Portrait: Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park, Toronto - Clean Air ...
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Portrait: Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park, Toronto
March 2015
This portrait was produced by the Toronto Centre
for Active Transportation, a project of the Clean
Air Partnership in Toronto, Ontario.
Authors:
Car Martin, Project Manager & Design Lead
Mikey Bennington, Project Manager & Research
Lead
Overseen by Nancy Smith Lea, TCAT Director
Graphics and Research support:
Hannah Nogiec, Co-op Student
Gaelen Pierce, Co-op Student
*Special thanks to all members of the community
mapping team who volunteered their time
Local Partners:
Flemingdon Health Centre
Toronto Emerging Artivists (TEA)
Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee
tcat
Evergreen, Health Promotion Department
Toronto International Film Festival, Special
toronto centre for Delivery Program
active transportation Architecture for Humanity, Toronto Chapter
The Active Neighbourhoods project employs
lessons learned from the ‘Green Active and
Healthy Neighbourhoods’ pilot created by the
Montreal Urban Ecology Centre and further
develops the methods to suit local contexts.
Each local project is divided into three phases.
Documentation of phase 1 and 2 for Thorncliffe &
Flemingdon can be seen on the following pages.
Phase 1: Understanding
The goal of the first phase is to understand the current
context in the neighbourhood in order to identify potential
improvements and constraints related to mobility. Different
data collections methods are used to create a ‘Portrait’,
including field surveys, documentation and consultation
activities.
Phase 2: Exploring
Active Neighbourhoods Canada (ANC) is a The objective of Phase 2 is to establish a common vision,
national partnership of organizations bringing define priorities for action, and create design solutions that
respect the local identity and practices of the neighbourhood.
participatory planning to 12 communities in Examples of methods used during this phase include a
Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. We work with local Citizen’s Forum and workshops with professionals.
partners in each community towards changes
in the built environment that encourage active Phase 3: Building
transportation, active public spaces and active, Local partners collaborate on a Community Plan outlining
engaged citizens. This portrait illustrates the goals and design solutions. The plan is used as a tool
to strategize and partner with local municipal officials,
first Ontario community to join the ANC project: transit authorities, other levels of government, as well as
Thorncliffe Park/ Flemingdon Park. It is a snapshot institutions, retailers and individuals towards the incremental
of the community compiled through events, implementation of these goals.
observations and secondary research.
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 3
CANADIAN
PARTNERS
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
TCAT
tcat INTERNAL
LOCAL
TEAM
ACTIVE NEIGHBOURHOODS
MEETING MEETING MEETING MEETING PHASE 1 AND 11 TIMELINE
*Canadian partners *A group of local experts *meetings between *Local team include
include the Montreal in urban planning/ design, Project Managers, TCAT representatives from local
Urban Ecology Centre public health & community Director & students partner organizations (ie,
and Sustainable Calgary engagement Flemingdon Health
Centre
tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat
PREPARATORY PHASE PHASE 1: UNDERSTANDING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014
Activities: Activities: Activities: Activities:
*Reach out to potential local *Held Negotiation fair with local *Lead exploratory walk as part of *Convened community mapping
partners in Ontario communities partners to determine possible Jane’s Walk and collected team, trained participants in
programming intersections & to qualitative data various mapping & data collection
plan phase 1 activities *Collaborated with STEPS & TEA methods (5 days of mapping)
on 100 in a Day: Pop-up public *Collaborated with TEA Youth to
space and Miniature city mapping support successful application for
activity Nxt City Prize
Activities: Activities:
*Determined partners and *Public Launch of project at
community network for first project Neighbours Night Out
*Drafted Memorandum of *Held booth at Neighbours Night
Understanding as a group Out, collecting qualitative informa-
tion about the neighbourhood and
welcoming local officials to the
project
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 4
CANADIAN
PARTNERS
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
TCAT
tcat INTERNAL
LOCAL
TEAM
ACTIVE NEIGHBOURHOODS
MEETING MEETING MEETING MEETING PHASE 1 AND 11 TIMELINE
tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat tcat
PHASE 1: UNDERSTANDING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PHASE II EXPLORING SOLUTIONS
August 2014 September2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February2015 March2015
Activities: Activities: Activities: Activities:
*Lead ravine bike ride & discussion *Held TIFF teen mapmaking & stop *Share portrait draft with partners *Professional workshop planning
group with staff from Evergreen motion workshop at the and incorprated feedback and advertising
*Hosted Film Screening with TIFF Flemingdon Health Centre
*Finalize Neighbourhood Portrait
&Thorncliffe Women’s Committee *Participated in the Flemingdon
*Held Young Urbanist Summer Urban Fair
Camp at Flemingdon Health
Centre
Activities: Activities:
*Compiled and synthesized *Held professional workshop at the
qualitative data Aga Khan Centre with guest
from all phase 1 activites speakers
*Drafted Portrait document *Planning citizen forums to follow
professional workshop
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 5
Contents
INTRODUCTION TO THE Page 7
NEIGHBOURHOOD
PHYSICAL & SOCIAL Pages 8-15
CHARACTERISTICS
MOVEMENT PATTERNS Pages 16-21
PUBLIC SPACE Pages 22-24
SUMMARY OF KEY Page 25
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
SOURCES Page 26
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 6
Introduction
Welcome to Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe
Park, two vibrant and unique neighbourhoods
in Toronto, Ontario. Thorncliffe and Flemingdon
were two of Toronto’s first planned communities,
completed in the late 1960’s. They are considered
inner suburbs, lying just North East of the Metro
Toronto core and are easily accessible by public
transit. The two communities sit on either side of
the beautiful Don Valley Ravine and the Don River
that runs through it. Most residents live in towers
that overlook the greenery and the buildings are
a common sight to motorists travelling along the
OAD
Don Valley Parkway.
