Residents Welcome New Green Space in the Community
Erwin Krickhahn Park, Paton Road Extension
by Kevin Putnam
Summary:
An article written in response to a flyer distributed on 16 October, 2009, titled "Proposal to close Paton Road next to Erwin Krickhahn Park for Vegetable Garden".
How much trouble can 428.9 sq. meters cause? Apparently, plenty if you believe that extra green space in a local park is harmful for the following reasons:
- more play space for children
- more plant life in an urban area
- civic pride in one's community
The following statement comes from a flyer that was unsigned with no contact number or web site for follow-up. It stated unattributed misinformation, and was distributed on 16 October, 2009:
"...a vegetable garden where some individuals would be allowed plant vegetables on their own individual plots, with onsite composting. This proposal has already been approved by Toronto and East York Community Council, and by the full City of Toronto Council. Councillor Giambrone has not given any notice to local residents about this proposal…. Two years ago, local residents said ‘no’ to the idea of a vegetable garden in Erwin Krickhahn Park, at a meeting attended by about 100 people."
FACT: The Councillor's office distributed a public notice with their newsletter about a future public consultation meeting regarding the Paton Road dead end closure as an addition to Erwin Krickhahn Park. The reality is that unless you stand over people's mailboxes and make sure they read EVERY SINGLE piece of paper EVERYDAY -- the notion that EVERYBODY will be informed is just impractical.
Two years ago, perhaps 100 residents did attend a meeting for the idea of a proposed vegetable garden, however, "no" to the garden was NOT a 100% group consensus. There were plenty of residents, both new and old, who wanted a vegetable garden and felt shouted down by those who didn’t.
The flyer also states, "Contaminated soil may also have to be stockpiled somewhere in the neighbourhood while this cleanup is going on. "
FACT: Soil remediation may not be necessary, but if so, it would be done in compliance with all mandated requirements and procedures.
The flyer states that "Councillor Giambrone has asked city staff to draw up plans to close the portion of Paton Road north of the park, for the purposes of turning it into a ‘community garden.’”
FACT: Whether the space in question will be used for a garden or not is yet to be determined. The information about the proposal and the road closure was distributed in Councillor Giambrone's newsletter, on the top right hand corner of page three:
"Community Garden Proposed for Erwin Krickhahn Park
The City is moving ahead with the closure of the small, dead end section of Paton Road east of Rankin Crescent. The land is being transferred to the Parks Department to allow them to expand Erwin Krickhahn Park northwards by about 10 meters. The Parks Department will be conducting meetings this winter to get the community's feedback on a proposal to use this extra space for a new community garden."
Additionally, a notice of the meeting was published on this web site (https://www.junctiontriangle.ca/node/384). A discussion about the meeting followed and the decision was acknowledged several times by at least one vocal opponent.
The latest events over 428.9 sq. meters of land occurred during the weekend of 14-15 November, 2009, when protest signs reading “Topsoil Compliments of Adam” encouraged people to steal and damage community property. Asking local residents who may oppose the project to vandalize and steal does NOT create an atmosphere of civil debate. Rather, it creates a very antagonistic mood. It will be those followers, if caught, who will bear a criminal record -- NOT the people who posted the signage. Are these the actions of individuals who claim to have the community's best interest at heart?
Why refute more green space in a highly urbanized area?
Who stands to gain the most with less green space?
What is so loathsome about vegetables and grass?
If more fear mongering and misinformation are spread by a vocal few, then we as a whole community have much loss to grieve. This is an issue that will benefit so many in our community, yet why is this project being twisted by a few individuals who claim they speak for many others? There are others and other voices. I am one of many who says YES to more green space.
Due to all of the flaming, bickering, and fighting, comments have been closed on this article.
