OK, I'm sure I'm going to get heck on here but I just report what I see and if people don't agree with me, I'm fine with that.
I went to Doors Open at the CNE today and walked back downtown. I was passing by June Collwood Park, so I went to go have a look. I have been to this park 2 times in the last half year, since it's been open and both times the park was deserted. I figured it was chilly, so that's why nobody used the park. Well, I shouldn't say nobody used the park because there was evidence of a number of people using the park and that was doggie do-do. Yep, people are not cleaning up after their dogs and I noticed that was still a problem today.
What I saw today was a park that was completely empty, even though it was a sunday afternoon (3pm) and the temperature was 27c. There was nobody enjoying the sunshine, no kids playing in the park and not a single dog walker in sight. I sat alone in that park for about 10 minutes, filming and looking around. In that time I saw 2 guys walk through the park and one lady came in to put birdseed in a tree, then left but nobody was in that park to enjoy the park. I wonder when that will change?
People in Toronto are always demanding more parks, right where parks already exist. They demand parks they themselves have no intention of using. The park on the waterfront was moderately well used today, with people playing sports and cyclists quickly passing through but yet June Collwood Park sits empty.
My thoughts on June Collwood Park are mixed. I like when we take risks and do something different but this park just doesn't work for me. I don't know what it is but this park just doesn't hold my interest. There is no real focal point and the over-all look does not appeal to me. I don't feel good in this park, maybe that's because it was empty and I like parks that are full of life. (meaning people) Of course, the trees are not fully grown/green but I don't think that would make a difference. This park just lacks charm, beauty or something.
I love the parks in London, Paris and New York but for some reason, Toronto does not build the kind of parks I crave. I see lots of new parks going up but when I go there, I'm almost always disappointed. Toronto likes its rugged wilderness parks and its suburban grass & trees parks but we don't build big, city, urban parks. In a city with hundreds of parks (well, over 1000 in fact) why can't we have a handful of highly urban parks? Is that really too much to ask?
I realize Torontonians prefer cottage country to urbanity but I can't be the only person in Toronto who loves hyper urban spaces.
What's an urban park? I don't know the technical definition, I can only tell you what I think an urban park should be.
I like parks with great paving that use patters and colour to enliven the space. I like using trees, bushes and plants/flowers to define spaces and create beautiful vistas and view corridors. I want parks to have groupings with benches clustered close together, so people can inter-act. Toronto almost never does that. We space our benches out, so people cannot communicate with each other. I love parks that have a focal point, whether that be a fountain, art or planters with a beautiful flower display. I also like wrought-iron, heavy fences that define the park and different parts of it. I like indoor spaces and being able to use a park year round. I love cafes and food stands surrounded by patios where people can eat & drink. I like public spaces that have focal points that are conducive to street performers, events and public gatherings. Last but not least, I like parks that give people things to do. Why not put art galleries, museums or amphitheatres in parks? Community centres and libraries should be put in parks too. Then people will have access to washrooms, drinking fountains, indoor spaces to get warm in winter and other amenities most of our parks do not offer now. I stopped at 3 drinking fountains in parks today and not a single one of them was working. Not one! And speaking of fountains, the Salmon Run fountain beside the aquarium, is still NOT working. Funny, the fountains in the CNE are ALL working very well. (all 4 of them) Good on the CNE!
I see these kinds of parks in other cities when I travel. I don't see these parks in Toronto, probably because fountains, art, decorative paving, heavy wooden/metal benches, decorative lamp posts, wrought-iron fences and indoor spaces cost money and we all know, Toronto doesn't have money to spend on that! So I will continue to love my foreign parks and just have to settle for our wilderness (grass & trees) suburban-style parks, Toronto seems to prefer.
I'm still hoping for that one great hyper-urban park in downtown Toronto but I ain't going to hold my breath. I'll be somewhat content just to see Allen Gardens get its old fountain rebuild (if they follow through with that plan) and Berczy Park get an urban makeover, which includes a more elaborate fountain.
Now back to June Collwood Park. I'm curious what other people think about June Collwood Park, now that the trees have sprung leaves and warm weather has arrived? Am I wrong about this park lacking something or just not feeling right? I'm curious to hear what you all think of this park. After the Canada Square/Ontario Square debate, I'm pretty sure, my idea of a great park and most other people's, is quite different but it never hurts to debate the issue.
Sorry about posting on June Collwood Park here but I searched for a June Collwood Park thread and I could not find one, so since this thread has gone on to parks in general, I posted here. If there is a June Callwood thread, you can move it there if you want, mods.
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