Milliken Park

April 22, 2012

Toronto Region Conservation Authority

The Planning Partnership

Greening Plan Workshop

Milliken Park

April 22, 2012

Toronto Region Conservation Authority

The Planning Partnership

Greening Plan Workshop

Who are We? TRCA Our Watersheds

Humber River Rouge River Etobicoke Creek Mimico Creek Duffins Creek Carruthers Creek Petticoat Creek Highland Creek Don River Lake Ontario Waterfront

TRCA’s Vision: Our vision is for a new kind of community, The Living City, where human settlement can flourish forever as part of nature’s beauty and diversity. Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Mission is to work with our partners to ensure that The Living City is built upon a natural foundation of healthy rivers and shorelines, greenspace and biodiversity, and sustainable communities.

Who are We? City of Toronto Our Watersheds

Humber River Rouge River Etobicoke Creek Mimico Creek Duffins Creek Carruthers Creek Petticoat Creek Highland Creek Don River Lake Ontario Waterfront

Toronto Water oversees all aspects of water production, transmission and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater collection and treatment. Parks, Forestry & Recreation encourages residents and staff to maintain healthy, productive and balanced lifestyles. We strive to provide services to everyone in the diverse communities of Toronto, to enjoy full and equitable access to high calibre, locally responsible recreational programs, efficiently operated facilities, and safe, clean and beautiful parks, open spaces, ravines and forests.

Purpose of Workshop Today

What happens today?

1. 20 minute presentation

2. Table Group Discussion on Draft Greening Plan for Your Neighbourhood

3. Table Groups will speak to whole group for half an hour.

4. Wrap up by the organizers.

activities

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains into a marsh, stream, river, or lake.

definition

Map of TRCA Watersheds What we do

Humber River Rouge River Etobicoke Creek Mimico Creek Duffins Creek Carruthers Creek Petticoat Creek

Highland Creek Don River Lake Ontario Waterfront

Map of Highland Creek Watershed

Highland Creek drains into Lake Ontario

Humber River Rouge River Etobicoke Creek Mimico Creek Duffins Creek Carruthers Creek Petticoat Creek

Highland Creek Don River Lake Ontario Waterfront

What we do

Stormwater: What happens on land above the Creek, changes the water below

Understanding Greening for Highland Creek Definition:

erosion from stormwater stormwater pours into Creek

rain turns to stormwater runoff on hard paved surfaces

Water from natural precipitation that is not absorbed into the ground or evaporated into the air and then flows into a watercourse or body of water (river or lake.)

Stormwater runoff

Understanding Trees for Highland Creek

• Trees absorb rainwater and reduce stormwater runoff into the Creek

Comparison of neighbourhoods with low and high urban forest canopy cover

low forest cover

high forest cover

What can Green do for You?

Being green keeps our water clean

Energy efficient light bulbs save money and energy

Being green saves energy, water and money

Clean streams help to protect Lake Ontario our source of drinking water

Green energy lowers air pollution and saves you money

Recycling saves energy

purpose

What can Green do for You?

Gardens bring colour to your community

Parks and trails help keep you active and healthy

Clean streams keep fish and wildlife healthy

Trees absorb rainwater Rain barrels catch & store rain for gardens

Gardens bring fresh food to your community

Green Your House & Yard

Green Your Apartment

Green Your Park

Green Your Stream

Green Your School

Green Your Street & Driveway

What can You do for Green?

Green Your House & Yard

• Turn off lights to save energy and money • Disconnect your downspout • Set up a rain barrel • Plant a rain garden • Remove paved areas and make them soft • Plant a garden for food and colour • Grow plants for butterflies and song birds • Plant trees to cool your home and reduce runoff

Rain garden beside downspout Vegetable garden

Green Your Apartment

• Turn off lights to save energy and money • Grow a balcony garden for food and colour • Start a community garden • Plant trees to cool and clean the air & absorb stormwater • Pick up litter

Start a community garden Grow a balcony garden

Green Your Park

• Pick up litter • dump in the ravine • Start a community garden • Plant trees to cool and clean the air and absorb stormwater • Plant native trees and shrubs for birds and animals

Volunteer planting Urban Forest Canopy creates special places

Green Your Stream

• Protect the water from pollution stoop and scoop! • dump in the ravine or in the stream • release pet turtles, pet fish or fishing bait into the Highland Creek • Garden organically without chemicals • Filter the creek water by planting along the stream banks • Cool the water for fish by planting native trees and shrubs • Volunteer to help plant or clean up along the stream bank

Volunteer community planting

Volunteer community restoration

Green Your School

• Remove hard paving and create soft playgrounds • Plant native trees and shrubs for shade & absorb stormwater • Start a community garden • Set up rain barrels to water the garden • Become an Eco-School! • Make Litterless Lunches • Start a Walking School Bus • Recycle

Green Your Streets, Parking Lots &

Driveways • Plant native trees to shade and cool the pavement • Make paved areas as small as possible • Protect our creeks and lakes - use less road salt or no salt • Replace asphalt driveways with permeable paving that lets rain soak into the ground • Pick up litter

permeable paving absorbs rain

shaded parking

street trees reduce stormwater & increase property values

shaded sidewalks

What your Neighbours have done Local Greening

William To of Toronto Chinese for Ecological Living, leading a walk at Milliken Park

Map locations of current greening activities Where could they take place? Use the handouts

Map the trails or parks that you use

Greening Workshop February 2012 : your neighbourhood

Use the greening photos

Pick a map

Apartment building with parking lot

Banting & Best School Milliken Park

House with driveway & yard

Make a collage

Greening Workshop February 2012 : your neighbourhood

What we heard at the Greening Workshop

1. Lots of interest and enthusiasm to make greening improvements in your neighbourhood

2. Working together to share ideas

3. Love of your parks and green spaces

4. Strong interest in planting of all kinds

5. Growing awareness of stormwater runoff and the importance of infiltration

Your interests

Draft Neighbourhood Greening Plan -Connectivity Key connections

1. Between the tableland and the ravine / Highland Creek

2. Between naturalized areas

3. Between individual actions and Highland Creek watershed health

4. Between trees and the Creek

5. Between schools 6. Between

neighbours

Table group activity : Draft Greening Plan

What are the top priorities to implement and why? What do you need to make these happen?

What do you like? What have we missed?

Next Steps

Let’s work together to Green Your Neighbourhood! • Meet again soon on priority projects • Workshops with experts / other community leaders • Tour of related projects successfully completed • Put together action plans • Engage others

Sign up and stay involved!

Activities

Next Steps

Upcoming events and information: TRCA Highland Watershed events: www.trca.on.ca/highlandevents City of Toronto Water www.toronto.ca/water Information on Downspout Disconnection Program and more City of Toronto FPR Natural Environment and Community Programs www.toronto.ca/greentoronto www.toronto.ca/trails .

Activities

http://www.trca.on.ca/highlandeventshttp://www.toronto.ca/waterhttp://www.toronto.ca/greentorontohttp://www.toronto.ca/trails