All community updates will be saved in this list. Click on each date to read the full text.
Please see the monthly photo update.
Please see the monthly update.
Little Park/Summerhill Entrance will be opened on Friday, January 28, in the afternoon, after the fencing is readjusted to the Valve House and bollards are installed near the Summerhill Avenue Entrance. Access to Little Park is possible through the Summerhill Avenue, Summerhill Gardens or Woodlawn Avenue entrances. The contractor may also be installing doors on the lending library.
The contractor will also return in the Spring to complete the piping installation, within a chamber near the Summerhill entrance, required for the drinking water fountain. They will also be in the area in Spring to do any needed touch-ups (paint, plantings, grass seeding), and to install the heritage valve (public art), near the Valve House, as a crane is required.
The contractor will be continuing to work over the winter, primarily on the Water Feature/Centennial Monument located at Rosehill Avenue, whereas progress in the remaining sections of the park will be slower during freezing temperatures and snow buildup.
There are still outstanding items at the areas around Jackes and Rosehill entrances that require warm weather for completion. The City will be working with the contractor to facilitate the completion of the rest of the park in its entirety for a Summer opening. Thank you for your patience.
We would like to remind all neighbours that the Park is still an active construction site. The contractor is responsible for the safety and security of the worksite and may contact Emergency Services for anyone found trespassing. Any injury or incident on the worksite will trigger an investigation by the Ministry of Labour and require an immediate stop to any/all work leading to unnecessary delays.
Work will continue through the winter break. We are looking to complete the installation of the remaining amenities in Little Park/Summerhill entrance through the end of December and into January: heritage valve, concrete bench, drinking fountain and lighting.
Once these items are installed and the contractor has realigned the construction hoarding to the Valve House, they will be able to open Little Park (only) to the community. We hope to provide you with good news in mid- to late-January. Thank you for your patience.
Please see the photo update.
Permit Parking: Deliveries requiring the use of street permit parking spaces have finished. temporary street parking permits have been opened back up to the community. To book a temporary permit for on-street permit parking, please visit toronto.ca/parking and click on Temporary On-Street Parking. For information on by-law enforcement please see the City’s 311 webpage with additional information on the Toronto Police Services page.
Please see the photo update.
Park Re-opening: We do not yet have a date to provide the community for a partial park re-opening. We will send an email letting you know when the project team has reviewed the completed installation and has confirmed the area(s) and date for the re-opening.
Apologies for the late notice. Work to repair a sewer pipe from the Avoca Parks Yard building located in the northeast corner of the park near the Avoca Garden Beds will be taking place on Monday, October 25 and is expected to be completed in mid-November. The sidewalk on the east side of Avoca Avenue will be restricted by the work zone. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained in each direction on Avoca.
Please see the notice for more information.
Please see the monthly update.
We would like to provide a brief update based on some requests we’ve received over the last few weeks.
Why can’t areas of the park be opened now?
The landscape contractor is responsible to install the remaining enhancements throughout the park following the consultation process for the final design (June 2020 notice). We are monitoring the contractor’s progress and will open area(s) of the park when the installation of the enhancements have been completed. Attempting to open up portions of the park that have incomplete installation is not an option as it poses public safety and liability concerns that the City cannot assume.
We understand the frustration that things are moving slowly and appreciate your patience as we resolve unforeseen issues and install the remaining park enhancements. We will provide a date to the community when the project team has reviewed the completed installation and have confirmed that an area(s) is safe to open to the public.
Thank you again for your ongoing patience.
Please see the photo update.
The contractors will be removing 11 trees near the Rosehill entrance over the next few weeks. These tree removals are required to install the accessibility ramps to the plateau/open green space area of the park. Please see page 2 in Construction Notice #9 that was issued earlier this Spring.
Please see the monthly photo update.
We recently discovered a break in the sewer connection behind the Avoca Parks Yard building. The reservoir contractor will be undertaking this emergency work and to expedite this process to remove a tree (sugar maple) that is in poor health. Urban Forestry has authorized this removal so that work can start late next week, Thursday July 15 or Friday July 16. This emergency work is expected to take 1 to 2 weeks. This tree will be incorporated into the tree replacement plan.
