The City is expanding Bartley Park to 2,650 m2 (about the size of three NBA basketball courts) as a result of a new townhouse development project on Bartley Drive. The design for the new expanded park area will be determined through community engagement and is proposed to include playground improvements, upgrades to the existing gazebo, new seating areas and new plantings.
The expanded park area may also include a new skate dot to meet the growing demand for skateboarding, as identified in the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and the Skateboard Strategy. A skate dot is a single skateable feature, such as a ramp or ledge, designed for young or beginner skateboarders.
The timeline is subject to change.
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This project has been classified as a Consult project based on the International Association of Public Participation‘s Spectrum. This means we obtain public feedback on existing analysis, alternatives, and/or proposals.
In this phase, the City will present options for amenities and features for both the existing park and the expanded park area to the community for feedback through an online survey. This feedback will be used to develop a proposed design for the park.
The anticipated outcome of this phase is the development of a proposed design.
From July 2 to 23, an online survey collected feedback from 217 respondents on preferences for park features and amenities for the expanded park area. The project team will use this feedback to develop park design options.
Respondents were asked to rank their preferred activities for the expanded park area. The top three ranked activities were:
Respondents were asked to rank their preferred landscape or garden features for the expanded park area. The top three ranked options were:
Respondents were asked to rank their preferred seating types. The top three ranked options were:
Respondents were asked to rank their preferred recreational amenity types. The top options were:
When asked to choose between updating the playground or adding new recreational amenities to the park, most respondents (61 per cent) said they would prefer to add new recreational amenities and keep the existing playground.
20 per cent of respondents provided additional comments, with the total in parentheses.
In this phase, the City and the design consultant presented two playground design options and three skate dot design options for community feedback. The feedback will help shape a preferred design for the expanded park area, updated playground area and proposed skate dot.
Certain features in the park layout design were inspired by four distinct types of cookies, labelled A through D.
Each cookie corresponds to a unique location on the park map, with the design and pattern of each area reflecting the shape, texture or decoration of its respective cookie.
Certain features in the park layout design were inspired by four distinct types of cookies, labelled A through D.
Each cookie corresponds to a unique location on the park map, with the design and pattern of each area reflecting the shape, texture or decoration of its respective cookie.
Bartley Park has been identified as a potential site for a skate dot through the Toronto Skateboarding Strategy. It would help fill a gap in facilities for junior and beginner skaters in the area, which already has an active skateboarding community. Skateboarding promotes youth fitness, coordination and self-improvement, while also creating opportunities for mentorship within the neighbourhood.
A skateboard quarterpipe is a ramp with a single, quarter-circle sloped slide, offering a platform for learning and practicing skateboarding tricks involving transition and flat-ground maneuvers. The quarterpipe is sized for junior and beginner skaters and scooter users.
A manny pad, or manual pad, is a short ramp that allows skaters to learn and practice manual tricks. A ledge is a flat, elevated surface that skaters can grid (slide their wheels) on or ollie (jump) over. Skaters can learn and practice balance and control. The manny pad and ledge are sized for junior and beginner skaters and scooter users.
A manny pad and quarterpipe hybrid places the manny pad into the quarterpipe, which provides a stable platform for practicing manual tricks, ollies, and more creative combinations of tricks and maneuvers. The manny pad and quarterpipe are sized for junior and beginner skaters and scooter users.
From June 13 to July 3, an online survey collected 156 responses with community feedback and preferences on the proposed designs for park layout, improved playground area and new skate dot.
The most voted design options were:
Overall, 90 per cent of survey participants were satisfied with the proposed design options, with 46 per cent very satisfied.
For park layout options, 69 per cent of participants preferred option B over 15 per cent who preferred option A. In addition, 15 per cent of participants indicated they have no preference between the two proposed design options.
For playground design options, 67 per cent of participants preferred option A over 22 per cent who preferred option B. 10 per cent of participants indicated they have no preference between the two proposed design options.
When asked to rank the three proposed skate dot designs, 40 per cent of participants selected option C as their top choice, followed by 32 per cent who preferred option A and 28 per cent for option B.
If budget permits, the top five most important play features to include in the new playground were:
The least important play features to include in the new playground were:
When asked about their favourite seating option for Bartley Park, the preference ranking were:
When asked about proposed accessibility improvements to Bartley Park, 46 per cent of participants were satisfied and 37 per cent very satisfied.
Additional feedback on accessibility includes adding shades or tree canopy for sun and rain protection, sufficient lighting, more group and family seating options and using a rubberized surface instead of woodchips.
Participants were invited to rank their favourite colour themes for Bartley Park improvements, inspired by sweet treats like cookies, cakes, and candies. The preference ranking for the colour options was:
Other colour themes shared by participants were earthy colours, bright primary colours, nature colours and pastel colours.
Participants were asked to provide any additional comments or suggestions on the proposed improvements at Bartley Park. Some common themes include: more trees and natural planting, more space for the skate dot area, sufficient lighting at the park for nighttime use and removing any woodchips or sand surface.
Other out-of-scope feedback was also recorded, such as a designated area for dog owners and walkers, public washroom, splash pad or wading pool and space for skating or roller blading.