Item - 2021.MM35.34

City Council on July 14, 15 and 16, 2021, adopted the following:

1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in coordination with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to advance coordinated planning and implementation of the Downtown Parks and Public Realm Plan components serving the rapidly-growing neighbourhoods generally south of Queen Street West and west of University Avenue, including:

a. assessing opportunities to improve and enhance park use in the area including but not limited to: Stanley Park, Ordnance Triangle parkland, Victoria Memorial Square Park, Clarence Square Park and Gore Park;

b. continuing to actively pursue priorities for parkland acquisition and expansion that provide the greatest enhancement to existing parks and support the increasing population;

c. developing a design refresh to Victoria Memorial Square Park, in consultation with the local Ward councillor and local stakeholders, which includes the expansion of the park into excess right-of-way to the north that has been previously endorsed by City Council;

d. working with the local Councillor to identify funding sources to implement this work that may include local Ward 10 parkland reserve funds (Section 42 Above 5 percent Cash-in-lieu) and Section 37/45 community benefits, and submit recommendations through the 2022 Budget process; and

e. reporting back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the first quarter of 2022 with a status update on this work.