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Comments
tree huggers started lololo
ok keven you talk a good game but your just as bad as patsy slime with your putting down virginia and jack and why did you slag them because they dont agree with your vegatable garden all ive read was how jack and virginia and there stooges were bullies how were starting all this crap read what you and your tree huggers friends talk shit about jack and virginia all they do is reply but your buddies should be happy its not me
yo
Wow. This could be such a useful tool if everyone would just stick to what is important to us all. Respect it seems has gone the way of the Romans! You ALL have something to say. It is however interesting to see how the comments of a few, get everyone in a lather. Chill people! Drop by Boo Radley's Junction Bar & Grill, have a pint , kiss and make up!
Really Unfortunate
It is really unfortunate that so many people rise to the bait and get into a slinging match when someone calls them a name or makes some ridiculous accusation. Every kid knows the line about sticks and stones... A few adults here would do well to remember that and let things go.
I have been accused of all kinds of things and been called many names since the Fuzzy Boundaries project started last year. Eventually I figured out that it is not worth trying to change anyone's mind or defend myself against name calling/stupid allegations. Those people making the claims will never be persuaded otherwise and that's why they lash out in such an inflammatory manner.
We can disagree. We can disagree strongly, but all the back and forth slinging just looks bad on everyone and turns off a lot of people in the neighbourhood.
Next time someone calls you a name remember that you have friends and family who know better and just let it go.
Everyone listen, Patsy is speaking for the community
We never started this. Blame Christine. Patsy, who ever or what ever you are, don't blame us for speaking up. It was quiet for a while, until someone decided to start this shit all over again, Vic did say a little while back to chill out on the naming calling and disrespecting. The other thing is, what i understand when someone trys and I mean trys to make someone else feel belittled by critizing their intelligents, like you tried to do, telling someone to learn how to read, write and spell, tells me alot about the person. If you can't make a point without belittling someone, thinking they are more superior or intelligents should not go on the site. The problem is when you don't see it your way you resort to name calling and critizing them, sad. If you can't make an argument, then don't go on the site. Get a life
Pot Calling the Kettle Black
How often do we hear these words from you and yet when one reads back on past postings, we can clearly document all your hypocrisies. Either way, you and your posse will never see it because you all clearly believe you are always so very right with every opinion you make.
Save the new rebuttal and just copy and paste what you just wrote above. '
CAUTION TO OTHERS: Let us please stop feeding the trolls. It seems they get off on any kind of attention. Both positive and negative. Any attention seems to give them more feedback to never shut the hell up.
Even this posting will have have all of them screaming INJUSTICE to their sensitive souls while screaming back at all of us who just don't understand them and how they only have the best interest of the community at heart.
two bullies
Please, please, please, will Jack, Virginia and the other new bully calling himself John just stop with your fucking ranting and screaming. The ENTIRE community is sick of you.
Try learning how to read, write and spell for your next trick.
patsy slime
hey im john you know something patsy slime your a very lucky lady youve been trashing jack and virginia you have no class these 2 people have given for this community and you have the nerve to put them down let me tell you something the next time you want to call them a bully take a look in the mirror they never said the f word like you just did you have no respect for people i feel sorry for your parents im sure they didnt raise a foul mouth brat or maybe they did you want to hear ranting and raving lolololo you will hear alot soon but not by those two classy people jack and virgina ill give you an ear full i promise you that jack and virgina im sorry you have to read that trash from patsy slime bucket hows my spelling now
Yah, Lets get things straight
First of all, I never claimed to represent the community, not to you or anyone else, so I don't know were you got that from. If I speak out is because I don't like been dicdated too. I didn't realize speaking out was against the law or a crime. I speak out, because I don't like, like I said earlyer ,been dedicated too, Not by politicians or by residents or you. Before you start calling people bulldozer, look at your own mouth. You don't even know me.
New-Community Leaders
As an active community member, I do not usually frequent websites but tend to learn of things the newsletter/ friends involved with the schools in the community.
As a long time resident, I have a few comments about all the uproars that this community goes through.
1-There are so many claiming they represent the community. Let's get this straight," NONE" do.
The community consists of more than the voices that are following these two individuals. Most of them like myself do not partake in these noise making fiascos but continue on with our lives and when highly opposed to something, find a way to voice without the big he ha that is often done.
