REPORT
June 01, 1998
TO: Chair and Members, Urban
Environment and Development Committee
FROM: Joe Halstead, Commissioner
of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
SUBJECT: Recreational Use of
Hydro Corridors
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to
provide further information on the potential for recreational
uses in the Hydro Corridors, and relevant economic strategies to
achieve an enhanced level of use of both active, and surplus
Hydro Corridors.
Funding Implications:
Not applicable at this time.
Recommendations:
- That this report be received for
information of Committee and Council.
Discussion:
All former municipalities within Toronto make
use of Hydro Corridors for recreational purposes. It is clear
that there is great potential within the Hydro Corridor system
for expansion of the current uses to satisfy growing recreational
requirements. Current recreational uses of active Hydro corridors
are diverse and include recreational and linear trail systems,
garden allotments, parking for recreational facilities as well as
a range of passive open space uses, which would include storm
water and local environmental management features. In some cases,
active recreation areas and sports fields are also accommodated
on Hydro Corridor lands, but this is a very small percentage of
use.
The potential uses of surplus Hydro Corridors
are equally attractive, but can also provide the added benefit of
more active uses to address shortages of active parkland.
Ontario Hydro is disposing of many surplus
corridors in the open marketplace and there are a number of
mechanisms whereby these lands could be used for recreational
purposes. These include:
a) Acquisition: The entire surplus corridor, or
selected sections could be purchased for use by the City as
active or passive open space. Although desirable, the purchase of
major portions of the surplus Hydro Corridor system would not be
practical from a financial standpoint in that our parkland
acquisition funds are limited and are currently focused on
achieving key objectives in parkland and trail linkages,
satisfying current deficiencies and purchasing land for facility
development.
b) Parkland Dedication: Through parkland
dedication, the development process itself does provide the
opportunity for acquisition and development of smaller portions
of properties for specific purposes and in limited quantities.
Although this will assist in addressing specific deficiencies and
provide open space for new residents of these developments, they
will not have a significant impact on the overall parks and open
space system
c) Public/Private Partnerships: If a suitable
opportunity for involvement by the City could be achieved, a
public/private partnership in the development of Hydro lands is
possible and could be focused on achieving specific facility
development objectives or to satisfy other local recreational
needs. These would have to be addressed on a case by case basis.
These scenarios would have to be governed by
budget considerations and should be further evaluated in the
context of other economic development and assessment issues in
specific development scenarios.
Conclusion
It is clear that the City benefits from current
uses of Hydro lands, and that there is the potential for
additional Parks and Recreational needs to be addressed on
existing and surplus Hydro lands. However, the costs of
acquisition of large tracts of these surplus Hydro corridors is
likely prohibitive. The objectives of the City would be advanced
by focusing on selective acquisition, potential public/private
partnerships and dedication of lands through the development
process.
Contact:
Tom Tusek, Parks and Recreation, Scarborough
Office, 396-7377
John Macintyre, Economic Development, Culture
and Tourism, Metro Hall, 397-4451
Joe Halstead
Commissioner
Economic Development, Culture and Tourism