (RFP) for the project. Approvals are proceeding with the City. Outstanding items for City approval relate to accessibility, children’s play area, forestry and heritage. When all outstanding items are addressed, the General Manager of Parks will provide a final letter of approval for the project to proceed.
Earthscape, an award winning design-build Ontario company, has been engaged to construct the play equipment. Earthscape will ensure the play equipment adheres to all CSA and accessibility standards. GPAC congratulated Mike on the attention that has gone into the design and construction of the play equipment.
Henry Moore in Grange Park
Rupert confirmed that the AGO Board of Trustees gave its support on June 24 to pursue the proposal to move the Henry Moore sculpture Large Two Forms to Grange Park. Since the city’s heritage by-laws do not allow the placement of the sculpture at the top of the John Street promenade, the AGO approached the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which has a number of Moore works set in natural settings, to recommend areas in Grange Park to install the sculpture. On July 9, the AGO submitted a location proposed by Yorkshire to City Parks for review and feedback. Based on GPAC feedback to the City submission, the AGO also investigated other possible sites in the park for the sculpture.
Mike presented 4 options for feedback at the meeting:
- In the grove, near Beverley Street (location recommended by the Yorkshire Sculpture Garden)
- In the grove, near the elliptical path
- At the south end of the grove, near the DOLA
- At the north-west corner of the park, near the AGO.
GPAC provided its endorsement (with two voting members in opposition) to move Henry Moore’s Large Two Forms to Grange Park. GPAC selected two site options to submit to the City for review and feedback:
- In the grove, near the elliptical path
- At the north-west corner of the park, near the AGO.
GPAC agreed meet before the end of September to review the City’s assessment of both locations and select the site they wish to endorse for the sculpture.
Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA)
Joe advised the meeting that based on strong positive response received by the community, he will support the inclusion of a dog off-leash area in the south-west corner of Grange Park. He will continue to work with GPAC and the community to address concerns, such as tree protection, ground surface and hours of operation. Images of the DOLA design will be shared at the next GPAC meeting.
Communications with the community
(Item deferred to the next meeting)
Other Business
- John Street Promenade paving stones – inscriptions
GPAC endorsed that the requirement to include inscriptions in up to 12 paving stones should be identified in the rfp for the project. A sub-committee, consisting of Ceta, Max and Pesha, was struck to bring forward recommended inscriptions for GPAC’s consideration.