Toronto
WAY
R
Thorncliffe and Flemingdon are diverse
LS
K
neighbourhoods that serve as landing pads
MIL
AR
for new Canadians. The typical resident has a
P
don
r
DON
ive
LLEY
r lower than average income, a fact common to
R RI DOR neighbourhoods of this type: ‘Vertical Poverty’,
CO
VA
EC TRIC N
a recent study by the United Way shows that
OEL “poverty is becoming increasingly concentrated
DO
DR VA RD
LE vertically in the high-rise towers that dot the city’s
B OU
HY
A Flemingdon skyline” (United Way 2011).
E
ve
tho
RL
d ri
rn
cli
E
ffe This portrait will serve as a diagnostic tool to
rk
OV
pa
understand the local opportunities and challenges
towards healthier, more active public spaces that
Thorncliffe encourage walking and cycling.
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 7
Physical and Social Characteristics Separated Land Use
Thorncliffe and Flemingdon were developed in
RD.
the 1960’s following urban planning ideals that
ILLS
promoted distinctly separated land uses. The
N M
romance of the automobile was in full swing and
DO
the assumption that everyone would own a car in
Thorncliffe Flemingdon these neighbourhoods was prevalent.
Neighborhood Zoning
3 Zoning
LVD CR - Commercial Residential
The illustrations on the left show us that land
RL EA B E - Employment Industrial
OVE
FZBL - Former Zoning By Law
O - Open Space
uses are clustered, first in a map view and second
1
OR - Open Recreational
2 from photos taken by members of our community
RA - Residential Apartment
RD - Residential Detached
RM - Residential Multiple
RT - Residential Townhouse
UT - Utility mapping team. When uses are clustered like this
it takes a long time to walk from place to place,
favouring automobile or transit users.
Source: Official Plan, City of Toronto Source: Community mapping team
Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park are
important areas because they were the first
of their type to be built in Toronto, of which
approximately 1000 were built in the 20 years
1 Thorncliffe Park Drive West, just North of Overlea following (ERA Architects 2008). Understanding
the public realm in these communities could thus
be useful for many other communities in the GTA.
Recent research into these neighbourhoods has
shown that restrictive land use planning is one of
2 Thorncliffe Park Drive East the biggest challenges to creating more vibrant
public spaces. Through concerted efforts new
mixed use zoning guidelines come into effect in
the summer of 2015, allowing for new uses to be
mixed into residential areas.
3 Gateway Boulevard, just East of Don Mills
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 8
Physical and Social Characteristics Tower in a Park
With some exceptions, the residents of Thorncliffe
and Flemingdon dwell in high rise apartment
buildings. These modern towers were designed
RD.
to maximize density while leaving generous
M ILLS
amounts of open space for recreation & parking.
N
DO
This typically means that each property has 80-
90% open space. (ERA Architects 2010). These
EA
planned tower communities were a response
ERL
OV
to a housing boom after the war and to an
Thorncliffe Flemingdon
Figure Ground influx of immigrants to Toronto. This approach
Building Figures
was originally introduced by Le Corbusier in
his controversial plan for Paris (shown on the
R.V. Burgess Park left, unbuilt) as a response to overcrowding and
Source: Le Corbusier, Villa Radieuse Published 1933 disease in industrialized cities.
R.V. Burgess Park Open space can be attractive and vibrant, or
it can be desolate and scary. The physical form
goes a long way in determining this. On the left
we see R.V. Burgess Park in Thorncliffe. It is seen
as a community hub and is a well-used, vibrant
public space. The park is centrally located, it is
overlooked by many towers, it has amenities and
has benefited from the events & stewardship of
the engaged residents. A central public space
of this type does not exist in Flemingdon Park,
although a new group, the Flemingdon Urban Fair
Committee is now working to create similar events
and spaces.
