Potential Land Sale – Stoney Orchard & Timber McArthur Parks

The City currently has a linear open space/park system that extends from 16^th to 28^th Streets East along the top of the East bluff. The area is shown in green on the map below and includes Stoney Orchard Park and Timber McArthur Park. Together these two park areas are 20.8 ha (51 acres). There is a small play structure in Timber McArthur Park and a trail that connects from 21^st Street East north to 28^th Street East.

There is a request before Council regarding the potential sale of a piece (0.518 ha, 1.3 acres) of this parkland. The blue dot (on the map on the left) shows the area that is being considered for sale on the north side of 23^rd Street East, west of École catholique Saint-Dominique-Savio. The map on the right is a closer view of the area being considered for sale. The trail would continue to provide a linkage through this area and would not be removed.

In order to consider this matter, as an initial step, Council has requested that staff undertake a survey of residents within 500 metres of the lands being considered to gather data on park usage. People who do not live within a 500 metre radius of the lands under consideration may complete the survey; however, please identify on the survey that you live outside of the 500 metre radius. The survey was live from Thursday, May 28 to Friday, June 12, 2020. Thank you to those who took the time to complete the survey.

At its meeting on October 19, 2020, City Council approved the following recommendation:

R-201019-004
Moved by Councillor Thomas
THAT in consideration of Staff Report CS-20-104 respecting the potential sale of a portion of Timber McArthur Park (0.518 ha), City Council:

1. Receives the report including acknowledging the receipt of the public survey results and petitions; and
2. Directs staff to forgo proceeding with the remaining steps identified in the Recreation, Parks and Facilities Master Plan for the sale of parkland.

Carried.