LOCAL BLOGGER ON PARK'S BIRDS

Follow this link to read an amusing encounter with the park's visiting Snowy Owl - photographs too.

TWO IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Sunday, April 25th        PARK CLEAN-UP DAY
Saturday, May 29th      SAM SMITH PARK BIRD FESTIVAL
Details to follow

ROTARY PARK COMMUNITY DESIGN CHARRETTE

One of the issues around stormwater management in Sam Smith Park is the possibility of daylighting Jackson Creek, a buried creek that flows into and under the large swale near the Gatehouse.  Uncovering the creek and allowing it to create a pond or wetland in the swale  could provide a more naturalized solution that would enhance wildlife habitat and be a tremendous asset for our nature park.  The buried Jackson Creek eventually flows into Rotary Park where it enters the lake.  If this outflow were to be daylighted as part of the new design for this park, it would be an interesting natural feature there too.  Please attend this community charrette and share your views.

ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN ARTICLE ON OFF-LEASH DOG PARK IN SAM SMITH

Dogs will soon run free in an area of Colonel Samuel Smith Park. City parks staff were expected this week to install off-leash signage in the 0.6-hectare run of open field to the east of the RL Clark Water Treatment Plant.
Once the signs are in, the off-leash park is officially open.
Dog owners Joanne Tobler and Maria Doyle proposed the off-leash area last summer to city parks officials.
"It has been too cold. My dogs won't wear their boots," Tobler said, as she explained she had not been recently to the leash-free area of Sam Smith Park where she often walks her four dogs - a pug, pug-Shih Tzu cross, a Jack Russell-Corgi cross and a black Lab.
Last week, city council approved 29 new off-leash dog parks. The dog parks join the city's 33 existing off-leash parks.
The review of dog parks comes more than two years after council adopted the People, Dogs and Parks Off-leash Policy to deal with the growing conflict between dog owners and other park users.
At a public consultation meeting in December, approximately 65 people, most dog owners, overwhelmingly supported south Etobicoke's two proposed off-leash parks - in Sam Smith Park, and a second 0.7-hectare area on the southwest arm of Humber Bay Park West.
It was the largest turnout ever for a leash-free area proposal suitability assessed by the city, said Carol Cormier, city manager of parks, standards and innovation.
Fencing emerged as dog owners' primary concern with both off-leash parks.
Currently, a fence exists at the water plant site, Cormier said.
City staff will review the off-leash park's fencing situation in spring to determine whether additional fencing is required, Cormier said.
The Humber Bay Park West off-leash park is set to open in spring.
At issue in that dog park is a fence. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority wants it fenced, citing the danger of strong lake currents in the area. Dog owners largely don't want a fence.
Etobicoke's only other off-leash park remains open, but is threatened.
The dog park in Don Russell Memorial Park is a proposed site for the installation of an $800,000 FIFA artificial turf soccer field donated by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to adjacent Lakeshore Collegiate.
Benches and garbage cans will be installed in both dog parks. City bylaw enforcement officers will regularly monitor both off-leash areas.
City policy prohibits pit bulls, female dogs in heat and non-neutered males from off-leash areas.
Last year, three applications for off-leash designation in Etobicoke were denied, citing proximity to wetlands and conflicting existing park uses at King's Mill Park (north of Bloor Street West), Michael Power Park and Grand Avenue Park.

SNOWY OWL IN PARK - PHOTOS BY GEORGE RAIKOU

OFF LEASH MEETING MINUTES

Follow this link for the full minutes from the December 7th meeting at the Assembly Hall where the City's presented its plans to set up off-leash dog walking areas in Sam Smith and Humber Bay West.

JOIN THE ETOBICOKE-MIMICO WATERSHED COALITION

Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) is looking for committed individuals to become new members for the Etobicoke-Mimico Watershed Coalition.

This action-oriented committee will consist of a diverse group of individuals of all ages and backgrounds who come together with the common purpose to protect, regenerate and celebrate their watershed. The committee will have representation from the following groups within the Etobicoke and Mimico Creeks Watersheds:
Residents;
Community groups;
Other public agencies;
Businesses;
City of Toronto Community Councils;
All levels of government; and
TRCA.

As a member, you will:
Assist with the implementation of the Watershed Plans for the watersheds;
Work with communities to deliver watershed management programs;
Help build capacity for watershed management and sustainable communities;
Share your knowledge, experience and skills; and
Attend educational sessions.

For details and to download an application form, please visit: http://www.trca.on.ca/watershed-champions.

Please note that to become a member of the Coalition you should have geographical representation within the Etobicoke and Mimico Creeks watersheds and or Lake Ontario drainage area.
Not sure if you qualify? The above link provides a map where you can zoom in to your resident/work area and see the exact watershed you are located in within the TRCA region.  