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 9
Physical and Social Characteristics Abundant Green Space
D.
ILLS R
M N
DO
Thorncliffe Flemingdon
Green Space
Built Form
EA Open Space
E RL
OV Park Space
River
walking and cycling for recreation and exersize
Walking Paths are relatively rare in these communities, even
though they are situated on magnificent walking
and cycling trails in the Don Valley.
Access to Ravine (Flemingdon)
Access to Ravine (Thorncliffe)
This summer, community members gathered
to discuss access to the ravines while riding
bikes to the Evergreen Brickworks to highlight
The goal of creating accessible connections the rich connections the neighbourhood has to
between residents and ravine trails was a part city resources. Clear signage, better seasonal
of the original intention of these communities. maintenance and dedicated bike lanes were all
Through qualitative research and fieldwork mentioned as important measures to making
we have seen that the connections today are the trails more accessible. It was also noted by
very limited and uninviting. While walking and community members regarding park space within
cycling rates are relatively high in Thorncliffe and the neighbourhood that even though there is lots
Flemingdon, a recent asset mapping exersize of space for recreation, it is often separated by
showed that interest and engagement in physical fences, making it less useful and inviting.
exersize is very low (Wijesuria 2010). It seems that
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 10Physical and Social Characteristics Arrival City
Flemingdon Park Resident Generation Status Thorncliffe Park Resident Generation Status Thorncliffe and Flemingdon are ‘arrival cities’,
they are examples of the neighbourhoods on the
edges of cities around the world that are spaces
of transition for those migrating from other places.
In his book of the same title Doug Saunders
describes arrival cities as the future centres of
innovation and economic development that will
shape our urban existence (Saunders 2010)
“Yesterdays villagers and immigrants become
today’s urban merchants and tomorrows
professionals and political leaders” (Saunders
1st Generation 2nd Generation 3rd Generation 1st Generation 2nd Generation 3rd Generation 2010).
Flemingdon Park Visible Minorities Thorncliffe Park Visible Minorities
Chinese
Not a visible minority
Japanese
Southeast
Multiple
Arab
Asian
Filipino
South Asian
Korean West Asian Filipino
Latin American Black
South Asian
Chinese
Southeast Asian
West Asian
Not a visible minority Flemingdon Park Thorncliffe Park
Other
Black Median Income 2005 Median Income 2005
Multiple Source (all images on this page): 2006 National Census
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 11Physical and Social Characteristics Youth Voice
There are a lot of young people in Thorncliffe and capacities to try and understand what their
Flemingdon. Youth make up a disproportionately concerns and ideas are for the future of their
large share of the population when compared streets. These activities have served to amplify
with the City of Toronto at large. With rising rates their voice and their vision for the neighbourhood.
of childhood obesity and plummeting rates of
active travel to and from school across Canada, Local youth know these streets well and have a
there is an effort to promote safe, daily active lot of great ideas, some of which are seen on the
transportation among youth and address the next two pages. The images below are drawings
barriers to active school travel (Active Healthy from the Young Urbanist Summer Camp held
Kids Canada Report Card 2014). Because at the Flemingdon Health Centre. During this
pedestrians and cyclists, particularly young ones, camp, youth ages 10-13 explored and designed
are vulnerable road users that have an increased imaginative solutions to address and improve
risk of injury when interacting closely with motor public spaces, the environment and local active
Percentage of Youth compared to Toronto Average vehicles, these efforts must also address barriers transportation. The images propose ideas for the
Source: Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles that exist in the urban design of communities. intersection at Don Mills and Overlea, and nearby
on Don Mills Rd. where there is an obscured
We have been working with youth in different entrance to the ravine trail system.
Green roofs on the local schools and green A pedestrian scramble, more street trees and A new crosswalk on Don Mills south of
pedestrian paths connecting them over the better lighting at Don Mills and Overlea. Overlea that leads to an improved path to
busy intersection at Don Mills and Overlea. access the Ravine, a bike lane and a kiosk in
the apple tree that sells apple pies!
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 12Physical and Social Characteristics Youth Voice
In addition to the Young Urbanist Summer
Camp, we worked alongside local teens through
St. Dennis Drive our partnership with the youth-lead public arts
group, Toronto Emerging Artivists (TEA). Their
mission is to bring communities together and
foster discussions of local issues, with a focus on
Drive
noble activating public spaces.
Gre
Gateway B The schematic design to the right represents
Mills Road
lvd
.
a wayfinding and place-making project they
proposed for an underused and uninviting
Don
area in Flemingdon. This was submitted to, and
recognized by the 2014 NXT City Prize design
competition as the strongest submission from a
team under 18 years of age. The project is being
A wayfinding mosaic propsed for Vendome Place - a part of Flemingdon that
further developed by TEA as they work towards
is confusing to navigate and which feeds into residents’ concerns about safety. the goal of improving wayfinding and public space
in their community.