The contractor will also be resurfacing the driveway in front of 44 Jackes, to return it to original condition after the watermain tie-in was completed (Update #23 and #25).
We are continuing to review the contractor’s progress to determine if a portion of the park can be opened prior to Summer 2022. We will share any good news with the community once the contractor is closer to confirming this.
Thank you for your patience.
Please see monthly photo update.
Due to the rain we are expecting today, the landscape contractor will not be pouring concrete in the Little Park/Summerhill Entrance driveway and will not be power washing it on Saturday July 3.
Apologies for the short notice. Instead of working on Friday July 2, the reservoir contractor will be working on Thursday July 1, Canada Day. Work will start at 7 a.m. and completed by 5 p.m. We do not expect the work to be noisy.
The landscape contractor will be working on Saturday July 3, to power wash the Little Park driveway. We expect this work to be completed by 4 p.m.
The contractor will be pouring concrete at the Jackes node tomorrow and will be power washing it on Saturday starting at 7 a.m. and expected to finish by noon.
Please see photo update with work progress.
Apologies for the short notice. This weekend, the contractor will be installing the walkways inside the Garden. The contractor is carrying this out to complete the work on the east side to meet their July 2021 end date.
Work will take place in the Garden on both Saturday June 5 and Sunday June 6 from 7:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We would like to provide an update as the landscape contractor started last week to separate a work zone on the west side of the park around Jackes Avenue. They will start working on the Jackes Avenue park entrance node and plantings. Then they will expand construction fencing around Little Park on May 18 to start work at the Summerhill Entrance.
The landscape contractor’s schedule is expected to be completed in Summer 2022. See Construction Notice #9. We realize this is a significant delay and impact to the community and will continue to look for opportunities, as the landscape contractor progresses, to reopen areas that are completed back to the community before this end date.
We will also provide monthly photo updates of work progress in the park starting in June – please sign up at rosehill@toronto.ca.
I’d like to provide an update on the park installation on top of Rosehill Reservoir as we know that everyone is eager to use this green space as some of you have seen the progress especially located on the plateau.
We are currently in a transition from the reservoir contractor, who installed a few park elements, to the landscape contractor, who will be installing the enhanced set of park elements. We are in process of confirming both contractors’ schedules and require the completion of the majority of the work by the reservoir contractor before the landscape contractor can start their work.
Please see some photos of work that has been completed.
Before the landscape contractor is ready to start, we will provide an update on their expected start and end dates in a Construction Notice. Unforeseen reservoir interior repairs, COVID-19 related delays & weather-dependent park elements has affected the transition period and this project’s overall completion date for this spring.
We are aware of the community’s love for this park and need for green space especially with the stay-at-home direction. We apologize that this park will not be available to provide relief and enjoyment for you and your neighbours this spring as originally projected.
Once the landscape contractor’s schedule is confirmed, we will provide advance notice and update to the community and also include the date when the hoarding will be required to expand and cover Little Park (Summerhill Entrance).
We are hopeful to provide an update to the community with the landscape contractor’s dates and impacts within the next few months.
Thank you for your patience.
Please see the notice of commencement for the Yellow Creek Geomorphic Systems Master Plan study. The purpose of this study is to identify sewer and watermain infrastructure in Yellow Creek that is at risk of erosion from high flows due to storms and snow melt run off.
We have an interactive map as well for residents to share photos of two locations in the creek to help monitor flows and erosion. The interactive map link is at the top of the project webpage www.toronto.ca/yellowcreek
If you would like to receive updates on the Yellow Creek study, please send an email to yellowcreek@toronto.ca to be added to the project contact list.
With work resuming on the reservoir, the contractor will require the street parking spaces in front of 91-101 Summerhill Avenue so large trucks can safely make turns from Summerhill Avenue into the park/Valve House for special deliveries.
Starting tomorrow afternoon (January 8) crews will be placing pylons in this location to ensure that no vehicles are blocking the turning radius for these trucks.
A parking restriction flyer will be placed on vehicle windshields as soon as possible.
Thank you for your patience and please contact me if you have any questions.