From reading this site & speaking to friends I learned that
Kevin, new to the scene but already a freight train charging full speed ahead without a single though of consideration for another's opinion. Are you running for politician?
Jack, an old freight train still trying to compete with the new freight train.
Better yet, bulldozers is the operative word to describe these two.
Virginia, well... that one there is just a sidekick with a dirty mouth that needs a good washing.
A role model- Kevin speaks of vandalism but was the pathway not full of graffiti?
Chalk on the sidewalk. Were those ceremonial markings? Like a dog pissing and marking it's territory. Not cute! and last I checked, "graffiti is always evidence of the neighborhood's DECLINE."
The other bully- encourages destruction and causes unecessary chaos (previous garden being vandalized, garbage issue,the list continues..)
And the perpetual name calling never seems to end.
When a person is affected by what they deem not to be a positive change in their environment voices his/ their feelings OMG!!they are disrespected and put in a position of defending themselves.
These so called leaders (perhaps leading a pack of wolves) should take a lesson in "respect" when attempting to enforce some positive changes in the community.
May I suggest "Making Hostile Words Positive by Kate Cohen-Posey)
And this uproar due to green space is only due to some "may" have an opportunity to have a garden which by the way... will never work out as some ruffian will end up stomping all over it and vandalizing.
The community is not nameless and as for GREENSPACES, I'm 100% in favour of those so you see, I don't side with either bulldozer.
love green
i like the park beeing expanded for green space but please tell me when was the last time you seen green toatoes or green carrots all people wanted was the truth
All gloves are off. I am and
All gloves are off. I am and always be respectful because that's the way I was raised. Having said that I am now going to say it as it is. And quite frankly I don't care who I offend.
First let me begin by saying that I read the article in the Villager and I keep seeing Scott D and Kevin referring themself's as members of the "South Juntion Residence Association". That is misleading. Jack and I are co-founders of the group and disbanded 2 or 3 years ago. They sould say they belong to the Fussy Group. Talk about misleading the community.
Second to the foul mouth who just wrote this blog I take exception to your personally assasdinating me. I am no ones sidekick and you my dear have never heard me use foul language anywere. the washing is to be done it is at your end.
I don't know how long you have lived in this area, but it is thanks to Jack and myself for 30 years of didication to making this community a good place to live. I have and will always speak respectfully and right now I am so angry at you but I am respectful.
I thought when Vic shut down this site that it was an indication of the way some of you were behaving. We are all adults and as adults we all have different view point not all will agree with but can respect. If it wasn't for Jack and myself you would not have clean air to breath. For this area was the hub of pollution from the 30's to the late 80's were we not only cleaned up the area but got were pioneers in creating laws to punish polluters. Establishing enviromental studies. Establishing enviromental evacuation plans with the TDSB, Ontario government and the City back in the 80's. I have traveled all over Canada and Us regarding enviroment and work closly with Al Gore.
That's just some of what I have done so that quick mouth individuals like yourself have a good community to call home. I will say this right now to everyone reading this. If this personal attack dosen't stop, I will have Vic pull the plug on this site. Or worse.
Now lets all grow up and act like adults.
The site
You're royal highness. This is my first time EVER voicing an opinion on a site.
May I point out that the you were amongst the first to JUMP and comment & many have heard your rants/raves in person.
The air I breathe today is not because of you. It's the
Jack, I can respect what you have just said about not being dictated to by anyone but perception is everything.
Know that your methods come across as a big bully when you don't get your own way.
As if you have that control, Have Vic (assuming webmaster) pull the plug on the site in order to make room for a new one. Hmm perhaps a community founded site with the new name.
I'm out.....
CHRISTINE NOT YOUR FAULT
HEY CHRISTINE I CANT BLAME YOU FOR ACTING LIKE A RUDE PERSON I BLAME YOUR PARENTS YOU WERE RAISED WITHOUT MANNERS SO CANT BLAME YOU FOR THAT BUT I CAN BLAME YOU NOW FOR TRASHING GREAT PEOPLE LIKE JACK AND VIRGINIA BUT ILL TELL YOU WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU THE SAME I DID FOR MY DOG ILL SEND YOU TO OBEIDENT SCHOOL SHOULD TAKE YOU ABOUT 2 YEARS SO LETS GET STARTED
clueless
John,
You're clearly a moron. In case you missed it the first time, I was pointing out that people like "John& others" should be able to express themselves without repercussions but CLEARLY that was lost on you.
