Print

E-mail

Text

Morningside Heights, a new neighbourhood in northwest Scarborough, has lots going for it, except when it comes to sports facilities for children and youth.

So local volunteer Rob Rogers says he's surveying area homes to find out just what the community wants to see in local recreation and sports, "since we have nothing - and I mean nothing."

A unique-looking neighbourhood of around 3,500 houses west of the Rouge Park, Morningside Heights has no running track and no public pool, said Rogers, a former provincial athlete who runs the 3T Program for local youth.

Residences east of Markham Road and north of Old Finch Avenue hold around 1,200 children in grade school alone, yet the two local schools have room for programs with 20 children each, he said Friday. "That leaves 1,150 kids in the community with nowhere to go."

Rogers, with permission of the city and the Morningside Heights Residents Association, applied for federal funds, hired a researcher and is polling all homes with a M1X postal code in English, Tamil, French and Chinese.

Anyone who responds by June 16 will be in a draw the following week to win a 32-inch high definition television. Residents who can't find the survey in their mailbox can fill it out at www.3tprogram.org

In the fall, Rogers will announce the survey results, sending them "to anyone who cares" in hopes of improving the area's quality of life. "This is my offering to this community to help get the wheels moving."

Morningside Heights also lacks a community centre.

The city says Morningside Heights is third in line for a centre but no other city land is available.