The two images below are from a stop-motion
animation workshop done with local teens
to both examine their favorite places in the
neighbourhood, and illustrate their vision for these
places through animation. The videos revealed
interesting ideas on how to create fun and inviting
spaces in the ravine. They display a desire for
A tree house in the ravine - an interesting A slide under the bridge leading down to the improved access to this natural public asset.
places that invites you to play in nature. ravine trails - a fun and unconventional way
to travel!
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 13Physical and Social Characteristics 8-80 Cities Report 2010
In 2010 8-80 cities undertook an engagement
project in Thorncliffe and Flemingdon to collect
CICLOVIA PROGRAM IN THORNCLIFFE ideas towards more livable communities. We have
AND FLEMINGDON used their recommendations as guides in the ANC
PEDESTRIAN SCRAMBLES project. The recommendations are summarized in
Ciclovia/Car-free Sundays are programs
AT BIG INTERSECTIONS the image on the left.
where the streets are opened to people
Pedestrian scrambles are
and closed to cars for a few hours on Sunday
intersection systems that stop Our observations and conversations allow us to
all vehicle traffic and allow add some updated information to these long term
pedestrians to cross in every goals. First, the current construction schedule
RE-CREATING PLACES: makes Ciclovia programs and street closures
TRANSFORMING EXISTING direction
unlikely for some time.
SPACE INTO GREAT PUBLIC SPACE
Reclaim underused spaces such as Re-creating places is an important goal using
CONNECT THE DON VALLEY
empty parking lots & space around short-term easy to implement ideas, the ample
TRAIL TO THORNCLIFFE AND existence of open space provides opportunities for
the hydro corridor and activate them
FLEMINGDON such actions.
with amenities and activity spaces
The trail is far too hidden when
it should be easily accessible, ‘Pedestrian scrambles’ is a suggestion that
safe and convenient for those deals with a perrenial issue in Thorncliffe and
of all ages and abilities to enjoy Flemingdon: The schools and religious intitutions
let out large numbers of people, forcing the streets
and intersections to accommodate massive
increases in volume at certain times.
The connections to the ravine continue to be poor
and improvements in this realm would go a long
way towards encouraging active transportation.
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 14Physical and Social Characteristics Building on Momentum
Great strides forward have been made in Residents themselves have done great work bins, lights, picnic tables, and the first of its kind, a
Thorncliffe and Flemingdon. Both internal towards enlivening public space. Over the past permanent outdoor Tandoor bake oven.
community organizing and policy changes are 6 years the Thorncliffe Women’s Committee
starting to show improvements in the public realm. has enabled arts and fitness programming, a As a tool to complement recent changes in zoning,
community garden, park beautification, community The Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal
One example of this progress is a sidewalk that engagement and advocacy improving park recently published a report that offers strategies
was previously a dirt path leading to the food infrastructure, a very famous Friday community for improving apartment neighbourhoods some of
store Iqbals. The city responded to the desires of bazaar with local performances, park clean- which provide important guidance for improving
the community for better pedestrian conditions. ups and environmental education. Its advocacy active transportation and public space in
This is exactly how positive change happens: coupled with City commitment has resulted in Thorncliffe and Flemingdon.
through incremental changes in key pieces of the park receiving used playground equipment,
infrastructure that effect people’s daily travel. a renovated splash pad, new swings, benches,
2011
Paul Hess and Jane Farrow
publish Walkability in High
Rise Neighborhoods. Using
qualitative and quantitative
June 2008 measurements of walkability
The Flemingdon Health Centre from eight study areas, the
develops its Ravine Advocacy report presents findings on
Initiative, raising awareness 2009 2010 issues of walkability in high-rise
about the unclean and unsafe The “You Belong” Youth 8-80 Cities publishes neighborhoods.
conditions of the Flemingdon Participatory Action Research its Liveable Community
Park Ravine. Project publishes its report Project Thorncliffe Park and January 2011
with the support of the Flemingdon Park. The report Poverty by Postal Code 2 -
Flemingdon Health Centre. draws key recommendations Vertical Poverty is published June 2013
2008 Its assets based approach to on improving the pedestrian by the United Way of Greater Rezoning application
November 2003 iVote Toronto Campaign community building highlighted realm, improving connections Toronto. The report illuminates submitted for 42-46 Overlea
TNO publishes first Needs arrives in Thorncliffe. It works the gaps and assets in services to the Don Valley park system, trends in declining income, Boulevard for a Costco June 2014
1985 Assessment Report in 2005 to increase voter turnout in as well as recommendations creating separated bicycle housing quality, and community Warehouse Membership Club. Toronto’s first 100 in a Day
Thorncliffe Neighborhood collaboration with United Way Thorncliffe Youth Centre the district. for further youth oriented lanes, and improving access to life in Toronto’s high-rise Site plan application has also event spurs intervention
Office (TNO) is formed. of Greater Toronto opens. programming. public spaces. neighborhoods. been submitted. projects across the city.
