Supporters of Riverdale Farm came out in droves last week to tell the city's Parks and Environment Committee to please keep the city-run petting zoo open and free.
The farm on the western slope of the Don River valley is potentially on the chopping block, as part of possible cost-cutting measures recommended by consultants KPMG to the city for this year's budget.The recommendations in the core service review note the city is under no obligation to provide the small zoos and farms at Riverdale, in High Park and on Centre Island, and the city could save significantly by either shutting them down or privatizing them.But members of the Cabbagetown and Riverdale communities came to the committee to respectfully disagree."There are reasons people live in the city and it's not because of who picks up the garbage - it's because of places like Riverdale Farm," said Dan Eldridge, chair of the Riverdale Farm Advisory Council.He pointed out the community-based council has been "continually working" to improve the farm, and has donated "thousands of hours" to improve the farm.Lindsay Whitfield lives in the neighbourhood and pointed out the farm is important for both the neighbourhood and for school groups and tourists."Field trips are an important part of the school experience," she said. "They're something all children look forward to, and other venues are very expensive. So with these costs, most schools, especially schools in low income areas, have limited places they can go. This is where Riverdale Farm comes in. It's a wonderful place to visit, and it's free."Cabbagetown resident Sara Jean Greenway, meanwhile, said the farm was a reason she and her husband came to Cabbagetown - growing up in the neighbourhood inspired her husband to become a veterinarian."We want the same for our daughter now," she said. "I go there almost every single day since she's been born. I see not only mothers like myself, but fathers - I see children from middle class backgrounds but also a lot of children from less fortunate backgrounds. It's absolutely incredible. One of the reasons we chose to stay in Toronto was because of access to services like that."The committee sent the recommendations along to the city's Executive Committee meeting in September. It will then go on to council's meeting at the end of that month.