Expanding Canoe Landing Park Under the Gardiner Expressway - by Councillor Joe Cressy, seconded by Councillor Mike Layton

There is a strong need in CityPlace to continue to make the most of our existing public spaces and look for every opportunity to reclaim underutilized spaces for residents. Recently, the opening of the adjacent Canoe Landing Community Recreation Centre, childcare, and two public schools has given the park a bit more breathing room - there is an active rooftop on the Community Centre with a running track and other amenities, and the school playgrounds are open to the wider public outside of regular school hours. Next, we are working toward a southerly expansion of Canoe Landing Park in partnership with The Bentway, taking advantage of the vacant land right beside the park that is sheltered by the expressway. A major element of this new space is intended to be a large, high-quality off-leash area for dogs to run and socialize within a fence. CityPlace needs a dedicated space for dogs for two reasons: there are a lot of residents with dogs who will benefit, and it will take pressure off other areas of the park and the wider neighbourhood where off-leash dogs can be a recurring safety, health, and maintenance challenge. City staff, including Parks, Forestry and Recreation and Transportation Services, will work with the Bentway and other stakeholders to develop a plan to improve this space. Full implementation will occur once the Gardiner deck replacement work in the area is complete.

Act Reserve Fund) community benefits collected from 23 Spadina Avenue (XR3026-3701142) secured specifically for this purpose.