1985 1999 2003 2004 2005 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014
1972 1999 2004 October 2005 2008 2010 2011 2013 Upcoming
Flemingdon Health Centre Settlement and Education Tales form the Toronto: 10 Part City of Toronto officially Thorncliffe Community With support of the Toronto The Metcalf Inclusive The Flemingdon Urban Fair City of Toronto will be
opens to the community. Partnership in Toronto (SEPT) Series about life in Thorncliffe identifies Flemingdon Park as a Wellness Centre opens. Centre for Community Local Economies - Resilient Committee emerges to work revealing its Toronto Strong
begins work with TNO. Park by Jan Wong debuts in priority area for neighborhood Learning and Development, Neighborhood Economies pilot towards addressing community Neighborhoods Strategy
19xx the Globe and Mail renewal. 2008 the Flemingdon Park project begins in Thorncliffe. issues and priorities. 2020 in the coming year.
Flemingdon Neighborhood The Tower Renewal Project Neighborhood Needs A framework for strategic
Services and Flemingdon April 2004 October 2005 forms in collaboration with Assessment Report investments and partnerships
Neighborhood Services Youth Poverty by Postal Code is United Way of Greater ERA Architects, City of Community Well Being is will be made to strengthen
begin programming for the publushed by the United Toronto reveals its Strong Toronto, CMHC, and the published. It identifies gaps targeted communities.
community. Way of Greater Toronto. the Neighborhoods Report aimed University of Toronto. The between community needs and
report illuminates trends in at neighborhood renewal initiative would spur years available services.
declining income, housing and identification of priority of programs and research in
quality, and fmaily poverty in neighborhoods Toronto and the GTA. 2010
some of TOronto’s high poverty
neighborhoods. 2008
Thorncliffe Park Women’s
Go Green Cricketfield forms
as a grassroot committee to
work towards the development
A HISTORY OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN
Committee is formed in 2008
with a vision of revitalizing
of a sustainable multi-sport
cricket field for at risk youth
in Thorncliffe and Flemingdon
THORNCLIFFE PARK & FLEMINGDON PARK
public spaces in TP (RV
Burgess Park) and Park. Ground has been
broken as of the fall of 2013
empowering women to make a completion of the project is
difference in their community expected in fall of 2014.
and public space
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 15Movement Patterns Frequent Transit Service
Flemingdon Park Mode split Thorncliffe Park Mode Split Public Transit Service Frequency Map
20 65
60
EGLINTON
DON MILLS
315
630
A
LE
ER
OV
635
510
50
Frequent Service- 10 min or better during daytime hours
105 Regular Service- every day until 1 am
Limited Service (often not evenings & weekends)
Car, as driver Car, as passenger Public transit Walk, bike Other Car, as driver Car, as passenger Public transit Walk, bike Other
Express-limited service
Community Bus Service
Proximity to downtown and relatively high and cycling compared to the GTA average (ERA
density ensure excellent transit access for both Architects 2010). Thorncliffe and Flemingdon are
communities. Buses travelling along Don Mills and no exception to this rule.
Overlea connect with many subway stops or other
important destinations. A direct consequence of this lower than average
car ownership is a large number of underused
Recent research on tower neighbourhoods in the parking spaces both in buildings and surrounding
Toronto area has shown that these communities them. Many community members share the idea
generally have lower car ownership rates, higher that these spaces could be activated in more
transit user rates and higher rates of walking interesting ways.
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 16Movement Patterns Pedestrians & Cyclists
Friday July 25th Friday July 25th Saturday July 26th
9-11am 841
12-2pm 430
12-2pm 445
19
52 14
462
395 422 40
430
22 1361 29 297
14
42 9
PEDESTRIAN & CYCLIST COUNTS The graphics above show average rates of
Flemingdon and Thorncliffe are both
FRIDAY
neighbourhoods that see a high rate of pedestrian pedestrian and cyclist travel counted by the
activity. A walkability workshop carried out in community mapping team in the summer during
daily average Thorncliffe in 2009 showed that walking was the hours shown above, and then multiplied by
pedestrians/cyclists the dominant form of transportation within the expansion factors to reach daily averages.
1. Thorncliffe & Overlea: 6018/188 neighbourhood. Further, 84% of participants
2. Thorncliffe Park West: 2629/165 reported that most travel to work or school was One important thing that we observe in the
3. Overlea & Don Mills: 3958/200 pedestrian traffic is the tendency for it to ebb and
SATURDAY
done within the neighbourhood (Hess and Farrow
2009). flo with the schedules of institutions such as the
schools and the Mosque. This has a tendency to
daily average overwhelm the sidewalks and intersections.