We encourage you to consider applying to Etobicoke-Mimico Watershed Coalition and/or forward this message to others who may be interested. Please note that applications are being accepted until Monday, January 25th.  

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me with the information provided below.
Alexandra Papaiconomou | Administrative Assistant, Etobicoke-Mimico

Toronto and Region Conservation
70 Canuck Avenue, Toronto ON M3K 2C5
Phone: 416-661-6600 x 5569
Fax: 416-667-6278
Email: apapaiconomou@trca.on.ca
www.trca.on.ca

REBAR WINTER ART - PHOTOS FROM GEORGE RAIKOU

SAM SMITH OWLS

Here's a great shot recently taken by Brian Keaveney of an Eastern Screech Owl roosting during the daytime in a coniferous tree in the park.  Look out for them at this time of the year.  They remain motionless and are hard to spot. 
The Snowy Owl and Screech Owl are not our only owl visitors.  Barred, Short-eared, Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet have also been observed hunting or roosting at Sam Smith.

TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS BIRD WALK IN PARK

Sat, Jan. 23 at 10:00 a..m. • COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK – Birds

Leader: Anne Powell. Meet at the southwest corner of Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Kipling Ave. Bring binoculars. Morning only.

RESIDENT PARK KESTREL

Superb shot by Richard Dubiel of the kestrel that is seen daily in the park hunting or watching from the top of a tree on the spit.

WINTER BIRDING AT SAM SMITH

HISTORY OF NORTH AND JACKSON CREEKS

Michael Harrison, former President of Citizens Concerned for the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront, hosts a blog called The Lost Creeks of South Etobicoke.  He posts fascinating information with old maps and photographs of the two creeks, Jackson and North, that are referenced in the previous post.  Remnants of these two creeks flow through the Lakeshore Grounds.  There is great interest in the restoration of these two creeks by adding more water flow as part of the stormwater management initiative.  Check out his blog where you can see a photograph of the ornate stone bridge that used to cross Jackson Creek between the large and smaller swales as well as information on other lost creeks in our area. (The bridge is actually still there, buried and minus balustrades - look closely).  Double click on the 1936 map of the Ontario Mimico Hospital to see the path of these two creeks (map courtesy of Michael Harrison)

COMMENTS SENT BY FOSS TO ETOBICOKE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITIES STUDY

SEE POSTS ON THIS SUBJECT
POST 1

POST 2


Toronto Works and Emergency Services

Public Consultation Unit

55 John Street, 19^th Floor

Toronto

Ont. M7Y 2W1

December 18, 2009

Attention: Josie Franch, Public Consultation Co-ordinator

Re: Etobicoke Stormwater Management Facilities Study–Ward 6

We are responding to the community meeting you held at the Assembly Hall on November 12^th 2009 where the public was invited to submit comments on the implementation of stormwater management faculties in South Etobicoke. Your e-mail on November 23^rd indicated that preliminary comments would be acceptable into December given the amount of material to absorb. 

Friends of Sam Smith Park is a community group of local residents and park users dedicated to protecting, enhancing and preserving Colonel Samuel Smith Park.  Our organization has been in existence for over three years and our primary interest is to maintain the park as a nature park.  The park houses a diversity of environments that provide food, habitat and protection for the many species of birds, animals and plants that live there.  It is popular with birders, wildlife photographers and those who passionately enjoy urban, naturalized areas.

Given that focus, our first response is to indicate that we see this initiative not only as a means of improving water quality for fisheries, water birds and aquatic vegetation but as an opportunity to increase natural habitat in the park.  For that reason, we would certainly favour implementation designs that blend in with the natural environment such as wetland, wet pond and/or flow balancing system.  The mechanical systems, in our opinion, are inappropriate for Sam Smith Park.

There are a couple of creeks in the park that do not have enough water to support much aquatic life.  Jackson Creek is buried and we have watched the flow of water in North Creek reduced to a mere trickle over the years.

We would like to see Jackson Creek daylighted and augmented with increased flow from stormwater.  The water would flow into the northern swale (north-east corner of the park), creating a shallow wetland for water treatment, and run under the roadway into the smaller swale from where it could be piped under the gravel path south to the lake or continue as it presently does to Rotary Park.

North Creek flows into the wetland pond through a spruce grove forming a beautiful riparian pathway that attracts migrating songbirds in the spring and fall.  Water flow is erratic and insufficient; the pond fed by the creek is frequently below optimal water level.  Stormwater could be diverted to supplement the base flow and increase opportunities for aquatic life in the creek.

If a wet pond system is considered, then its location must be carefully chosen.  Aside from diminished water flow in North Creek, the TRCA sections of the park seem to function well and would not benefit from too much disturbance.  They probably would not be suitable for another pond unless one could be put into the cultivated meadow adjacent and east of the Lakeshore Yacht Club.  Other locations north of the bicycle path should be considered.

