McGregor Park Community Centre Lounge:
A new addition to McGregor Park Community Centre (above and right) will soon begin taking shape. Designed by Bortolotto Design Architect Inc., the addition will bring the neighbourhood a new community lounge, including computer workstations, conversational lounge areas, work/conference tables, a small office, storage, counter with sink, and a landscaped courtyard. Construction costs are estimated at about $800,000, including furniture and contingency allowances. Construction is expected to start this spring, once the tender award is approved and contracts are signed. The City expects that the new lounge facilities will open for public use by late fall.
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New Signs for Birkdale Ravine:
New Signs For Birkdale Ravine - You will soon see new welcome signs at park entrances, and information about native plants, wildlife and the Highland Creek watershed through the Birkdale Ravine Park. The new signs are part of the interpretive
signage system that can now be found in natural areas across the city. It is the work of the Natural Environment and Community Programs section of Urban Forestry whose goal is to protect, restore and improve the natural environment within the City of Toronto parks system. For more information, contact 416-392-LEAF (5323).
Scarborough Centre to Get New Library:
The Toronto Public Library (TPL) will build a new branch on Borough Drive, on the south side of the Scarborough Civic Centre. The 15,000 square foot branch will include meeting rooms, study space, reading lounges, a café, free high speed internet access and a collection of 90,000 items for people of all ages. TPL will spend $8.2 million to build the new branch, which is scheduled to open in 2012. For more information about TPL and its services, visit www.torontopubliclibrary.ca, or call Answer line at 416-393-7131.
New “Green Gym” Planned for Glen Ravine:
Glen Ravine Park has been selected to receive a five-piece “green gym” donated by Participaction and Get Active Toronto. The exercise facility will be located beside the hill on the southeast side of the park. Similar equipment is already located in Thompson Park, where it has been proven to be sturdy and safe. The gym will be installed as soon as all necessary approvals are granted.
Lord Roberts Woods Park - Playground Enhancement:
A proposal for the enhancement of the playground which will replace all of the existing play equipment with new swings and a new play structure. Currently on site there are 4 belt swings, 4 baby swings, a steel slide, a steel climber and a spring toy all on a sand safety surface.
The proposed playground design calls for 4 new belt swings, 4 new baby swings, a new spring toy, and a new play structure for children aged 2 -12 years old. The play structure will consist of two sections connected by an elevated climbing structure. The 2 -5 year section will feature low platforms 36" - 48" in height. There will be stairs for easy access, a cloverleaf climber, a steering wheel, an arched bridge, a side by side double slide, a ship's ladder, a twisting climber, and a turning/pull-up bar. The 5 - 12 year section will consist of higher platforms ranging from 60" to 72" in height. There will be stairs, a slide pole, a snake climber, an inclined rock wall, a spiral slide, and a straight wavy slide.
The existing playground space is a linear space between an existing asphalt pathway and the forest edge. The proposed playground expands into a turf area in order to accommodate the proposed swings and play structure with their associated safety zones. This has the effect of reducing the linearity of the existing playground space, making the new playground appear more compact while not reducing the overall play space. The proposed unused space at the west end of the playground will have topsoil and sod. Beneath it will be an absorption pit filled with crushed stone to handle the water and runoff from the tile drainage required beneath the new woodchip safety surface for the playground.
With regard to a timetable for this project it should be completed early fall 2010.
Request to Review Pavement Markings, Warden Avenue and Manhattan Drive:
Transportation staff have completed their review of the above-noted matter. Specifically, the intersection of Warden Avenue and Manhattan Drive is a fully signalized near-right offset intersection with a centre line to centre line offset for Manhattan Drive of approximately 14 metres. The addition of guide and directional radius skip lines, within the intersection are recommended.
Transportation staff conclusions are based on observations of traffic operations during a typical weekday. The recommended guide and directional skip-radius pavement markings will assist motorists with east-west through movements. The pavement markings will be installed as soon as scheduling permits.