Although cycling is not a prevalent form of
pedestrians/cyclists
1. Thorncliffe & Overlea: 2228/68
transportation within the neighbourhood, it is
2. Thorncliffe Park West: 2553/221 common to see recreational cyclists connecting Walkscore Thorncliffe: 71
3. Overlea & Don Mills: 2459/105 with the Don Valley trails especially on weekends.
Walkscore Flemingdon: 63
Source: www.walkscore.com
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 17Movement Patterns Street Audit
Thorncliffe and Overlea Thorncliffe Park Drive East Overlea and Don Mills On a beautiful summer day we went out with
Crossing the street: Crossing the street: Crossing the street:
• No audible signal • No audible signal • No audible signal
the community mapping team-a team made
• Crosswalk paint needs updating • Crosswalk paint needs updating • Push to walk signal is not available up of residents and interested volunteers to
• The median has no curbcut
Sidewalks: • There are cracks in the intersection assess the functionality of the streets near our
• The sidewalks are not wide enough Sidewalks: Sidewalks:
• The sidewalks are interrupted by drives • The sidewalks are not wide enough • Don Mills sidewalks not wide enough three focus areas featured on the left. We used
• Curbs not marked for visually impaired • Sidewalks are interrupted by driveways • There is no buffer between sidewalk/traffic a standardized street audit tool created by the
• Curbs are not marked for visually impaired • Benches are needed
Comfort and Appeal:
• There are many shortcuts, bumpy curbcuts
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
• Shade trees are too small and too
sparse Driver behavior: B LV
D
Although there was quite a bit of variation across
TE WAY
• The landscaping is patchy and poorly • Drivers do not yeild to pedestrians, GA areas, the two most common comments were
maintained especially at right turns
• Benches and places to sit are needed about a lack of seating and a need for wider
• Some of the bus stops do not have sidewalks.
shelters
D
• There is trash on the pathways to the
DON MILLS ROA
restaurants and around the entrance to
the mall
D
OU L EVAR
AB Driver behavior:
ERLE
OV • Drivers do not yeild to pedestrians
• Drivers seem to be speeding
Safety:
• Car speeds are too fast
Comfort and Appeal: • There is too much traffic
• Benches and places to sit are needed • Drivers are distracted
TH • A sidewalk is needed leading to bus stop • There is suspicous/criminal activity
OR • Signs are not always clear
N • The bus stop needs better shelter
CL
IF FE
PK Comfort and Appeal:
.D • Benches and places to sit are needed
R.
• Bus stops do not have shelter/ benches
• The bus stop needs better lighting
OVERALL RATINGS
EXCELLENT
• Don Mills is very loud, trees would help
POOR
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 18Movement Patterns Focus area 1
Overlea is considered an attractive street, with
Linden trees lining the sidewalks and the median,
TH
D
OR contributing to pleasant sites and smells. Seating
AR
NC
EV
LIF areas can be found nestled in the trees near the
UL
FE
BO
PA Tim Horton’s. Through discussions on Jane’s walk
R
EA
K
DR
and other conversations we learned that the
RL
IV
E
EW
OV
ES
T
imminent redevelopment of the area for a Costco
is very controversial. People expressed concerns
TIM over the street trees and medians being destroyed
HORTON’S in an effort to accommodate more traffic for the
GAS BAR store.
The Mosque, located just beyond the bounds,
Northeast of this intersection accommodates
large groups of people at specific times of the
day and week. This critical mass, similar to school
traffic creates heavy burdens on pedestrian
infrastructure at certain times. Solutions created
and validated by the community include a
pedestrian scramble at this intersection and
widening sidewalks along Thorncliffe Park Drive,
Focus area 1: where most residents travel from.
Overlea & Thorncliffe Park Drive West scale 1”=50’
1”=50’
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 19Movement Patterns Focus area 2
Focus areas 2 and 3 are in need of better signage
at minimum, to improve access to the ravine trails.
K Access to the ravine was brought up in many
TH
PAR
O
O N
RN
EAT contexts as a major opportunity for improving
CL
.T. S
E active transportation in these communities.
FFI
TO
E
AD
PA
RO
KR
In Focus area 2 the need for more crosswalks on
DR
71
IVE
Thorncliffe Thorncliffe Park Drive was identified by a number
EA
ST
of residents. The 2009 walkability workshops in
Thorncliffe also highlighted interest in another
crosswalk on Thorncliffe Park Drive West to
accommodate all of the current jay-walkers (Hess
and Farrow 2009). Similarly, community mappers
noticed the tendency for people to cut across
paths and make shortcuts-suggesting1”=50’that the
54 right-of ways do not provide the most convenient
Thorncliffe paths.