For those of who you have a view of the park, you will be able to see the sodding being placed down starting. The sodding will start tomorrow and should be completed by the end of the week. Work hours will include 7 am to 6 pm.
Based upon the confirmation of underground utilities from daylighting road segments on Avoca Avenue this past June, the contractor will be installing the watermain connection.
See details in the Notice.
In order to confirm the specific locations of underground utilities leading into the north-east corner of the park, the contractor is required to “daylight” sections of the road on Avoca Avenue. The purpose of “daylighting” is to dig up small sections or spots in the ground until underground utilities are exposed to confirm their location on a map or survey, prior to carrying out major construction work. In this case, daylighting Avoca Avenue will help confirm the construction approach to install the watermain that will supply water to David A. Balfour Park (which will take place in the future, notification will be provided).
We would like to provide you with a long anticipated update on the design for David A Balfour Park! Thank You to those who attended the March 2019 Public Meeting. You can view the Construction Update #7 and the consultation summary.
Based on feedback, the following four (4) key changes were incorporated into the design:
With the exception of the 4 changes mentioned above, all other elements and features in the park design will remain the same as presented in the March 2019 presentation. We will provide updates once a schedule is confirmed.
This update is primarily for residents who live south of David Balfour Park. Please circulate to your neighbours (at a safe social/email distance).
The flower beds and area near Summerhill Avenue park entrance at Little Park required an emergency work order today. To resolve this emergency work, crews and City Water staff are on site today and this evening to carry out the necessary repairs.
Unfortunately, this work may require a water shut off to homes in the Summerhill neighbourhood tonight from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. We will update you with any additional information regards to further changes.
Apologies for this emergency work. Please contact me with any questions.
Happy New Year Rosehill neighbours!
Please see this notice for work to replace the watermain below the driveway in Little Park/Summerhill Entrance (It will be mailed early next week). This work will begin January 20, 2020 and the remaining park space around the hoarding will remain open for the community. However, the hoarding will continue to remain after the watermain installation is complete to avoid significant tripping hazards and continue to allow heavy/special truck deliveries to the Valve House without damaging new pavers.
Phase 2B will continue into 2020 until we have confirmed the impacts to Summerhill Entrance/Little Park for Phase 3 – with details provided in a future notice.
Here is a quick update on the rehabilitation:
Thanks to Sandra Demson for this photo from October, showing the excavated soil from the east half of the park, where it was cleaned and treated to improve its permeability/drainage. This soil will be re-applied after the waterproofing membrane is installed.
Deliveries on large and/or special trucks via Summerhill Avenue to the Valve House and south end of the reservoir will resume starting Wednesday October 30, 2019 and continue until the end of the project in Spring 2021. Deliveries will be especially frequent over the following three weeks and then will be periodic.
To make these deliveries, the parking restrictions in front of 91 Summerhill Avenue to 101 Summerhill Avenue will be required. Attached is Parking Notice #2 (delivered by mail to the neighbourhood south of the reservoir) and Parking Restriction Notice #2 (placed on drivers’ windshields on Summerhill Avenue).
Unfortunately, temporary on-street parking permits will not be issued by the City’s Permit Office.
Apologies for this correction to update #25. The sodding that was expected to take place this fall will be moved to another date next year when the weather warms up.
The City’s approach in this contract for sodding new grass requires a 60 to 90-day period minimum without disturbance for the roots to establish or “stitch into” the soil. The upcoming cold and fluctuating weather will impact the grass from establishing, and the team would like to ensure that the sodding is successful.
In the meantime, the contractor will be monitoring the soil as the temperatures get colder (and hardens the ground) and rain (to keep the soil saturated) to prevent dust/dirt getting caught up in windy conditions.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Find below an update on work undertaken since Phase 2B commenced in early August, 2019.
Work will be taking place this Saturday within the City’s Noise Bylaw (9 am to 5pm) for the washroom’s retaining walls (boreholes) and soil screening and moving to the West side of the reservoir. Apologies, as this work will be noisy. If work starts before 9 a.m., please contact 311.
If you no longer want to receive email updates about the project, please contact Kate Kusiak at rosehill@toronto.ca and ask to be removed.
