Integration of park with north side of street

Thank you for seeking comments on the design.

Foremost, the current park is a blight on the community because it is an island of illegal and disorderly behaviour, isolated from surrounding sidewalks. It's unusable by kids and most adults. I therefore appreciate the fact that both proposed designs aim to integrate it with the north side of Gerrard Street by narrowing the 'slipway'. Making the 'slipway' as narrow as possible and as inconvenient to use would help pedestrians to use the park. Could speedbumps, bollards, and maximal bends be used, along with signs that it is only for garbage vehicles and vehicles servicing businesses and homes off the slipway?

I am concerned about the sheer fibreglass wall facing the main part of Gerrard. It looks ugly and uninviting, although I'm sure it's in the design to shield park-users from traffic noise. But it would look a ton better if it were made of brick, covered with shrubbery--or a berm covered with shrubbery.

I also think the vertical 'gateposts' on the north end of the park divide the park from the northern east-west sidewalk. Instead, the design should do everything to knit together the sidewalk and the park, across the 'slipway'.

Finally, I think the sidewalk should have provision for the businesses that might occupy the ground floor of the houses on the north side of Gerrard to have sidewalk tables. This could be a great place for people to sit out and eat or drink, a real centrepiece of the neighbourhood. But it needs to feel expansive, with continuity from park to sidewalk, for this to work.

thanks,

David. 416 717 4470