Focus area 2:
Thorncliffe Park Drive East
scale 1”=100’
1”=100’
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 20Movement Patterns Focus area 3
GAS BAR
RAVINE ENTRANCE
GAT
EWA
Y B
OUL
EVA
RD
Focus area 3 encapsulates both an entrance
to the ravine and a major intersection with two
large schools on either side. Concerns about
SROAD
MILL safety at this intersection were brought up by
DON
community members particularly regarding the
large volumes when school gets out and also
MARC GARNEAU HIGHSCHOOL the tendency for young people to run across
OVE EVARD
BOU
the road. A fatal car accident in the previous
RLE
L
year was brought up as an example of these
A
dangers. Valley Park Middle School was recently
ranked by a Global News article as one of the
Focus area 3:
most dangerous schools for pedestrians.
Overlea and Don Mills
Don Mills is seen as loud and inhospitable by
the community members we talked to. Street
trees were suggested as a buffer to traffic noise.
scale 1”=75’
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 21Public Space Popular Destinations
Thorncliffe & Flemingdon are home to some
Sunny’s Food Market & Shops important destinations of all kinds. The graphic
on the left highlights some of the important
destinations that came up in mapping activities
with community members. Sunny’s Food Market
Ontario Science Centre is a covered outdoor plaza with a large grocery
store and many other shops. The Ontario Science
Centre is a landmark and destination for the
Don Mills & Overlea whole city, bringing families and school groups
into the neighbourhood regularly. Don Mills and
Overlea is an important intersection with two
schools: Valley Park Middle School and Marc
East York Town Centre Garneau Highschool. The East York Town Centre
and R.V. Burgess Park form the central nodes in
Thorncliffe and both ‘Iqbals’ a South Asian grocery
store, sweet store and restaurant and the Mosque
R.V. Burgess Park are found in a small shopping plaza Northeast of
Overlea.
Islamic Society
of Toronto
Iqbals
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 22Public Space Amenities
This map, created by the community mapping
In 5 minutes I can walk to..... 3
4
team explores the possible destinations from a
given location. We deployed groups to the three
focus areas and walked in each direction for
9
10 11
five minutes, noting all the publicly accessible
4
1
destinations on the map. This exersize is based
on the idea that most people will choose to walk
1 2
as a means of transportation when something is
8
8 5 minutes away. These maps provide illustrations
2 8 8
of the density of amenities and of walking
18 8
1
8
17
1
18
9
5
11
opportunities present in the neighbourhood.
1
2
8
2 6
“While Thorncliffe Park is walkable, it is not very
1
9 6
17
1
4
4
10 11
11
1
sit-able” (Hess and Farrow 2009). A desire
8
for more benches in both Thorncliffe and in
16 10
8 1
14 7
8
Flemingdon was brought up in many of the
11 9
4 8 8
4
conversations we had. Benches go a long way in
4
2
11 8 7 11 4 *6 green spaces *2 schools *1 retail store *1
4 10
10 community centre *5 bus stops *1 pump sta-
enlivening the public realm. If people are going
6 7
10
7 8
9 15
10
3 10
10
tion *1 health clinic *1 public meeting space
11
*public phone to spend time in public for anything other than
3 14 10 14
4 4
8 9 4
2
10
movement, benches are necessary.
7
1 2
8
4 14
10 8
4
20 6
*3 green spaces *3 schools *1 grocery store *5
While the amenities and destinations in Thorncliffe
12
8
4
retail stores *2 religious institutions *5 banks
*9 bus stops *2 pump stations *7 restaurants
14 8 *3 health clinics *1 non-profit service *1 funeral and Flemingdon may seem plentiful from this map,
home
it is still lacking in diversity of destinations when
8
*1 green space *1 school *2 grocery stores *11
compared to more compact walkable areas. This
retail stores *2 religious institutions *4 banks is why current changes in zoning that take effect
*7 bus stops *1 pump station *8 restaurants *3
health clinics *1 government service *5 non this summer (2015) are so important, as they
profit services *1 mailbox will allow for the addition of new uses within the
strictly residential areas.
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 23Public Space Stewardship
A recent publication benchmarking the success of municipal voting. In other words, we can infer that for these actions to make lasting change. It is
Toronto neighbourhoods highlights 4 areas where the population is engaged and there is plenty of important to note that much of the open space
Flemingdon and Thorncliffe are falling critically open space that can be activated. inThorncliffe and Flemingdon is privately owned.
behind: unemployment, social assistance, low The maintenance of grounds and landscaping
income and marginalization. While these factors As a reflection of these qualities (detailed on page consequently is often varied depending on the
provide many obstacles to the overall health 14), it is evident that residents have become active practices of each company.
of the neighbourhood, two areas stand out as stewards of their local environment, however
ranking above average: green space and levels of it is important to engage other institutions One consequence of private ownership is the
presence of fences between properties. The
existence of these fences are not necessarily
welcome by residents. A discussion with some
teens in the neighbourhood made us aware that
the use of greens for sports is inhibited by the
fences dividing up the space.