Work to tie-in the watermain at the end of Jackes Avenue will take place on September 9 to 13. Access into the underground garage has been coordinated with the property managers. More information in Construction Update #6.
If you no longer want to receive email updates about the project, please contact Kate Kusiak at rosehill@toronto.ca and ask to be removed.
To start work inside the east basin for Phase 2B, Toronto Water staff are required to clean out the basin before the contractor can begin rehabilitation work.
Toronto Water staff (around 4 crew) will be accessing the interior of the basin through the Valve House this weekend, Saturday to Sunday, August 17 to 18, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
A pump that requires a generator will be located near the Valve House and will operate within the City’s Noise Bylaw on Saturday August 17 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. This generator will produce a low hum noise.
We apologize for this last minute notification.
Phase 2B will begin August 6, to start work on the East Cell Basin. This will result in a full park closure and will also restrict access from the park into the ravine. The ravine trail will still be open with access from Avoca Avenue, north of the work site.
Work on Saturdays will also continue to Spring, 2021.
Noise complaints, such as work starting prior to the City’s Noise By-law, please contact 311, as there are other construction activities in the neighbourhood. In your call or email to 311, please include as many details as possible, such as:
More information in Construction Update #6.
We have recently received a few inquiries from residents located in the high-rise towers overlooking the park about some of the water proofing system protection boards lifting in the windy weather. See the photo below (Permission of Ian Darragh). We would like to provide some background and information about the reservoir’s exterior work including the waterproofing membrane and protection boards that we see today. This is a long update.
Photo: the yellow circle shows the protection boards lifted by the wind. The red shows protection boards affixed to the membrane. The orange dash shows exposed membrane without protection boards.
After removing the existing waterproofing membrane and rehabilitating the concrete roof deck, there are a number of layers that will be installed on the exterior of the reservoir roof to protect the structure and the water supply within. This process follows industry standard practices and is in compliance with the waterproofing manufacturer’s installation protocol and warranties.
See the graphic below:
All of these layers would have about a 0.6 metre depth from the finished grade to the top of the reservoir’s concrete deck.
After crews apply the primer (B), three layers (C) of the membrane are applied. Similar to other construction practices, such as steel rebar in concrete columns to build high-rise towers, the layer of Remay enhances/reinforces the structural integrity and durability of the HRA.
Crews have progressed and have applied the membrane in many sections of the reservoir in Phase 1. This has been followed by crews laying down (D) protection boards on top of the membrane. The protection boards serve three (3) purposes.
Many residents who have a view of the park and construction work have seen protection boards lift or in some cases completely remove.
Each protection board is typically glued to the waterproofing membrane with additional asphalt applied in multiple spots. The board itself and the bonding force (adhesion) between the board and waterproofing membrane was not manufactured or designed to resist severe winds, which we have recently experienced.
Strong winds from all directions lift these protection boards and with frequent bending in the boards, some have completely detached from the membrane. To advance the work schedule as much as possible and make up for poor weather days that affected exterior rehabilitation activities, the contractor elected to lay down protection boards, even if some may bend or detach. For those protection boards that detached from the membrane, there is no additional cost to the City’s project budget to attach new protection boards. Both the project’s consultant with agreement from the City’s project manager, support this work by the contractor to advance the schedule as much as possible.
The methods to install the membrane and protection boards follow industry standards and the material manufacturer’s requirements. The membrane is inspected daily by the City’s inspector and weekly by the material manufacturer to comply with the manufacturer’s warranty. No issues or concerns regarding the waterproofing membrane have been identified in reports by the City’s inspector or the manufacturer to date. Any missing protection boards will be replaced at the contractor’s expense prior to proceeding with the rest of the waterproofing system and subsequent soils/sod overburden.
Another round of inspections will take place before the layers (E) to (G) are installed.
Please contact me with any questions that were not included here.
The contractor will be resuming construction work on the reservoir on Saturdays, starting tomorrow April 13, weather dependent.
We apologize for the late notification. Please refer to Construction Notice #5 on January 17, 2019.
Around 100 residents attended last night’s meeting. If you weren’t able to join us, please see the presentation with annotations to learn more about the park design. Please send us your feedback by April 5, 2019.
