The pandemic has highlighted how important green spaces are in providing opportunities for Torontonians to connect with nature and each other. Parks are our most common green spaces, but public laneways also provide a hidden opportunity to introduce nature and community space near where we live, work and play.
The unnamed laneway behind the Dufferin/St. Clair TPL branch has been selected as a site for the 2nd annual 2022 Laneway Park-ing installment as a laneway in an underprovisioned (Corso Italia/Davenport) neighbourhood where there is an opportunity to enhance access to and the function of an existing community asset (the library) in partnership with engaged local organizations (namely the Regal Heights Residents’ Association).
TLP and the Regal Heights Residents’ Association are partnering to create a new alternative green space for the neighbourhood that will enhance the laneway as a pedestrian and cycling route and as programming space for the Dufferin/St. Clair TPL branch. This project will introduce green infrastructure, public art, pedestrian lighting, street furniture, and traffic-calming improvements to the laneway, in the right-of-way itself and the marginal unused spaces on the rear-frontages of lane-adjacent properties, to transform the laneway into a source of community pride.
The unnamed laneway, municipally known as Ln E Dufferin N Rosemount, behind the Dufferin/St. Clair TPL branch presents the unique opportunity to enhance the image and cohesion of the community due to its proximity to an existing community asset (the library) and as a route used to access the St. Clair West Streetcar and Dufferin Bus Route which connect the neighbourhood to the City of Toronto.
Regal Heights has a rich cultural heritage. The area was a working-class industrial neighbourhood through the 20th century, which has shaped its built form and family-oriented community values into the present day. Local organizations work to preserve and celebrate this history. Notably, the Regal Heights Residents’ Association worked with the Toronto Public Library to restore the murals painted in the Dufferin/St. Clair TPL branch painted by prominent Ontarian artists, George Agnew Reid and Doris McCarthy (completed in 1932). These murals depict famous literary works and scenes from early Canadian life. These community aspects will be brought into the laneway to be shared with the whole of Toronto.
PROJECT KICK-OFF AND SITE ANALYSIS E-MEETING
mONDAY, APRIL 4, 2022 | 6 - 7:30 PM
During this meeting, we discussed the purpose of the project and how to participate in the site analysis process and future engagement opportunities.
PROJECT KICK-OFF AND SITE ANALYSIS MATERIALS
COMPLETE THE SITE ANALYSIS SURVEY AND WORKBOOK BY APRIL 29TH
EXISTING CONDITIONS