I won't enable the mentally challenged anymore as their opinions are of no importance to me & their lack of education shows in levels beyond discussion.
"Yes" I am being rude and for that I apologize to VIC and to the others on the site it's just that I came on here and read every thread before I decided to jump in and voice an opinion of this now "trio" of idiots that take something positive and turn it into a media freak show.
come visit
HEY CHRISTINE WHY DONT YOU DO THIS MENTALY CHALLENGED MORON A HUGE FAVOUR COME HERE AND TELL ME WHY YOU THINK ITS A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE A VEGATABLE GARDEN RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY DOOR STEP PLEASE THIS MORON WANTS YOUR GUIDENCE SHOW ME YOUR LEADERSHIP
Come across as a big bully
Christine, I Disagree to the remark about coming across as a bully, or what might seem as coming on heavey. Been passionate about things does nessessary equate to been aggressive. Were would be without protests, civil rights, womens rights, ending apartheid, globalization, gay rights and so on. The present city govenment is out of control, dictating this includes Adam. Emposing his views and ways on others, garbage in parks, spraying pesticide, doing things without consultation. Tearing up our roads for bike lanes, causing traffic, polution(idleing) and so on. Putting our EMS response time in jeopardy and the people in danger
There are many Jacks out there. Who feel very much the same as I do. This is why the good old days of this present City government is coming to an end and we need a change. Anyhow going off here, this community has been divided long time ago and there is no one to blame, but Adam himself. Oh yah, many think I pick on Adam I treat Mario and Tony the same. I have told them in person and in public. Jack
Royal Highness thank you for
Royal Highness thank you for that complament. Let me get this right, it's your first time on the site but yet you condemned me to ranting and raving.....hmmmmm!! I don't rant and rave my dear child. Look at yourself right now you look a little foolish.
Yeah I am with a group that was established in the late 80's to clean up the pollution. When I was growing up you couldn't go out of the house without gasping for air. Or if you walk out of your house at night, with fog that was crated by Gliden was eye watering to say the least. I know you were either to young or not born yet when we starting having chemical spills that evaculated schools and explotions that blow out a wall at Nacan. The area had to be evacuated. My group brought focus to eveyone that we had a serious life threating problem in this area and other areas in the city like our own. After 10 long years of fighting with government we one. We were the first group in history to have police charge and the Crown prosecute a company and win. Our community won big then and companies started to realize that we meant business.
And as for the site, yes I can shut it down. You see Vic started the websit as a result of the group that Jack and I co-founded. As you will notice I am still being respectful. You are the ranting and raving lunatic. Christine, you and I have never met, so how can you judge me? If you wish you and I can meet over coffee and have a great chat. I'd like that.
Pleasure skating at Campbell Park
A few comments in response to Scott's post about Campbell rink. When I worked at Campbell last year, a lot of people asked me about pleasure skating, but when we did have pleasure-skating hours on Saturday not that many people showed up. Maybe that's because of previous bad experiences with staff not enforcing pleasure-skating hours or because people see hockey at the rink so often that they don't realize there is some pleasure skating. Weather was also a factor. We had some bad Saturdays last year.
I think the demand for pleasure skating is there and in the long run there will need to be more hours, but for that to happen we will need more people showing up 4-6pm Saturdays when we have a campfire and free hot chocolate. It's a struggle getting hockey players to clear the ice especially when you are asking twenty shinny players to make room for 5-6 pleasure skaters which sometimes happened last winter.
I don't want to nag people. Skating should be fun. Nobody should go to the skating rink out of a sense of obligation. But the reality is this. If people don't show up when we do have pleasure skating hours it's hard to make the case that those hours should be expanded. If pleasure skating is important to you, try to make it out on Saturdays.
