CONSULTATION SUMMARY Public and Online Consultation #1 On December 4, 2013 the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport launched the first public consultation for the urban park and waterfront trail at Ontario Place, with a public meeting and 2-week online consultation. The purpose of the consultation was to introduce the project, the design team, seek public feedback on potential features, uses and an overall vision for the park and trail. Approximately 120 people attended the public meeting in person, an additional 51 people via live webcast, over 70 on twitter, and 319 people submitted responses to the online consultation. This consultation summary reflects key feedback from the plenary discussion at the public meeting as well as the input received from online participation. This report is not intended to serve as a verbatim transcript. The summary was written by Yulia Pak and Nicole Swerhun of Swerhun Facilitation & Decision Support. If you have any additional comments or feel that we missed something, please contact Yulia Pak by Friday January 24, 2014 at ypak@swerhun.com or (416) 572-4365. Key Feedback Received Many ideas and viewpoints were shared by the public during the first public consultation. The following 4 points are the key high-level ideas that emerged. They are intended to be read in concert with the more detailed feedback that follows in the remainder of the report. 1. Create a place that interacts with sky, water, natural landscape, and native flora and fauna in terms of design. 2. Create a place that offers playful and relaxing spaces, and places to learn and discover. 3. Make the urban park and waterfront trail at Ontario Place unique and iconic. 4. Create a place that is enjoyable and affordable for all.
I. Consultation Summary Following presentations on the new urban park and waterfront trail project meeting participants were asked a series of questions that focused on the vision for the new park and trail. The input received is summarized in this section. I.I PARK AND TRAIL USES Meeting participants worked in small groups to explore different uses for the new park and trail during different seasons. Participants were asked to think about a day in the park at Ontario Place, and used a set of photographs to support their discussion. Each table in the room was assigned one of the following profiles and one of the four seasons (winter, spring, summer, or fall): Local neighbourhood resident Tourist Family with young children Group of friends School group Older couple (65+) Winter Local neighbourhood resident Meeting participants said that they would like to be able to go for a romantic winter walk and spend time with their families. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: natural landscapes with native plant species a place to learn something about Ontario s natural and cultural history ice skating bonfire pits Tourist
Meeting participants said that they thought the park and trail at Ontario Place could provide a great opportunity for tourists to experience Canadian winter. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: an informal pond hockey rink with hockey sticks and skates available for rent transparent igloo shaped wind shelters that offer hot drinks Scandinavian spa with outdoor hot tubs campfires Family with young children Meeting participants said that there should be no barriers between the park and the water and there should be a variety of things in the park, not just a green space. The participants emphasized that the park and trail at Ontario Place should be bold and iconic to draw people in and gave an example of Cloud Gate (the Bean ) in Chicago as a destination, meeting point, and place to take an iconic photo. Participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: hot chocolate festival with liquor licence Christmas trees and ice sculpture festival Older couple Meeting participants said that it is important that older people feel comfortable and safe in the park during the cold weather season. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: well-maintained pathways and walking trails climate controlled cafes beautiful natural landscapes that would draw people to the park ice skating Spring Family with young children Meeting participants commented that they envision a discovery area in the park, where all members of the family can enjoy their time together. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: a place with different levels to observe cityscape in an indigenous coastal ecosystem
a place for a family to skip stones together a place that allows music to happen organically a location for bonfires to create a northern Ontario feel that is accessible and affordable for lower income families School group Meeting participants said that they would like to see a pathway that creates a journey through space and time in Ontario, including natural, historical and cultural features of Ontario, such as the Canadian Shield, glaciers, farming, First Nations heritage, coureurs des bois, etc. They highlighted that the pathway could feature both old and new aspects of Ontario. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: a sheltered forest from windblown paths an ice skating path Summer Local neighbourhood residents Meeting participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: a summer lookout spot an urban garden with fruit trees to encourage gathering and sharing areas for BBQs and picnics a kayak and boat launch on the west side of the causeway open water under the causeway to improve fish habitat a "Little Muskoka area with a replicated original shoreline of Muskoka with the plants used by the First Nations Tourists Meeting participants shared their preference for a bigger vision, with the park and trail being a start of a grand re-visioning of Ontario Place. The participants would like to see this place to be representative of the future of humanity in relationship with nature. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: a place where visitors can experience a truly sustainable and genuine relationship with nature and learn how to help nature thrive and prosper native plants