Today is the start date for Phase 2A construction. Hoarding will go up in the eastern and south section below the Garden. See the map for Phase 2A.
In Update #16 (January 17, 2019) and Construction Notice #5, staff identified a temporary closure in the south east corner of the park to carry out tree protection and removals. Based on the detailed review of tree roots, certified arborists and City Urban Forestry staff have identified that four (4) trees will be impacted by the contractor’s activities and are located directly in line with the rehabilitation work. The following trees will be removed:
These four (4) trees removals will take place today, Wednesday March 27 to Friday March 29 to ensure they are removed before the Bird Migratory Protection Act.
Access to Rosehill Garden will remain open and a southern portion may be temporarily closed to ensure a safe work zone around these trees. The playground may be closed for safety purposes. Trees will be replanted in a variety of locations around Rosehill Reservoir to coincide with the upgrades to David A Balfour Park.
Join us at a public meeting to learn about enhancements to David A Balfour Park!
If you cannot attend, the presentation and display materials will be posted on the webpage the day after the meeting.
The park plan includes:
Send us your comments and questions by Friday April 5, 2019 and contact us with accessibility requests 416-392-1932.
Previous issues regarding the temporary boardwalk and poor/wet weather days in 2018 has held back the construction schedule. To recoup this time, the City’s contractor will be:
The construction schedule is revised:
The blue area from the playground towards the Summerhill Entrance will be temporary closed for 3 weeks to carry out tree protection and removals. Notice will be provided if this closure affects access to the Garden.
The Construction Notice has clarified a detail on Page 2, second row, first column and indicates Phase 2A from February 4, 2019 to July 31, 2019.
The contractor will begin work to demolish the washroom starting December 7. Hoarding will be adjusted to enclose the building. Please see information in the attached Notice. Due to delays in Canada Post delivery, this notice will not be mailed out to the community.
We have repeatedly asked the contractor to stop truck idling on neighbourhood streets (especially Pleasant Boulevard). If you do see idling trucks, please contact rosehill@toronto.ca, 311@toronto.ca and pparking@toronto.ca with the following information:
Over the next two weeks, three (3) memorial trees located within Phase 1 work area will be impacted. Two (2) trees will be transplanted to a new location and one tree will be removed and replanted before the end of construction. Transplanting and removing these trees are required to carry out work in Phase 1.
Staff have had direct contact with the family of one tree and have sent emails and a letter to the families of the remaining two trees since the phone numbers of those families are no longer in service.
The Contractor will be starting work on Saturdays starting November 3 to December 22, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to continue to remove soil, remove the existing waterproofing membrane and install the new one. Please see this notice.
Please see the notice. The contractor will be carrying out tree root exploration on trees located near the lower perimeter pathway from Little Park to south of the construction hoarding at Avoca. The purpose is to determine the condition of trees for Phase 2 construction work and park design planning before the winter season freezes the ground. The work will be noisy and segmented within a temporary fence. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday and will start October 25 to December 23, 2018.
A tree by the north-east corner of the Valve House will be removed within the next two weeks (weather permitting) as our colleagues in the Parks division have determined that a split down the trunk (stem) is a significant impact to the tree’s health and condition. See photo below. The project manager has agreed to carry out this removal on behalf of Parks through the Rosehill Reservoir Rehabilitation contractor.
If you are a resident on Summerhill Avenue, Ottawa Street, Summerhill Gardens or park on-street on Summerhill Avenue near Little Park, please see the message below about on-street parking restrictions.
Please see the Notice that will be delivered to homes and the Flyer that will be placed on car windshields parked on Summerhill Avenue.
From Monday October 29 to Friday December 21, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays only, a 40 metre portion on the south-side, curb lane on Summerhill Avenue, near Little Park/Summerhill entrance will be restricted to ensure sufficient space for large vehicles to turn from Summerhill Avenue through Little Park.
These special deliveries of large equipment and supplies are required to carry out work at the Valve House Parking Lot. This work is required to be completed within Phase 1 while the West Basin of the reservoir is empty. The contractor is using the smallest vehicle to provide these supplies as close as possible to the Valve House, and is not expecting to damage the grass in Little Park.
