Residents and police look to make neighbourhood safer and more livable in 2012

Residents and police look to make neighbourhood safer and more livable in 2012. Kevin Putnam and his son Lewis, 1, take a moment to read at the Perth/Dupont Toronto Public Library. With a team of volunteers, the local resident is behind a push to expand or rebuild the library with fees developers pay that are earmarked for community benefit. Staff photo/MARY GAUDET

She is just one of many community activists who is looking ahead to January and beyond to build on initiatives they spearheaded in 2010.

Grey, who has lived in the neighbourhood for a decade, was instrumental in launching the Perth Avenue Public School Playground Revitalization Project. She credits Perth P.S. Principal Janice Robinson for inspiring her to kick-start the redevelopment of the yard. Its sorry state has stopped some area parents from enrolling their children in the elementary school on Ruskin Avenue, said Grey.

"We'd love to do a whole big soccer pitch with a track around it, but it'll likely cost thousands of dollars," she said.

The aim is to start with smaller, less costly projects. Already, Robinson has erected two new hockey nets and has plans to purchase other equipment, such as basketball hoops. There are ideas circulating for some artwork like a mural, added Grey.

"Our goal is to reach out to companies with a pitch for an urban, sustainable athletic and agricultural school yard that has an urban classroom," she said. "(Davenport Councillor) Ana Bailao has said she would donate the proceeds from her July picnic to the project. It'll also be a way of raising awareness."

A lot of people in the neighbourhood beyond the school community use the yard, Grey pointed out. She estimates the total cost of the revitalization is $250,000.

"We really want our kids to be healthy, active and engaged and educated about the environment," said Grey, whose two boys are in grades 1 and 2.

Meanwhile, Grey's neighbour, Kevin Putnam, the co-founder of the Junction Triangle Library Expansion Committee, is eager to continue efforts to grow the beloved Perth/Dupont branch, one of the smallest in the city.

At a Nov. 22 meeting, Bailao announced a $1.2 million injection of funds toward the project, which includes encouraging local residents to fill out an online survey called 'The 100 Day Survey.' They can do so until the end of February. Its purpose is to gather as much input from as many people as possible. A report outlining the results of the survey and a public consultation process will be submitted to the Toronto Public Library Association before it is released to the public at the end of March, said Putnam, with fundraising to follow.

The High Park Residents Association (HPRA), whose catchment area is comprised of 15,000 residents living east and north of High Park, is currently opposing the proposed condominium complex on Bloor Street West between Pacific Avenue and Oakmount Road.

"Development is the buzz word," said its chair Jeff Derksen. "There's no reason to believe we won't see more of them (in the same stretch of Bloor Street West)."

Ideally, what Derksen would like to see happen in the New Year is an Avenue Study created for the portion of Bloor Street West between Clendenan Avenue and Keele Street. This would serve to create a framework for new development while identifying areas for improvement in terms of services, streetscape and transportation. The Avenue study process encompasses key directions area residents would like to take.

"This would be my Christmas wish," said Derksen.

As the New Year dawns, Derksen said one of HPRA's goals is to pay more attention to High Park, its uses and amenities and stewardship of the 400-acre green space. Some members were caught off guard by the proposal for a BMX (Bicycle Motorcross) skills park in the parking lot in the south east corner of High Park, Derksen cited as one example.

Next year, the Junction Business Improvement Area (BIA) is embarking on what will likely be a two-year streetscape project that will include the erection of two major historical plaques. Created out of recycled train wheels, said BIA Executive Director Moe McGuinty, the plaques, each weighing a couple of tons, are being shipped to the Junction's retail strip from North Bay, Ontario.

McGuinty said the vision for the plaques came to him during a sleepless night. Because of the area's historical connection to the railway, McGuinty thought of the train wheel and began sketching the design on a napkin. The first plaque will be installed at the beginning of 2012 while the second will be in place by the end of the year.

The streetscape project will also see custom bike racks, created out of recycled steel train tracks, replacing the approximately 100 existing racks along Dundas Street West. Reflecting over the past year, McGuinty said the Junction has seen a huge influx of new businesses. There's been a dramatic change in its merchandising mix, he said.

"The vacancy rate currently sits between two and three per cent - it's unbelievable. Since I got here 20 months ago, 48 new businesses have come in," said McGuinty.

At the onset of every new year, it is common practice for 11 Division police to set divisional goals and priorities, according to Insp. Brian Preston. Some of these goals and priorities remain consistent with years prior - one of these being pedestrian and traffic safety.

"One of our goals and obligations is to pay specific attention to them, especially given the two cyclists who were struck by trucks in recent months," said Preston.

Another priority for 11 Division is professionalism of its officers and their interaction with the community and victims of crime. Dealing with crime and disorder is also top of the list.

Since inheriting a larger boundary with the move into a new station on Davenport Road, 11 Division officers have been working alongside 12 and 14 Division officers.

"We're working closely with the Community Police Liaison Committees, councillors, BIAs and residents to make sure we have our ear to the ground to find out what crime is taking place in those areas," said Preston.

The division has been strengthened with the addition of 42 new officers.

"We have more officers in each platoon to respond to service requests," he said. "Eleven Division is a safe community no doubt about it."