$1 million donation spurs action on stalled downtown park
Work on long-planned John-Rebecca Park could now start next year.
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8...downtown-park/
The city will forge ahead with a long-stalled park in greenspace-starved Beasley neighbourhood thanks to a surprise $1-million charitable donation.
The city has planned since at least 2010 for a two-acre park in the block bounded by John, Rebecca, Catharine and King William streets, which at the moment is a sea of municipal parking, plus a restaurant and controversial club.
A lack of funding — and municipal reluctance to give up downtown parking — originally stalled the effort.
In 2016, residents on King William rallied to call for action on the park, including a suggestion to expropriate Club Seventy Seven because of nearby violence, including the shooting death of doorman Vincent Lofaro.
The project was still $2.5 million short until Wednesday night, when downtown Coun. Jason Farr announced an "incredible" $1-million gift from the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation, which is focused on supporting parks, trails and public green space.
He then asked council to approve $1.5 million from city reserves that should allow park construction to start next year. Otherwise, the city had tentatively budgeted to find construction cash in 2021 or 2022.
Farr acknowledged residents have pushed for the park for a long time and live with "probably one of the biggest (parkland) deficits in the city."
Graham McNally, grandson of the foundation's namesake Patrick, said that sense of urgency was on the mind of board members when they approved the donation.
"We know it has been on the books forever," McNally said. He also suggested need for the park will only grow if development explodes along the light rail transit line planned to run east-west through the core.
"That influx of people is going to make (parkland) that much more important," he said.
Neighbourhood residents celebrated the news as it went public online during the council meeting.
Mike Borelli of the Beasley Neighbourhood Association said residents support "any contributions that get us a park quicker," arguing the addition to the green-starved core is good for current and future residents.
Dale Mugford also tweeted that the funding commitment is "great news." The King William Street resident has been vocal about the need to both build the park and deal with perceived violence around Club Seventy Seven.
Farr refused to talk about any potential expropriation or land purchase that may be under negotiation.
But planning head Jason Thorne confirmed the city has $1.5 million set aside for "property acquisition" linked to the park and the long-term plan for the green space still includes the entire block. The only properties on the block not already owned by the city are the club and Lulu's Shawarma.
A city real estate official will also be on hand to answer questions at a community meeting on park design May 29.
The city-owned parking lot on the block is also being eyed by local agencies as a temporary overdose prevention site. Farr said that effort should have "zero impact" on the city's hoped-for park construction schedule.