Park's marsh could be its saving grace

Central Etobicoke park's future uncertain. Children in Antioch Drive and Storey Crescent show their displeasure last fall upon hearing they may lose their playground and field known as Heathercrest Park. The area was deemed surplus land by the TDSB. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority may consider purchasing the land. Staff file photo/ IAN KELSO

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) triggered a firestorm of community opposition last November when it announced the city-signed central Etobicoke park was surplus to its needs and up for sale.

Now the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has expressed interest in acquiring it, effectively protecting and preserving the greenspace for future generations.

The pricetag - $3 million, report Etobicoke Centre Councillor Doug Holyday and TDSB Ward 2 trustee John Campbell.

"The TRCA wants to get their [$2-million] contribution from our city water fund that council set up to protect land that drains into our water system," Holyday said, noting most of those funds to date have been directed to lands in the Oak Ridges Moraine. "This is probably the best example there is. The only problem is, it may not be enough [money]."

Holyday said he is investigating the opportunity to redirect $1-million of Section 37 community benefits money from two residential developments in his Etobicoke Centre ward at Eva Road and the former Ramada Inn intended for area parks to help buy Heathercrest Park.

The city could replace those funds with future Hwy. 427 improvement money to then improve those two parks, he said.

TRCA confirmed yesterday it is in talks with Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC), the board's surplus property subsidiary, to possibly acquire the two-hectare Martin Grove-Rathburn roads park.

TRCA spokesperson Rowena Calpito said she could not confirm Heathercrest Park's reported $3-million pricetag.

"It's really good news," Campbell said of TRCA's expression of interest. "Nobody envisioned 50 homes being built on this site. I think the board has shown patience and a willingness to listen to the community."

Last June, TDSB declared Heathercrest Park, and 15 other properties, surplus to its needs and its "only opportunity" to generate desperately needed capital, board facility head Sheila Penny said.

Annual Ministry of Education funding of $40 million makes little dent in the board's $2-billion backlog in needed renewals of its schools, she said.

Initially, Heathercrest Park was appraised at $4.9 million, a figure Campbell acknowledged may have been high.

In future, Campbell said TLC will erect signs on properties the board declares surplus to notify communities earlier of potential sales.

While a 90-day circulation period of its surplus lands to eight public agencies ended Oct. 28, Campbell said the TRCA either wasn't aware of Heathercrest Park, or did not have time to express its interest.

Heathercrest Park boasts a mature oak forest connected to the Mimico Creek watershed, and a small "swale" - a low marshy strip - that feeds into Mimico Creek. The woodlot is protected by the 'natural environment' section of the city's Official Plan, Etobicoke York senior city planner Brian Gallaugher reported at a well-attended community meeting last fall.

Any residential development of the park would require rezoning, unlikely to be approved by Toronto City Council, Holyday said. A developer could appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board, but would face a fight there too, Holyday speculated.

Last fall, news of Heathercrest Park's sale mobilized area residents, who launched a petition, formed Heathercrest Community Green Committee, and posted a Facebook page and YouTube video online.

Shocked residents knew the greenspace for generations as a city park. Since 1973, the city has maintained it as a park.

Heathercrest Park features a $45,000 mostly community-funded playscape, 35 city-planted trees, two gardens, benches and picnic tables.

"They're selling the park? It's a park," resident Michael Bielecki said in an interview last November. "It's a quality of life issue. The community depends on it. No one is creating more greenspace."

This week, Bielecki also seemed encouraged.

"We're delighted," Bielecki said yesterday in an interview. "We demonstrated a community group can come together and do the right thing. But the work's not done."

Bielecki said the group is organizing fundraising projects, which could include a black tie event, golf tournament, movie night and concert in the park.