While Parks are about people, it’s important that we create a beautiful place for them to enjoy and experience. More physical park building continues to happen for all to see! Work is underway on Downsview Park’s nine-acre lake. The lake is part of a much larger initiative to establish a new stormwater management system throughout the Park. The lake itself is located in the southwest corner of the park.

The initial site preparation work (Phase 1), was completed in  the fall and included the installation of construction hoarding (fencing), removal of obsolete utilities, removal of roads, curbs and sidewalks, tree removal and transplanting, tree preservation, sedimentation controls and initial topsoil stripping.

   
The next phase has now been started and this work picks up on the initial site preparation noted above and includes tree preservation and soil conservation; various surface deconstruction along with the removal of remaining obsolete underground and overhead utilities; installation of new utilities (water, storm, sanitary and hydro); earth moving for the first stage of forming the lake; grading to create new park topography including the stormwater management system; landscape restoration for soil stabilization/erosion control and construction of much of the rest of the circuit path. This phase is scheduled to be completed this summer and will provide the community the beginnings of a wonderful public amenity that all will be able to enjoy. As well, it will demonstrate the modernization of infrastructure that will benefit and enhance the infrastructure requirements of the community.
 
   

To further support the athletic programs at the Downsview Park Sports Centre, PDP has begun design work for an additional outdoor football/soccer field with a separate washroom/change room pavilion. The pavilion will be designed to walk the talk of PDP’s Sustainable Community Development Guidelines which is a key tool to truly realizing the vision of sustainable infrastructure for Downsview Park.

 
 

PDP is moving into the 21st century with its energy conservation strategies! The building at 70 Canuck Avenue, home to one of the offices of Toronto and Region Conservation, is being converted to geothermal heating and cooling and is slated for completion in the spring of 2009. The geothermal system and the installation of new thermal base windows will significantly increase the building’s energy efficiency.

Look for more development updates in our next issue and in the Park Development section of our website.
 
 

Phone: (416) 952-2222        
Fax: (416) 952-2225

1-35 Carl Hall Road, Toronto, Ontario
M3K 2B6

By email: info@pdp.ca