STAFF REPORT

January 26, 2000

To: Scarborough Community Council

From: Joe Halstead, Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

Subject: Approved Capital Development at Grey Abbey Park

Scarborough Bluffs

Purpose:

To report, as requested, on the capital development of Grey Abbey Park (Attachment No. 1). Scarborough Community Council approved a request by Councillor Ashton to delay the construction of the proposed barrier in response to a recent correspondence and petition from local residents (Attachment No. 2).

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

This report was approved by City Council as part of the 1998 Capital Budget.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and concurs with the financial impact statement.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) staff advise the contractor to proceed with the contract, as awarded at a cost of $50,043.00, to erect the post and cable barriers along the edge of the Scarborough Bluffs, and install the roadside bollards at Grey Abbey Park to ensure the safety of park users; and

(2) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Background:

Grey Abbey Park is primarily a greenbelt buffer zone between the rear of the residential lots on Grey Abbey Trail and the top of Scarborough Bluffs. The Bluffs in this area have a vertical drop of approximately 200 feet into Lake Ontario, or to the base of the ravine. The undulating terrain of the park is maintained to community park standards and the established treed area at the east end of the park is left in a natural state. The maintained portion of Grey Abbey Park continues again at the top end of this ravine where a community baseball diamond is located.

Prior to amalgamation, the west section of the park was maintained by the former Metro Parks and Culture Department and the east portion was maintained by the former City of Scarborough Recreation, Parks and Culture Department. The section formerly maintained by Metro has a post and double cable barrier along the edge of the Bluffs, consistent with the 'revised' standard, while the east section formerly maintained by the City of Scarborough has no physical barrier to protect and prevent users from going over the Bluffs. A four-foot high chain link fence, which runs in a north/south direction through the park, separated the two former properties.

Comments:

An inspection of the property in February 1999 placed the emphasis on preventative measures to ensure the safety of park users. Currently, portions of the parkland overhand the Bluffs by six to eight feet (Attachment No. 3). A number of developments have been approved to take place in Grey Abbey Park to ensure that the health and safety of park users is maintained:

(a) remove the existing four feet high chain link fence between the two former municipal properties to reflect the now amalgamated city boundaries;

(b) install 90 steel bollards along the south property line of Grey Abbey Trail to prevent vehicular traffic from entering the naturalized area of the park;

(c) install 330 linear metres of post and double cable along the top of Scarborough Bluffs in this area to form an uninterrupted barrier along the top of Scarborough Bluffs to ensure the safety of park users; and

(d) install 316 linear metres of posts and double cable north along the ravine.

The above items were discussed at a public meeting on June 17, 1999 held by Councillor Brian Ashton (Attachment No. 4). The pathway proposed by staff was not well received by community residents and therefore was deleted from the plan. The contract for this work has been awarded with an initial start date of January 24, 2000, to the lowest bidder of $50,043.00. Commencement of the work has been deferred pending consideration by Scarborough Community Council.

Conclusions:

Staff are recommending that the improvements outlined in this report proceed to ensure the safety of park users at Grey Abbey Park.

Contact:

Dave Bain

Parks Supervisor

Parks and Recreation East District

Telephone: 392-2556

Fax: 392-3350

Email: dbain@toronto.ca

Joe Halstead,

Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

List of Attachments:

Attachment No. 1 - Extract from Clause No. 23, Report No. 1 of Scarborough Community Council

Attachment No. 2 - Letter and petition from local residents to Councillor Brian Ashton

Attachment No. 3 - Proposed Capital Improvements

Attachment No. 4 - Notice of Information Meeting to discuss upgrades of Grey Abbey Park