Riverdale Park West Accessibility Improvement and Addition to Tree Canopy to Mitigate Climate Change & Prevent Flooding

From "Post your proposal here for the consideration of Councillor Moise"

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CURRENT ISSUE: Riverdale Park West has an accessible path from Cabbagetown down to the public restrooms, but it is not connected to the path connecting Riverdale Park East (only accessible by stairs). The existing path & parkland is regularly flooded after rain for multiple days, limiting access for all.

3-PRONGED PROPOSED RESOLUTION which will,

[Accessibility] improve access between the two parks for those with varying mobility needs and
[Climate Change] improve the tree canopy for shade while absorbing rain to prevent flooding.
[Community] improve boundaries for sports diamonds within the dog off-leash area to promote safety and positive recreation for all

Create a raised ;paved corridor that would link the road from Cabbagetown at the bottom, across Riverdale Park West to the Riverdale Farm lower gated entrance and the ramp leading to Riverdale Park East.

This raised corridor should be flanked by greenery.

Comments(39)

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Profile of Jordan Allison

Posted by:Jordan Allison

2 months ago

The topography is too steep to create a safe, accessible path. I am not supportive of paving over our open green space and chopping the field in half. Maybe we can start by fixing the broken water fountain, cleaning up the washroom building, and ensuring we keep these "safe supply" needles out of the park. I would say more, but the comments section covers a lot of the key points.

Profile of Katherine Brown

Posted by:Katherine Brown

2 months ago

This feels like a very impracticable proposal. The slope to the toilets is a long way from meeting Provincial accessibility code requirements and running a path across the field would compromise many of the aspects of the park which make it so popular with so many people. In addition I would take issue with the idea that the field is 'barren' (comment further down). It's managed grassland, supporting many smaller species plant and animal, and acts as a giant rain/melt-water holding reservoir as part of the Don River ecosystem.

Profile of Anthony Pierre

Posted by:Anthony Pierre

2 months ago

No. No. No. This is not a good idea. One of the great things about this park is the wide open green space. Unless the city is going to install a funicular, it cannot be made accessible without completely destroying the park. At some point, common sense has to prevail.

Profile of Tanja Bekric

Posted by:Tanja Bekric

2 months ago

This proposal is ridiculous. There is an existing paved path already. Why ruin the park with running any kind of paved platform through the middle of green space?!?

Profile of Brian Elder

Posted by:Brian Elder

2 months ago

This proposal will ruin the park and what is most beloved about it; wide open space for multiple programs and purposes. A raised walkway through the middle defeats the entire purpose. There are other options for creating accessibility.... there has to be! For one, as already mentioned in the comments, a walkway that runs behind the existing baseball diamonds along the fence. Sadly, I fear this will be another example of the city overthinking and over-programming public space... and Moise will be at the ready to push through the agenda.

Profile of Shannon Greenwood

Posted by:Shannon Greenwood

2 months ago

Sorry put this doesn’t make any sense at all, the field floods every year , it’s a baseball field , off leash dog park , winter tobogganing , sometimes cricket ? I agree people who have rights to there disability but how would they get down the hill ? Going across a field in a wheelchair or walker would be interesting dogs off leash dog park, bikes flying through the park , let alone getting hit by a baseball ? Why don’t you do what you said you were going to do years ago when you were going to make a path across from top of Riverdale west hill and across to Bayview ? Why don’t you fix the benches in the park that are broke. ? Why don’t you clear all the bushes beside the stairs going down the stairs ? I could think of a million things that are safe for our parks ? But this isn’t even a smart idea putting people in jeopardy and maybe even having the city sued if someone got hurt ..

1 like

Profile of Eduardo C

Posted by:Eduardo C

2 months ago

Horrible idea to destroy our green space. It's one of the few spaces where dogs such as sighthounds can run at full speed thanks to the large open space. People also plays sports right in the middle where the proposed raised path would be. Some even have birthday parties there. The proper way to connect the washrooms ramp with the existing ciment path alongside the farm would be building a path going straight East from the washrooms, then continuing behind the diamond rinks, going alongside the fence that separates the park from Bayview, and then connecting it with the existing ramp that leads to the bridge. Again, going behind the diamond rink at Northeast corner. That way we would preserve the central green space that is well used by people, dogs and wildlife.

Profile of Josie Parks

Posted by:Josie Parks

2 months ago

Paving anything through the park is a terrible idea. However, perhaps it might be helpul to plan trees along the south edge of the existing path (the one leading from the stairs to the bridge)? I don't know that it would actually do much to mitigate flooding, but it would be aesthetically pleasing. Perhaps planting a few trees in the very centre of the open space as well? That would create some welcome shade. And trees along the east periphery (between the ball diamonds) would be nice -- tho that would have to wait until whateever that constructions zone is (which has been there for what, 2 years now?) is gone. The cost of planting the trees could be funded, at least partially, through memorial donations.

1 like

Profile of John MacMillan

Posted by:John MacMillan

2 months ago

Better to route the proposed trail on the southern edge and periphery than through the middle of the park, to minimize the disruption to other park users.

2 likes

Profile of Andrew Paterson

Posted by:Andrew Paterson

2 months ago

@John MacMillan There is no need for an additional path. There is an existing paved path running on the western side of the park leading from the stairs to the bridge. The proposal is really an attemp to destroy a public park and sports fields by creating a bike lane through the middle. It masquerades as trying to create 'accessiblility' but the existing city access road on the south (which cyclists on not permitted to use, but still do) would be too steep and long for wheelchairs. There are multiple alternative routes to cross the Don Valley, and there is an existing path which cyclists can use. It would just be a waste of money and a loss of valuable park space.

1 like

Profile of Darren Donahue

Posted by:Darren Donahue

2 months ago

@Andrew Paterson And how do you propose people with accessibility issues access the western path? They have to navigate a massive staircase; many in our community are unable to access that path.

Profile of Chris MacFarlane

Posted by:Chris MacFarlane

2 months ago

@Darren Donahue why do they need to? They can access the park already; its the field. There is road access to RPE in Gerrard.

Profile of Shannon Greenwood

Posted by:Shannon Greenwood

2 months ago

@Darren Donahue again why ? I would love to see someone go down that hill in a wheelchair or walker ? I’ve seen kids on there bikes split there heads open on that hill

Profile of M G

Posted by:M G

2 months ago

Terrible idea! Taking part of a very popular park just to create a way through??? This idea, if implemented, will destroy the park and all who enjoy it and will result in over populating all the adjacent parks. Whoever came up with this idea has never used this park, it seems, as there is an accessible path on the other side of the bridge... This is not a pass through area, it's a real park, with its own ebb and flow.

1 like

Profile of Darren Donahue

Posted by:Darren Donahue

2 months ago

@M G Please understand that it's to make the park better (we use the park every single day and every single day we see people unable to safely use it). If you use it, you know how it floods because the barren field has no root system to absorb. Additionally, many people with accessibility needs can't access the path to Riverdale Park East due to a massive staircase being their only way to access it. Accessibility is an important consideration. It's great that you're privileged enough to not need it, but many in our community do.