Coming to Council:
MM7.11 - Advancing University Park - by Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, seconded by Councillor Dianne Saxe
Notice of Motion
Consideration Type: ACTION
Wards: All
Attention
* Notice of this Motion has been given.
* This Motion is subject to referral to the Executive Committee. A two-thirds vote is required to waive referral.
Recommendations
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, seconded by Councillor Dianne Saxe, recommends that:
1. City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate with the Matthews Foundation and the Michael Young Family Foundation to receive a donation to fully fund the costs of initiating and undertaking a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, Preliminary Design, and related studies for University Park, including at a minimum the northern section of University Park (Hoskin Avenue to College Street), including the cost of dedicated City staff in appropriate divisions to lead the project as well as consultant costs to undertake the study, in compliance with the City’s Donations for Community Benefits Policy.
2. City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and sign on behalf of the City a donor agreement with the Matthews Foundation and the Michael Young Family Foundation, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the City Manager and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, and including a term that subject to applicable access and privacy legislation the agreement will be made available to the public.
3. City Council authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to allocate the donated funds to appropriate divisions.
Summary
In July 2022, City Council adopted Item 2022.EX34.4 - Priority Downtown Parks and Public Realm Opportunities. In this report, City Council endorsed staff recommendations for advancing work on much-needed major parks in the core of the City, including University Park.
The northern section of University Park, from Hoskin Avenue to College Street, would convert the western (southbound) section of Queen’s Park Crescent into parkland, including pedestrian space and a cycle track. This would integrate existing parkland around the Ontario Legislature (Queen’s Park) with greenspace on the University of Toronto Campus, creating 45 acres of connected parkland. Southbound motor vehicle traffic would be diverted to the eastern Queen’s Park Crescent roadway.
The City does not currently have capacity to prepare the environmental assessment for this important public park, which is the essential next step towards realizing it. The Matthews Foundation and the Michael Young Family Foundation have offered to fill this gap by funding dedicated City staff to prepare and submit an environmental assessment of the northern section of University Park. The University of Toronto has affirmed its support for the University Park initiative and committed to a funding contribution specifically targeted to the enhancement of University campus lands within the precinct.
By adopting this Item, Council will authorize the City Manager to determine the best way to take advantage of this generous offer, while ensuring that the terms of the donation are made public.