Unfortunately, this road restriction includes the following temporary impacts to on-street parking:
Example of the signage that will be posted in this area. (Please Note: This is standard Toronto Police signage for construction, it is not related to an emergency)
There has been a few complaints about litter near the Rosehill Avenue walkway to Pleasant Boulevard (between 50 and 70 Rosehill). Our colleagues in Solid Waste have placed a temporary bin on the south side of Rosehill near Bretton Place (33 Rosehill). We have asked the property managers to circulate this with their residents and asking that neighbours use these bins to keep the area clean.
I’ve received a number of complaints about trucks idling on Pleasant Boulevard. These trucks are not related to the Rosehill Reservoir work; they are likely part of the Bell Canada work to install new cables. Please contact Bell Canada at 416-353-3827, quote Project #BGF-X79766 or email toinview@bell.ca
The Important Information tab has been updated as we have received many questions about the pathways.
Two new access points for trucking activities will be located along Rosehill Avenue. This is required to expedite the Phase 1 construction schedule after staff efforts were re-directed to review safety concerns of the temporary boardwalk at north-east corner and carry out tree root explorations (see Update #8).
This temporary change:
As a result of these new access points at Rosehill Avenue,
These two new gates during Phase 1 will facilitate the removal of existing soil, and the construction of a valve chamber infrastructure. Phase 2 includes ongoing work on the valve chamber and bringing in new soil. Each soil handling stage requires 6-8 weeks.
City staff have supported this change to address the schedule impacts that resulted from the above-mentioned issues. This change was also presented to the Councillors’ office and representatives of neighbourhood associations. We apologize that this is another change from the original plan for construction work.
Based on overwhelming response, portable washrooms will not be installed at Little Park, near the Summerhill entrance for Phase 1.
On Update #7 August 10, the City provided advance notice and rationale for providing the portable washrooms: “The washroom building will also be closed. Maintenance vehicles will not be able to access the washroom to perform the required maintenance. Portable washrooms will be located at the Summerhill entrance to the Park.”
Crews will be performing Hydrovac activities at the Valve House parking lot on Monday August 27, 2018. It will be for the full day and will be noisy. Apologies in advance.
The following construction activities for the Rosehill Reservoir will start next week:
Earlier this Spring, trees at the top of the reservoir slopes as well as trees that would have been severely damaged (i.e. could not be preserved) as a result of the rehabilitation work during Phase 1, were removed by the Contractor.
For trees that could potentially be impacted, the Contractor was required to carry out root exploration before determining the next steps. Root exploration efforts for Phase 1 has now been completed and will result in the following actions:
Tree removals will begin Thursday August 23, weather permitting.
The removal of the soil on top of the reservoir will soon begin Monday August 20, in order to expose the reservoir roof and begin work to repair and install the waterproofing membrane. The main impact as part of the work to remove soil will be an increase in truck traffic through Rosehill and Avoca Avenue.
Portable washrooms will be installed in Little Park, west of the asphalt path (south of David A Balfour Park, near Summerhill Avenue) this week. One will be an accessible washroom.
The City is also working with the Contractor to review any options in the construction schedule to open up access to the park ahead of construction completion now that the temporary pathway at Avoca Avenue is closed. The City will share an update with the Community later this fall.
We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time as we work to upgrade this reservoir and ensure the delivery of safe drinking water to residents and businesses. We know this project has been a challenge and we are committed to working with community representatives and the Councillors’ offices to address issues that arise.
Apologies for not providing an update since late June. Staff have been reviewing concerns received from community members regarding the temporary (boardwalk) pathways both at the north-east corner of the park (Avoca Avenue) and at Little Park/south of Valve House.
Please read Construction Notice Update #1.
The washroom building will also be closed. Maintenance vehicles will not be able to access the washroom to perform the required maintenance. Portable washrooms will be located at the Summerhill entrance to the Park.
Ensuring the community’s safety around this active construction site is important and we thank you for understanding and ongoing patience.
The painting of the hoarding is almost complete and park lights on top of the reservoir and along the south and western side of the park will soon be removed.
Temporary pathways have been put in place around the hoarding. The City is dedicated to keeping access to the remaining park space open during construction. A recent site visit was held with representatives from the community and local Councillors to discuss potential enhancements to increase visibility and mobility.
