High Park residents meet to ensure playground gets rebuilt
Posted April 2, 2012 11:21 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The High Park Residents’ Association gathered together Monday night to ensure donations to rebuild the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground are put to good use.
After the beloved playground was destroyed in a fire earlier this month, numerous companies pitched in with offers of money and materials.
Landscape Ontario had promised $300,000 in parts, design and labour to rebuild the park, and Canadian Tire had pledged $50,000 for the project.
“The people who are able to do this work can only do it in a short time period,” said resident Meagan Smith.
But Coun. Sarah Doucette says the city can’t move too quickly and approve all the extras residents and donors want. The park is a natural heritage site and sits atop an environmentally sensitive ravine.
“There’s certain bylaws the city has to abide by, the same as any resident would have to abide by,”
After word emerged the city had turned down offers of help, blaming tight timelines, Doucette said on Monday night she will be breaking down the donations, allowing it to move through city channels quicker and allowing the playground to be rebuilt by summer.
The city is planning an official community consultation later this month.
Christian Kupiecki, 19, has been arrested and charged with arson and attempting to obstruct justice in the March 17 fire.
