A two-hectare central Etobicoke property declared surplus and put up for sale by the Toronto public school board has ignited a firestorm of opposition by residents who have known it for 30 years as Heathercrest Park.More than 50 neighbours mobilized after an Admail-delivered board notice of an information meeting on the Storey Crescent site appeared in their mailboxes two Saturdays ago.
Toronto District School Board (TDSB) chair and Etobicoke Centre trustee John Campbell hosts the community meeting next Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at John G. Althouse Middle School, 130 Lloyd Manor Rd.
Shocked neighbours quickly leapt into action.
No fewer than 50 met last Friday with their Etobicoke Centre Councillor Doug Holyday. Soon after, they formed the Humbercrest Community Green Committee. A Facebook page and YouTube video now lives online.
"They're selling the park?" Michael Bielecki recalled thinking when the TDSB notice landed in his mailbox. "It's a park. It's a quality of life issue. The community depends on it. No one is creating more greenspace."
Heathercrest Park came into being in the 1970s. Then borough of Etobicoke struck the agreement with the Etobicoke Board of Education after the board decided not to build a school on the property.
Neither the city nor the board can locate the lease.
"Absolutely, I appreciate that residents probably would not welcome a new housing development in the neighbourhood," Campbell said in an interview about the park's intended sale.
Campbell urged residents to keep an open mind, and pledged the board would do the same.
"The function of the school board is not to provide parkland. It's to provide the best public education possible for the children of Toronto," he said. "So this action is actually long overdue. I would just hope that (residents) have an open mind. We are certainly going to have an open mind in terms of listening to them and trying to make a determination as to both what is best for the board and what is best for local residents, although there may be a conflict."
Resident Brian Rennie criticized the board for not consulting the community prior to putting the property up for sale.
Campbell said the board discussed community consultation, but heeded staff advice to wait to see whether the city or the Catholic school board expressed interest before advising residents.
A quarter century ago, area parents raised funds to install a swing and slide set, the only feature other than a mature oak forest and a creek in the open space neighbourhood park.
In 2002, residents inaugurated the new Heathercrest Park complete with a $45,000 mostly community-funded playscape designed for two- to eight-year-olds, 35 city-planted trees, two gardens, benches and picnic tables.
"It took us three years to raise the money, clean up the park and show the city that we cared before they would step forward and help us build the park, put in the trees, benches and gardens," said resident Allan Scott, who spearheaded the project.
Then 11-year-old Cameron Scott's complaint about a lack of play areas in the Martin Grove-Rathburn roads' neighbourhood jump-started the project. Cameron helped city staff design the playscape's ladder, slides and climber.
Last week, the property's circulation period ended to the board's public partners, including the city, without any expressions of interest, Campbell reported.
The land is now for sale to private developers.
Campbell advised the board could make certain "dispositions" of a purchaser, including that a portion of the property remain greenspace.
Heathercrest Park is zoned "parkland, public open space" in the city's Official Plan.
In effect, the park's zoning could be its salvation, Holyday argued.
"It would need a zoning change for anything to happen to it, and that would have to go through council," he said of any private developer's plans. "I'd move heaven and earth against (rezoning). I'd suggest it could be a bit of a fight for the school board."
Holyday said he wrote the city's general manager of parks Brenda Patterson to request either former City of Etobicoke parks reserve funds be used to buy Heathercrest Park, or the city enter into a formal lease agreement with the board.
Patterson did not return The Guardian's request for an interview prior to deadline.
The city's decision not to buy the park is understandable, Holyday said.
"If the city had the money to buy one site, I'd be surprised," he said, noting the board has listed a total of 16 properties as surplus. "If they chose one, it would probably be in an area that is parkland deficient, which this isn't because West Deane Park is up the street, notwithstanding the fact it's a regional park, not a community park."
Dan Cardone advocated for "balanced" development of the property.
"Some people look at development as bad altogether," the area resident said. "I think it could be a balance of some form of development and the environmental concerns of the community. Any development on the site would generate development fees and taxes. New infill housing could bring additional value to the community."
Marilyn Hanssen's children played in Heathercrest Park nearly every day.
"From the minute spring begins, that park is busy from morning to night," said Hanssen, who has lived in the area for 34 years. "In winter, kids toboggan and play on the equipment. If you're 10, your Mom could say, 'Go to the park for 15 minutes and come home.' The child would be watched by at least 100 eyes. It's a wonderful little neighbourhood park."