I learned something else last year at Campbell. The people who play hockey there are not necessarily local. Some of the regulars come from Etobicoke, Mississauga and elsewhere. The City of Toronto runs 49 compressor-cooled outdoor skating rinks. Compressor-cooled means the ice is artificial not natural which means the rinks are less temperature-dependent than many people realize. The 905 municipalities don't have the same network of outdoor rinks. Etobicoke is part of Toronto, of course, but have fewer open shinny hours. Some of the rinks there are dominated by permit groups. People come from far away to Campbell because it has all-ages hockey much of the time and that's hard to find in Toronto.
One final thought, Wallace-Emerson and Dufferin Grove are double pads, which means there is pleasure skating all the time during normal operating hours. For most people reading this those rinks aren't as convenient as Campbell, but they're not that far away either. In any case, I'm just letting you know they are there.
Underused Spaces
I just wanted to mention that I feel that all our parks are underused. There are so many ways that we could better use these spaces and keep crime at bay. I would love to see a seniors' walking class in Perth park, a Farmers' Maket in Campbell Park in the warmer months, a boot camp for youths at Erwin K. Park. When I was a kid Campbell Park had activities for kids during the summer like arts and crafts or games. Perth park has a shed. What's it for? Campbell Park has a club house, is it ever used? When I walk by these parks I hardly see any one using the space. What can we do to improve this?
Underused? Dufferin Grove example
Katie,
Did you see the article in today's Star about Dufferin Grove Park? They have done some excellent things there.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/728912--porter-the-power-of-soup...
I guess it really comes down to either one of two things: Residents ask the City to implement some programs, or residents get together and do it themselves. I guess a little bit of both wouldn't be bad, but it's the residents that should take charge.
I have only ever seen the Campbell Park rink house open in the winter for skating.
Cheers,
Vic
Campbell Skating has improved
The Star story jogs memories for me. When we moved here 9 years ago Campbell Skating rink was a joke. There was almost zero public skating and the staff refused to enforce it so you rarely saw girls at the rink. If you tried to have public skating there were people who would hurl verbal abuse at you. I am really pleased that in the past few years this has changed and families, especially girls, are now seen at the rink plus there are games indoors, hot dogs and hot chocolate. I really hope this is the start of the park really being used more by the wider community. A park with a lot of activities is good for the community and helps stop crime.
More Lies
To this day I still have to field concerns from local residents who were led to believe that the garden in Erwin K. Park was going to be expanded and take over the entire park. In no way was that true. There was never any plan to remove the existing play struture to make the entire park a vegetable garden. It is lies like these and people that are not properly informed that gets the community in an uproar. Where is the discussion?
same crap
IVE HEARD THE DEAD ENS STREET WASNT BEEING USED BY ANYONE YOUR SO WRONG KIDS PLAYED HOCKEY THERE KIDS LEARNED TO RIDE THERE BIKES THERE I EVEN PLAYED BADMANTON ON THAT STREET THEN WE PARKED CARS THERE YES I PAID 140 FOR MY PARKING PERMIT BUT THAT DOSENT MATTER AS LONG AS YOU PEOPLE FROM 2 OR 3 STREETS OVER ARE HAPPY IT I KNOW YOU DONT CARE IF I HAVE HORSE CRAP FOR A FRONT YARD NOW UNDERUSED YOU SAY WELL MAYBE YOU CAN USE MY 3RD FLOOR WASHROOM BECAUSE I DONT USE IT MUCH I TALKED TO YOUR FEARLESS LEADER JABRONIE JUST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN HE PROMISED ME NOTHING WOULD BE DONE TILL NEXT YEAR AND YOU ASK WERES THE DISCUSSION AND ALSO 1 OF YOU TREE HUGGERS TOLD ME HIMSELF THERE WAS GOING TO BE A VEGATABLE GARDEN HMMM WHO IS LYING HERE I HONESTLY CAN TELL YOU IT ISNT ME