On publicly owned land, the community has
identified trash as an ongoing issue. This was
reported in the needs assessment survey
(Wijesuria 2010) as well as in many of our recent
engagement activites. It was also noticed by
community mappers that the presence of illegal
‘dumping grounds’ at points of connection
between the city and the ravine is prevalent.
Stewardship of the built environment is the
responsibility of private landowners, the City of
Toronto, and the local resident’s who call it home.
Source: Urban Heart Matrix,
Finding complementary goals within all of these
Centre for Research on Inner City Health interests is key to improving shared spaces.
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 24Summary of Opportunities and Challenges
Through engagement activities,
as well as primary and secondary
research, we found a series of
opportunities that exist within the
Opportunities Challenges neighbourhood that could have
potential to encourage more active
• Ample open space is available • Poverty and Marginalization impacting neighbourhoods. On the other
• Proximity to the ravine & recreation trails ability to engage & associated with poor hand, there are a series of key
• Cultural diversity (as an indicator of health indicators challenges standing in the way of
innovation) • Restrictive land use planning
• Recent changes in land use zoning will • Perception of crime in isolated public that path. This is not exhaustive list,
allow for new amenities and destinations spaces but a summary of the most relevant
• Local examples of great public space such • Poor access points to Don Valley ravine issues.
as R.V. Burgess Park • Unnecessary fences dividing up private
• Socially engaged residents property
• Great transit access (less reasons to drive) • Large arterial roads are both barriers to
• Underused parking lots provide potential pedestrians & can be dangerous and/or
for creative uses inhospitable
• Existing culture of pedestrianism • high differentials in pedestrian traffic flow
• Considered a ‘strong neighbourhood’ overwhelms infrastructure
meaning the City of Toronto recognizes the • Flemingdon Park can be difficult to
importance of investment in these areas navigate
• Lack of amenities such as benches and
trash bins make public space uninviting
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 25Sources
1. 8-80 Cities, ‘Liveable Communty Project: Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park’ Toronto, Canada. 2010.
2. Active Healthy Kids Canada (2014). Is Canada in the Running? The 2014 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children
and Youth. Toronto: Active Healthy Kids Canada. Cain, Patrick and Elkady, Terry, ‘Toronto’s Ten Most Dangerous Schools for Pedestrians’, Global News,
Toronto, Canada. 2014.
3. City of Toronto, ‘City of Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles: Flemingdon Park’. Toronto, Canada. 2011.
4. City of Toronto, ‘City of Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles: Thorncliffe Park’. Toronto, Canada. 2011.
5. Centre for Research on Inner City Health, ‘Urban Heart @Toronto: An Evidence-based Standard for Measuring the Well-being of Toronto’s
Neighbourhoods’. St. Michael’s Hospital. Toronto, Canada. 2014.
6. ERA Architects (Ed.), ‘Mayor’s Opportunities Book: City of Towers’. Toronto, Prepared for the City of Toronto, Canada. 2008.
7. ERA Architects et al. ‘Tower Neighbourhood Renewal in the Greater Golden Horseshoe: An Analysis of High-Rise Apartment Tower Neighbourhoods
Developed in the Post-War Boom (1945-1984)’. Toronto. Ontario Growth Secretariat, Ministry of Infrastructure. Toronto, Canada. 2010.
8. Hess, Paul and Farrow, Jane, ‘Walkability in Toronto’s Apartment Neighbourhoods: Preliminary Report of Thorncliffe Park Walkability Workshop’.
University of Toronto Department of Geography, Toronto, Canada. 2009.
9. Nayanthi Wijesuria, ‘Flemingdon Park Neighbourhood Needs Assessment Report-Community Well-being’ Toronto: Centre fo Community Leadership
and Development, Immigrant Women Integration Program, Toronto, Canada. 2010.
10. Saunders, Doug, ‘Arrival City: The final migration and our next world’. Toronto: Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2010.
11. Stewart et al. ‘Toward Healthier Apartment Neighbourhoods: A Healthy Toronto by Design Report’, Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal & Toronto
Public Health, Toronto, Canada. 2012.
12. Toronto Community Health Profiles Partnership (TCHPP), ‘Age Adjusted Diabetes Prevalence Among Adults (%) 20+ 2011’ Data source: Ontario
Ministry of Health and Long-term care. Map published 2014.
13. United Way Toronto, ‘Vertical Poverty: Declining Income, Housing Quality and Community Life in Toronto’s Inner Suburban High-rise Apartments’
United Way Toronto, Canada 2011.
Active Neighbourhoods Canada • Thorncliffe Park & Flemingdon Park 26You can also read
