Item - 2021.TE23.83

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to work with the Palmerston Area Resident Association, community partners, and the Ward Councillor to prepare a plan to implement, in principle, the Palmerston Area Resident Association  (PARA) Green Plan and related improvements to public green space and amenities within the Palmerston neighbourhood, in a manner that reinforces the sense of place, addresses environmental and climate concerns, and green space deficiency in the neighbourhood, and would contribute to creating a model for greening neighbourhoods throughout the city.

As development in the downtown core continues to intensify, the City of Toronto must ensure that we are creating liveable neighbourhoods, and finding opportunities to enhance and create green spaces is an important part of that liveability.

Over the last three years, I have been working with the Palmerston Area Resident Association (PARA) to develop the PARA Green Plan which aims to enhance existing green spaces in the neighbourhood and identify ways that we can create new ones.

In light of the ongoing success of the Harbord Village Green Plan, which was adopted by Toronto and East York Community Council in 2016 and the Grange Green Plan which was adopted in 2018, this plan sets out a similar vision for using flankage spaces, existing parks, and innovative ideas to focus on sustainability and greening as we continue to improve our community. Earlier this month, PARA and I partnered to launch this plan to the wider Palmerston community, to discuss the principles and proposals, and to finalize our vision for greening in the neighbourhood to great reception.

Through a similar model to the Harbord Village and Grange Green Plan, I am requesting that Transportation Services and Parks, Forestry and Recreation work in consultation with my office and the Palmerston Area Resident Association to implement the PARA Green Plan.