A flow balancing system might work very well in and around the lake outflow from the wetland pond.  We understand that such a system can treat water coming from both directions.  The two bays in that area are collectors for algae floating in from the east along the shore and can smell pretty bad in the summer.

Lastly, we would like the City to look at a stormwater consolidation scenario that utilizes more than just one site.  If all the stormwater in the South Etobicoke catchment basin flows into Sam Smith Park, then, naturally, a more substantial management system requiring ill-fitting, engineered solutions would be needed.  Even though there are exciting opportunities for habitat enhancement in this initiative, as we have described above, the park’s naturalized areas are sensitive and we fear that they might be overwhelmed.

Considering that the Etobicoke project is part of the City’s 25-year wet weather flow master plan, the recommendations and observations we offer here must be considered as merely preliminary in what we hope will be a longer consultation process. It is impossible to understand all the ramifications of each design choice in such a short time without all the questions being answered.

We would be glad to discuss this with you and look forward to the next stage of this initiative.

Yours truly

Terry Smith

Acting Chair, Friends of Sam Smith Park

CC    Councillor Grimes

        Nancy Gaffney, TRCA

        Laurel Broten, MPP

        Michael Ignatieff, MP

HUMBER COLLEGE MAP

Ever wondered what happens in those Humber College sites that went into the old, refurbished hospital cottages?

Follow this link to map of Humber's Lakeshore campus  and click on map to see readable, large-scale version

NEW CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMING TO LAKESHORE GROUNDS

The Guardian article below indicates that there will be a go-ahead for this project to be located at the south-west corner of Kipling and Colonel Sam Smith Drive, where the heritage orchard is located. There have been few, if any, public meetings about this for the community to have input into such issues as how many trees can be preserved or will there be underground staff parking to save green space.

   

December 10, 2009

The provincially-appointed supervisor of Toronto's Catholic school board made several more approvals at Wednesday night's board meeting to pave the way for the consolidation of two Etobicoke elementary schools at a new, to-be-constructed building on Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.
At the November meeting of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) last month, supervisor Richard Alway adopted a resolution to consolidate Christ the King and St. Teresa schools in a new school located on approximately 2.19 acres of land just southwest of Kipling Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard West, as of June 30, 2012. The consolidation is estimated to save the board approximately $509,753 per year in classroom, school administration, and operations costs, a staff report stated.
At the December meeting of the board held on Wednesday, Alway additionally approved the relocation of St. Josaphat to the vacated St. Teresa site effective June 30, 2012; and the declaration as surplus to the needs of the TCDSB of the current Christ the King Elementary School site, located at 3672 Lake Shore Blvd. W., and the former Brother Edmund Rice Catholic Secondary School, located at 55 Pelham Ave., effective June 30, 2012.
Proceeds from the sale of those two sites (estimated at nearly $14 million) will go towards the construction of the new, $8.3 million, 519-pupil school on Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.
With the relocation of St. Josaphat to the St. Teresa site, all three Eastern Rite schools (St. Demetrius and Josyf Cardinal Slipyj) will be located in the southern end of the former Etobicoke boundaries, necessitating Alway to also green-light the immediate initiation of a comprehensive review of all Eastern Rite schools, including service area boundaries and transportation service.

TAMARA SHEPPARD'S ARTICLE ON OFF-LEASH MEETING

Follow this link to the Etobicoke Guardian

More on the off-leash area from 27th Street Blog

LATEST ON OFF-LEASH DOG WALKING AREA

At tonight's meeting, City Parks gave details of two off-leash dog walking areas to be established at Sam Smith and Humber Bay West.  Their "People, Dogs and Parks" policy can be read on their website. The map below shows the location for our park.  It will be approximately one and a half acres in size and be on the R.L. Clark Filtration property behind their existing fence.  Toronto Water has given permission for this area to be used, maintained and supervised by Toronto Parks on a "we'll see how it works out" basis.  It will be located near the bus loop just south of Father John Redmond School, north west of the Power House parking lot.  There will be two access entrances from the roadway and it could be up and running in a month or two.  It will be unfenced for the time being - a fence may be constructed to enclose the area in the spring.  The area will be open from 6 a.m. to 12.00 a.m., Monday through Sunday  There will be no water for dogs to drink.  There will be no lighting.  Benches and litter receptacles will be provided.  Parks may put up coyote warning signs because coyotes have been seen recently in the wooded area close by. Concerns were raised that coyotes might be removed if they were seen as a threat to the dogs.  The City has a Code of Conduct for off-leash areas and their by-law officers, we were told, will enforce it.  The Dog Owners Association that got this rolling has no legal responsibility.
DOUBLE-CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS BELOW FOR BETTER VIEW

SNOWY OWL REPORT

Two photographers in the park today reported seeing a snowy owl in the yacht basin, on the 4th last dock, on the east side.
This is an extremely early sighting for this species in our park.