Public Commons

Part of Playgrounds removal 2004

Harbourfront Playground

From Erella Ganon.

Harbourfront Playground

Here is a picture of the playground at harbourfront.

There used to be a fantastic playground at harbourfront that engaged dozens of kids at once. It was a hub of laughter and activity, engaging kids of all ages, with a t-bar climbing ropes and a variety of slides and levels.

This one is more specific.

It is like a hyphen that leads no where.

Notice that this photo was taken 2 days ago on a gloriously sunny day. Evidently there are no children between 2 and 4 which are the range that this playground set is directed to.

What do we want the kids that were climbing on the nearby benches to do?

Erella

St.Clair/Atlas, Graham, Hillcrest Parks

From Maya Litman:

Interesting, I was told by a few people of this new playground going in at St. Clair and Atlas. One woman would not sign my petition (at Hillcrest). She thought maybe the new playgrounds (Graham included) are better, and safer. She wasn't totally against the idea. She agreed there isn't enough community input, and there are other problems, as well… Anyhow, I drove over to check out Graham Park.

I only spent a quick moment (kids were in car) but it was noteworthy.

I see what the woman meant by "senior park". The park consisted of monkey bars and a variety of climbers. At first glance it wasn't terrible. It's certainly much better than Sibelius. Of course, that's not saying much!

However, I noted the following:

1) Same awful swings as everywhere else (very short chain).

2) Same low, bumpy slide as in most parks. (Like Christie Pitts)

3) Same chintzy, plastic, cheap materials.

4) Climbers were ok, but too low to be interesting to older children (older than 8, maybe 9) and not nearly as sophisticated as the old style climbers. Still better than age 3 or 4!

5) Cutting back on awful yellow and blue eyesore colours. This one is more subdued, all in earth-happy green!

Overall, North York is getting "better" playgrounds than anything downtown.

So, besides getting signatures (close to 100 today), the petition is getting people talking, and wanting to learn more.

More people are commenting and noticing that wooden structures were softer and wider so more forgiving in terms of injuries than the thin, hard new metal stuff. It was such a pleasure to easily follow my kids up the climber, stand on the wide platforms, slide with them together down the slide. New slides are so narrow, many adults (and kids) can't fit because our hips are too wide! Clearly, they are for young kids, only.

One person told me his kid has been noticing how obese many kids are. He commented that his friends hardly move because they have nowhere to play, and that's why he thinks they are so fat! And that, from an 11 year old!

Once again, I was both shocked and happy to see SO MANY OLDER KIDS (9-13 for sure) at Hillcrest Park tonight, having a blast, climbing on everything and running all over the place. I doubt you would see that age group at the "new, improved" Graham Park.

Maya

Denloe Public School

From Maya Litman:

Today I had a very interesting conversation with a woman who sits on the Board of Directors of the Daycare at Denloe Public School.

She said to me that following a few years of severe harassment, aggravation and thousands upon thousands of their community monies spent, "we have decided we are pulling our playground out altogether. We are not rebuilding. In a year from now, they'll tell us it's inappropriate. No matter what changes we make, they will be obsolete in a year."

Here is an example of what their community has been going through:

Jeff Eliot Playground Inspectors came last summer to inspect and told them to make certain changes. He returned soon after, (about a couple of months) declaring that CSA had come out with new specifications and additional changes were required. She was livid and inquired why he couldn't have postponed the initial visit. (Even I knew that new CSA standards were being introduced in July, 2003).

We have questions:

1) Why is Jeff Eliot the only playground inspection company for all of TDSB?

2) Why does Jeff Eliot charge $250/visit when public inspectors charge or earn $30/hour? And all playground inspectors public or private have the same training and credentials.

3) My source at Denloe suspects the playground inspectors spend more time at daycares in rich communities because every visit they can demand changes and make more money.

4) I have spoken to many daycares and every one says they keep shelling out money and following the rules without questioning. When I speak to them, they consistently tell me "Please don't quote me. We are terrified that we will lose our license."

Deposition to the City

... by The Playground Lobby for Active Youth (Maya's Group):

It's spring and children everywhere are heading outside…to disappearing playgrounds! Millions of Toronto tax dollars have been wasted demolishing hundreds of exciting, challenging playgrounds, replacing them with dull, developmentally poor play junk! ... Read more >>

Note: Playtoronto organization is no longer active