really good ice cream Family with young children Meeting participants said it is important that the park and trail offer activities for every member of the family, so all ages are entertained and happy. The group also noted that a family with young children is likely to come for a few specific activities, as children are likely to get tired after few hours in the park. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: food and snack stand, and picnic areas fishing gear and bikes available for rent places for play, including by the water School group Meeting participants said that that they would like to see programmed activities suitable for school kids of certain age groups. It should be a place of discovery, an iconic destination point, so that school kids would want to take a field trip to this park. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: a linear park with different transition zones dedicated to nature, geography, First Nations (e.g., including plants and herbal remedies), etc. a maze special areas to watch airplanes, monarchs, and/or birds Older Couple Meeting participants in this group said that they would like to have an area just to hang out in the park with their grandchildren and their families. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: walking trails and park benches to sit and feed squirrels Fall picnic areas a place for arts in the park, where you can see a movie, theatre, or come for a music festival Group of Friends
Meeting participants said they would like to have a place where friends could watch the lake, enjoy the views, and spend time together. The participants shared the following key points and desired features and uses: a scenic fall walk an area for picnics a place for lake viewing and fishing a carousel ride a place with an overall view of the park nonspecific gardens with trees and grass (natural garden, flower garden) a wetland that connects park to the lake and has a ravine feel to it I.II OVERALL VISION AND USES FOR THE PARK AND TRAIL Consultation participants were asked to comment on the overall vision, features and uses of the urban park and waterfront trail at Ontario Place, from their personal perspective. This section provides a summary of feedback from the public meeting and online participants. A park that is unique and iconic: Let the lake and the sky dictate the park experience and serve as an inspiration to create something unique for example, large frames looking out 270 degrees onto the airport, a skyline, the city, the harbour, etc. Create something different that is also distinctly Canadian for example, a maple syrup volcano. Provide a significant piece of abstract public art. The park and trail must be unique because it is the only way to draw public to this isolated place. Create a place that is as significant, as important, and as recognized as the iconic High Line in New York City. A place that is enjoyable and affordable for everyone: Consider a community oven, a farm, a farmers market, and First Nations public art to make the place interactive.
Take advantage of the unique surrounding environment. Create viewing platforms for kids to watch planes and boats. The activities should be inexpensive, both natural and artificial. Consider a water playground or a glass tunnel, group fitness classes, or a place to go fishing. Provide chess tables and bring food and snack stands, but not restaurants. A place to learn and discover: Create an ecological education centre for visitors to interact with bees, pollinators, butterflies, and plants. Create a place to learn about all waterfront communities as part of the Ontario history and heritage. A place that interacts with nature: Consider natural attractions, where nature is putting on a show for example, a squirrel obstacle course. Be able to bird watch and learn about the ecology I.III OTHER KEY CONSIDERATIONS GOING FORWARD Participants made a number of additional comments for the project team to consider: II. It is an important project and it is important not to rush. Do it right. Acknowledge and incorporate in the future design of the park the history of the First Nations, the traditional owners of the land. Take into consideration that the existing park lot has been used to move boats in and out the marina. Ensure that the existing access to the marina is preserved, especially from East Island via the eastern park promenade. The project needs to consider physical and visual connection to other downtown public spaces. Next Steps
The second consultation begins on January 22, 2014, with a public meeting from 6 to 9 pm in room 104 at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, and the launch of a 30-day online consultation at www.ontario.ca/myontarioplace. This consultation period will focus on presenting the concept design, including demonstrating how the public s input and ideas from the first round of consultation was reflected in the design, and asking the public for additional ideas and feedback as the design team continues to refine the design.