Modernizing Service in City Parks - by Mayor John Tory, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie

We have expanded some year round facilities and through a previous report request, staff are examining opportunities to make more of these year round. These existing seasonal facilities must be accessible as soon as possible to parkgoers following the winter. While we recognize that frost levels and cold impact the ability to start doing some of this work, we must recognize demand for these services is beginning earlier in the year for a variety of possible reasons including increased demand and climate change. We must make a conscious effort to modernize operations and procedures in City parks and start opening parks and turning on services earlier and faster. This Motion asks staff to adjust and modernize park operations to conduct service improvements earlier in the spring. These activities include grass cutting of sports fields earlier in the year and on a more frequent basis, speeding up the activation of water assets such as drinking fountains and washrooms and increasing litter pick up earlier in the spring. The Motion also asks for Parks Forestry and Recreation to expedite any service activations in the interim.

speeding up the activation of water assets such as drinking fountains and washrooms; c. increasing litter pick up earlier in the spring; and d. making any outstanding service activations in the interim.