Grand Opening of New Hoggs Hollow Park! May 23, 2014
May 23, 2014 – Toronto – Councillor Jaye Robinson and Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) President Lorne Persiko, together with Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation will join the York Mills Valley Association (YMVA) for the official opening of a new park in Hogg’s Hollow.
Where:
3885 Yonge Street
When:
Saturday, May 24, 2014
10:00 a.m. – Park new Name Unveiling
10:15 a.m. – Grand Opening ribbon Cutting Ceremony
11:30 a.m. – Iwona Wolczanski Dedication Ceremony
Who:
Jaye Robinson, City Councillor, Ward 25 Don Valley West
Lorne Persiko, President, Toronto Parking Authority (TPA)
Simon Levy, President, York Mills Valley Association (YMVA)
At the opening, Councillor Robinson will unveil the name of the new park, which was selected by residents.
With the completion of the park project, the City of Toronto and the TPA are delivering on a long-standing commitment to return part of the historic Jolly Miller lands to the city and transform it into a park.
"This time, we didn’t pave paradise. We actually took down a parking lot, so we could put up a beautiful park" Jaye Robinson, City Councillor, Ward 25-Don Valley West, said, "The neighbourhood-led transformation we see here is the sort of city-building I would love to see happening more often in my Ward and across Toronto."
In consultation with the YMVA, Parks staff provided the concept of the Miller’s Cottage ruin in recognition of the Grist Mill cottages that once dotted the Don River, a wildflower meadow, many new trees and shrubs and lighted pedestrian paths, so the space can also be enjoyed at night.
In addition to the park opening, the parking facility has undergone major capital improvements and offers a total of 129 surface parking spaces. In keeping with the TPA’s eco- conscious philosophy the facility was redesigned with permeable pavers that allow for better water run off, landscaping and a bioswale – landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water.
“We are very proud of the how this project came together,” said Lorne Persiko, President of the TPA. “It is the perfect example of how the TPA can work with the community to create a first class parking lot to service residents and provide green open space to be enjoyed by everyone. It also fits in with our recently announced program Green P + (plus).”
Green P + lots will be community hub spaces designed with input from local businesses, residents, and community leaders. Through strategic design initiatives to existing and future Green P lots, the objective is to build and operate select Green P + lots that meet or exceed community needs over and above that of a regular Green P space.
Lots will reflect unique characteristics of each neighbourhood, and could for example, include public art installations, support BIA needs, and provide for community special events such as bazaars, farmers markets, and entertainment areas. Car Park 414 is an ideal Green P+ lot.
Saturday’s community celebration will be particularly special for employees of the TPA, as it will include a memorial plaque dedication to Iwona Wolczanski, a Parking Authority Construction Supervisor who passed away on November 13, 2013. This Car Park was Iwona’s last major project for the TPA. The special tribute and plaque unveiling will be held following the grand opening ceremony.
Iwona was a dedicated employee and a friendly colleague who is deeply missed. Iwona’s husband Andy and her daughter Amanda will attend the dedication ceremony.
Background:
In 1997, the former City of North York acquired the Jolly Miller property on Yonge Street just south of York Mills Road to protect its heritage value and control future development.
Council decided that its long-term objective was to convert a portion of these lands into an open space complementing the surrounding area. In the interim, the TPA developed the property into a parking lot to help the City recover its acquisition costs.
As of 2008, the city had recouped most of the cost of the purchase, the TPA transferred part of the lot to Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation and committed to paying for construction costs of the park. Work then began with the York Mills Valley Association to turn part of the parking lot into parkland.
About the TPA:
The Toronto Parking Authority is a self-sustaining public corporation owned by the City of Toronto. It contributes significant revenues to the City’s general reserves while successfully meeting its mandate to provide safe, attractive, conveniently located and competitively priced off and on-street public parking, required by commercial strips and neighbouring residential areas to survive. Recognized as a world leader in parking technology services the Parking Authority has been successful in ensuring that businesses in these areas continue to grow and the neighbourhoods remain vibrant.