Improving Winter Access to Toronto's Parks for 2021-22

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The decision

2021-11-09 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on November 9, 10 and 12, 2021, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to include a submission for consideration by City Council in the 2022 Budget process for budget funding to support expanded winter maintenance and winter washroom access as implemented in 2020-2021, implement the pilot for alternative winter maintenance impacting Environmentally Significant Areas, ravines and bridges, and develop a new winter washroom enhancement program.

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2. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to implement the pilot for alternative winter maintenance impacting Environmentally Significant Areas, ravines and bridges for the 2021-2022 winter season, subject to availability of funding through the 2022 Budget process.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

This report responds to recommendations 21 and 22 in EX21.2 - City Council request that the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the third quarter of 2021 on the feasibility of expanding snow clearing on park pathways and trails and making more park washrooms operational for the 2021-2022 winter season. In response to Council direction, Parks, Forestry and Recreation increased public access to Toronto's parks last winter by clearing more trails and opening more washrooms.

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In 2020-2021, an additional 64 kilometres of park pathways and trails were added to snow clearing operations in addition to the typical 270 kilometres, and 143 park washrooms facilities were provided over the usual 64, including portable toilets at 51 locations. To respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated increased need for access to outdoor space through the winter months, Parks, Forestry and Recreation also opened a number of other park assets typically closed through winter, including golf courses for snow loop trails. In addition to continuing the expanded trail clearing, winter washroom access and additional portable toilets provided for winter 2020-2021, Parks, Forestry and Recreation proposes further winter access improvements for the 2021-2022 season through three initiatives, including: - Alignment of winter maintenance activities with Transportation Services, which will allow Parks, Forestry and Recreation to expand winter maintenance within the current standards, clear pathways and trails in 40 new park locations and provide enhanced winter maintenance in 35 additional parks. - A pilot for alternative winter maintenance that could be used in Environmentally Significant Areas, in ravines and on bridges. - Interim enhancements of up to 5 additional washrooms to allow for their operation through the 2021-2022 winter season. Parks, Forestry and Recreation also proposes developing a washroom enhancement program, with the aim of identifying opportunities and advancing additional retrofits and new builds for 2022-2023 and future years. The washroom enhancement program will follow a similar process to other capital enhancement programs, with construction following required technical assessments, planning and design for the specific project. To continue, incremental costs and resources will be required on an ongoing basis based on preliminary estimates. Parks, Forestry and Recreation will prepare new and enhanced service proposals, including the washroom enhancement program, through its 2022 Budget submission.

Staff recommended

The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation recommends that: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to include a submission for Council's consideration in the 2022 Budget process for budget funding to support expanded winter maintenance and winter washroom access as implemented in 2020-2021, implement the pilot for alternative winter maintenance impacting Environmentally Significant Areas, ravines and bridges, and develop a new winter washroom enhancement program.

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Considered

2021-10-26 · Infrastructure and Environment Committee · adopted
Decision as filed
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to include a submission for consideration by City Council in the 2022 Budget process for budget funding to support expanded winter maintenance and winter washroom access as implemented in 2020-2021, implement the pilot for alternative winter maintenance impacting Environmentally Significant Areas, ravines and bridges, and develop a new winter washroom enhancement program.
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2. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to implement the pilot for alternative winter maintenance impacting Environmentally Significant Areas, ravines and bridges for the 2021-2022 winter season, subject to availability of funding through the 2022 Budget process.
2021-11-09 · Toronto City Council · adopted

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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