Public Commons

Kids love the adventure, the excitement, and the fun! Toronto has about 800 city playgrounds.

Food is the best, and goes with outdoor space like eggs go with salsa

One of the simple things that bring people together

There are just over 150 Community and Recreation centres in Toronto

How can neighbourhood playgrounds be fun for all kids, including those who are physically challenged?

Toronto has more artificial outdoor skating rinks (over 50) than any other city in the world.

The City has just under 200 sports fields on offer.

Bake ovens are a great way to learn about cooking, history, and fire in a social setting. And the food is delicious!

Some cities are famous for their sidewalk cafes; others for their village centres and car-free zones. This topic is a placeholder for us as an important part of the public commons.

There are two basic ways to use park facilities: through programs, and through permits. This Topic provides information on permits.

Tips from experience

Toronto farmers market vendors have been talking about the market garden possibilities of the federal ex-airport lands near Pickering. There are food gardens in Toronto parks as well.

Whether it's growing food or flowers, community gardens are a great way to "play in the mud" with friends, neighbours, and the young ones too.

Examples of street festivals in Toronto. Dates listed are approximate - check the websites. If you have any events to add, let us know.

A general list of facilities that make time in Toronto's parks more fun and interesting

direct link (BetterCityBudgetTaxonomyFebruary2015.pdf)

Citywide, in parks, and the example of Ward 18

Governing the commons theorist, particularly dealing with conflict

There's a TON of great reference material in here that we have hardly begun to sort through.

Much of how we relate to each other is revealed in our courts (and justice) system. See Nils Christie's paper "Conflicts as Property" for some insight.

Apparently overall city costs, employee pay, and user charges have all gone up in the 40% range in real costs (inflation adjusted dollars) from 2001 - 2011, after amalgamation.

Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation budget has been rising steadily (and substantially) whether in absolute or inflation-adjusted terms. The question is: why?

Thousands of pictures spanning a decade or more

This analysis of Toronto's top-level budget items takes a natural functional view of what City Government does for its people.

Community Involvement is one of the hallmarks of a great city. This folder provides a doorway into this side of the public commons.

A catalog of groups in Toronto involved with community building

In 2010 The Ontario Trillium Foundation provided CELOS with a grant to explore working with the commons in various ways. Here's the story.

The story of trying to get a (donated) bio-toilet installed near the playground at Dufferin Grove park, so the kids wouldn't have to use the nearby tree. Didn't work though.

Possibly, a better way to govern public space

The 20 year story of the rise and (potential) fall of the iconic Dufferin Grove Park