Unfortunately, the location of the reservoir is a constrained site and hoarding cannot be shifted any further to widen the temporary paths. With a focus on the temporary pathways at Little Park/Valve House and at the north-east corner near Avoca Parks Yard, the City will be taking further steps to:
In addition to these activities, City staff are reviewing opportunities to install transparent material on hoarding panels located around the temporary paths and a bump-out space to pass/rest. A future update will provide more details.
An additional temporary pathway and stairway will be added for park users to have easier access to the Washroom and Rosehill Garden.
Work has already begun to remove the reflecting pools. The stone wall along the cascade/fountain at Rosehill Avenue will also be removed. You may also have noticed that the water molecule feature has now been removed. It will be preserved, as it is a heritage feature and incorporated into the new design.
Contractors have been reminded to start after 7 a.m. in keeping with the Noise By-law.
Construction hoarding and Tree Protection Zones are almost completely installed.
Now that hoarding is almost installed, there is limited park space around the Garden. This is a gentle reminder to please be courteous to all park users and also to keep all dogs on leash.
At the north-east part of the construction site at Rosehill and Avoca, the existing pathway (red circle on map) will remain open until the temporary pathway is constructed (pink line on map). Signage on the hoarding indicates the path is still open (photo). If there is any construction equipment movement in this area, a construction crew member will be nearby to ensure people can safely cross this part of the site.
Temporary garbage bins have been installed by the contractor at the Garden and Washroom. Solid Waste bins have been installed at the end of Jackes Avenue. The temporary bins will be in replaced Solid Waste bins.
Tree cutting started May 23 for trees that are located on top of the reservoir and on the slopes. The removal of these trees are required to accommodate the installation of the reservoir’s waterproofing membrane.
The project team has received concerns about the garbage bins in and around the park. Many of the bins were removed before they were relocated to another spot outside of the construction hoarding.
The project manager has spoken with our colleagues in Solid Waste and they will be installing garbage and recycling bins next week at the following locations:
Please note – No garbage bins will be located in the playground area since the perimeter path is not accessible for the Solid Waste collections vehicles. The garbage bin on Rosehill at the north-west corner of the Park will also not be replaced due to insufficient space provided with the temporary sidewalk.
We will also be scheduling a litter pick up of garbage left around the park. With the unfortunate timing of this issue, no clean-up crews can be scheduled for this work over the upcoming long weekend. We will provide you with the date once it has been scheduled.
On Monday April 30, installation of hoarding and tree protection zones will begin and continue to take place for the next few weeks. The white-shaded area (not the dash lines) on the map show where hoarding will be installed on the west side of the park.
Construction crews will be doing locates on site starting April 24 and April 25 including Little Park, inside site buildings and chambers. They may use spray paint, wooden stakes and small flags to mark buried service lines. This work will take place within the hours set by the noise by law (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and will take place prior to the installation of hoarding.
Rehabilitation work on the reservoir is scheduled to begin in April 2018 with the placement of hoarding (wooden fence) around the perimeter of the west side of the reservoir. This area of David Balfour park will be closed to public access until Phase 3 of the rehabilitation project. The east side of the reservoir will remain open to the public until Summer 2019.
A Public Drop-In Event took place on Monday, March 19, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church (Heritage Room), 1585 Yonge Street. Members of the public were invited to drop in during this time to learn about the rehabilitation of the reservoir, the details of the construction process and efforts to mitigate impacts. City of Toronto staff were present to answer any questions and receive feedback from the public. See the Public Consultation tab for additional information about this event.
Residents in neighbourhoods around the reservoir were sent a Construction Notice in the mail that explains the phases of construction. Properties that are within close proximity to the site will also receive a notice regarding pre-construction inspections.
On October 26, 2015 the City distributed a notice to properties adjacent to David A Balfour Park regarding a tree inventory to be completed in the first few weeks of November. View the October 26 Notice of Site Work.
On November 10, 2015 the City distributed a notice to properties adjacent to David A Balfour Park regarding survey work to be completed from mid-November to mid-December. View the November 10 Notice of Site Work.