The new stormwater management facility at Earl Bales Park was officially celebrated at a ceremony Friday. Nov. 18.
The new facility includes a large stormwater pond designed to blend into the natural environment in the park, as well as new storm sewers. The goal of the upgrades is to help the city meet water quality objectives for urban stormwater runoff, improve water quality of the West Don River and reduce erosion in Earl Bales Park. Pond water will be used for golf course irrigation in the summer and for making snow on the Earl Bales Park ski hill during winter."This adds to the great assets we have in this ward," York Centre Councillor James Pasternak said during the ceremony. "We have this facility here and it enhances the ward further."Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, chair of the public works and infrastructure committee, said the project was important to the city and for the environment."You can see what a beautiful pond it is," he said. "Stormwater management ponds are really important to the community. When we have large storms, it takes pressure off water pipes and there is not as much basement flooding. This is the biggest stormwater management pond in Ontario...this is money well spent." The federal government is contributing one-third of total eligible project costs, to a maximum of $3.33 million for the facility. The City of Toronto is kicking in the balance of the $10 million project cost.Built this year, the pond covers 3.2 hectares and is about three metres in depth. It has the capacity to manage and treat stormwater runoff from a catchment area encompassing 550 hectares of residential and industrial development. The area is bounded by Sheppard Avenue, Hwy. 401, Downsview Airport and Avenue Road.The City's Wet Weather Flow Master Plan identified the need for the pond, which was approved by city council in 2003.