About

Partnership Opportunities Legacy Fund

The City of Toronto’s Partnership Opportunities Legacy (POL) Fund was created to build new or improve existing community facilities that residents identified would make a positive impact in their neighbourhoods. These facilities include playgrounds, youth program spaces, community hubs, parks and basketball courts located in Toronto's under-served neighbourhoods.

The Investment

Toronto City Council committed $13 million dollars to the Partnership Opportunities Legacy (POL) Fund through the Capital Budget process in 2008 used to leverage partnership investment from companies, funding organizations and other levels of government. A total of $24.708 million dollars was raised, growing the original City investment of $13 million to $37,708 million. For every dollar the City committed to the POL Fund, approximately $1.90 was invested through partnerships.

Community Engagement

City staff engaged local youth, adult residents and community partners in all aspects of the capital infrastructure process from fund development and community consultation to design, construction and program use of the space. In fact, local residents played a key role in determining what types of facilities would make the most positive impact. They identified where new or enhanced community facilities would make a positive impact in their neighbourhoods. 21 projects were scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011 and another 5 will be completed in 2012.