Chorley Park Trail Design Stakeholder Working Group Meeting 1 – Final Summary

 

To Governors Bridge Residents:

 

Your neighbourhood association is working hard to represent the community’s  interest regarding the trail connection in Chorley Park.  Jeff Hanemaayer and Kim Barwise have participated in a number of meetings regarding this issue with the surrounding residents associations, Friends of Chorley Park, other stakeholders, and the city.  A detailed summary of the meeting is attached and found at www.toronto.ca/chorleytrail under “Working Group” along with other information on the Working Group.  The highlights include:

 

• Representatives from the residents associations of Governors Bridge, South and North Rosedale and Moore Park, plus Friends of Chorley Park, numerous city officials, cycling and walking groups, individual residents, and an independent facilitator met for 4 hours on October 22nd to discuss the proposed trail from Chorley Park to the Beltline.
• The discussion focused on:    Design options

Safety

Impact on natural environment

City vs Neighbourhood expectations

Defining accessibility

• All groups were engaged and respectful of each other.
• Due to a resignation for health reasons of a Working Group member with a physical disability, the City is looking for a replacement.  If you have a physical disability or know a neighbourhood resident with one who may be interested in joining the group, please contact me.

 

Next Steps:

• Next meeting with all stakeholders is November 27, 2014.
• Discussion to focus on access points to Chorley Park Trail, route options, widths, surfaces, liability issues and degree of accessibility.
• The last meeting is December 8, 2014

 

These survey results of Governors Bridge residents  were previously shared with you and all other residents associations:

 

Aware of the Chorley Park switchback trail project?
Yes	79	95%
No	4	5%
I prefer:
No new trails to be built	31	37%	of responses	42%	of responses with a preference
City’s plan for a trail	10	12%	of responses	14%	of responses with a preference
New trail with modifications to City’s plan	32	39%	of responses	44%	of responses with a preference
Staircase	0	0%	of responses	0%	of responses with a preference
Undecided or no opinion	10	12%	of responses	n/a
Total responses	83	39%	of total houses
Total with valid email addresses	149	70%	of total houses
Total houses in neighbourhood	212

 

Of those with a preference, 58% (b. & c.) want some sort of trail built.  However, 56% (a. & c.) are against the City’s plan.  It is our intent/commitment to represent the collective views of all Governors Bridge residents.  As such we will be advocating for a trail to be built but with modifications to the City’s plan.  This is essentially the same positon that most of the other groups are advocating.  The extent of the modifications will be developed at the next meetings.  Please let us know if you have any questions/suggestions by contacting me or Kim Barwise (email addresses above).

 

Respectfully submitted by

Jeff Hanemaayer and Kim Barwise