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8 March 2005
Wabash Survey write-in votes and comments
Write-in votes (total votes):
Outdoor Skating Rink (9)
Café (7)
Skateboard (3)
Stage (3)
Trees (3)
Bakery (2)
Hot pool / ramp (2)
Dance Studio (2)
Squash court (2)
Tennis court (2)
Parking
"green" roof
Allotment gardens
Badminton
Brick oven
Climbing
Games room
golf range
Info Island
Outdoor pool
Playground
Reading room
Sauna
Seniors day care
Table tennis
Trampoline
Video games
Workshop
Comments from online survey respondents:
comments = Our neighbourhood is seriously lacking in spaces for older kids (12 - 18 yr. olds - it would be wonderful to have a facility close at hand with programs catering to this age group)
comments = ensure that there is comfortable viewing areas for parents to watch children during swimming lessons. Also the Gym viewing area at McCormack is great - along with the little snack bar - but without junk food (juices, muffins, rotis, fruit, etc)
comments = I am deeply concerned about the potiential of Wabash adversely affecting the availability and delivery of community services or atlernatives for South Parkdale. People south of Queen will not walk to Wabash jsut as few people from N. Parkdale do not currently walk (or drive) to Masaryk-Cowan. But with Wabash there will be more potential for the reduction of services because of the notion that the area is overserviced. Parkdale Community Centre (at Parkdale Public School) has experienced cutbcacks already during the past year. The new centre must be built with a commitment for at least no cutbacks to S. Parkdale services.
comments = I would like to know if all goes according to plan, when this community center is expected to be built and ready to open. Thank you.
comments = Most community centres are very uninviting. They're dirty, messy, loud, and traffic patterns are contorted, usually involving running a gauntlet of offices. I would like to see someone design a centre which is inviting, comfortable, easy to clean, and contains some secluded spaces within the public space. Sort of a combination library-cafe. Can you find an alternative to the big messy bulletin boards which are often the first thing you see? Say, a clamshell-shaped information island. Any community kitchen should contain a unique item, like wood-burning oven or island workspace so participants face each other while working. It should also be able to be set up for television production, say with open frame ceiling for light attachment, and plenty of split receptacles with well-signed breaker panels.
comments = the open fields should remain in the park to allow for sports like ultimate, soccer and football.
comments = A multipurpose space that could be used for dog training sessions, a space that could be used for yoga
comments = If there were a daycare/nursery I think the other facility would be a Parent Drop In. There are many young families in this neighbourhood and a drop in would support the community too.
comments = Public performance space for music, film, etc. is my top priority.
comments = good programs to utilize the facilities to their best advantage. would love to see a west end masters swim group formed.
comments = I would like to see an organic market and the kind of wonderful food that is available at Dufferin Grove Park. Food brings people together. Acqua Fit Classes and Prime Time Stretch and Strength Classes.
comments = We need to get this built! We are new to the neighbourhood (under 2 years) and have our second baby due in a month. This centre is vital to this community. Great work you are doing here! Keep it up!
comments = I would like to see all of the above, if possible, as we should try and meet the needs of as many people as we can.
I am not sure if a daycare is necessary, as there are several public daycares in the local schools.
comments = I'd be delighted to see businesses of any sort that support marginalized groups in the community, for example a bakery or catering service that employs marginalized community groups. It would also be great to provide a space for education of various sorts, as well as spaces that could be converted to emergency shelters on the coldest nights of the year.
comments = Although I didn't list community kitchen, I think it would be helpful to look into the great offerings of Dufferin Grove Park (e.g., community oven) to see if we can "import" some of their good ideas
comments = It would be nice if there was a small, inexpensive cafe.
comments = Maybe the rooftop garden could incorporate "green roof" technology for insulation/Kyoto purposes?
comments = I would like to see a pool designed to let in a lot of natural light
comments = I hope the design looks at some environmentally friendly, lower cost construction ways. Given the richness of our community services and the derth of services in other parts of the City I hope wse are frugal with our design
comments = Build Wabash. Childcare is so necessary in this neighbourhood and we can make it happen. This is an essenital and sadly under-represented service in this neighbourhood where the demographic says, demands, it should be different. Wabash can make a real difference.
comments = This park should continue to be a local park. By building a free parking lot next to the centre it will enourage parents to drive right into the park. Also I hope that the buildings will be maintained as part of our heritage. In other words, I don't want a typical suburban rec centre built with an accompanying surface parking lot.
comments = sauna
comments = Without knowing what the space set up is or the size of the space here are the suggestions from the Duncan-D'Sylvas: setting up a Parkdale version of the Dufferin grove park - with a community kitchen providing healthy food on weekends for skating etc - with the equivalent of the big oven; an arts studio, where children/adults can take good but inexpensive art classes, puppet making etc; a 'town hall' type room/space for members of the community to host meetings, educational workshops etc.
comments = We're looking forward to it actually being built.
comments = Community sports games, ie: basketball....
comments = Squash court
Ice rink (even just wintertime outdoor)
comments = Skateboard Rink outdoors. Youth will be skating outside the facility and in the parking areas if not provided. They congregate around community centres. A proper facility promotes exercise and is safer than skating around the street and car parking areas
comments = I would like to see the new building integrated with the existing buildings as much as possible. Including existing exterior facades in the interior design. I feel that it is important to maintain our history buy integrating old buildings wherever possible. There have been many successful renovations in Toronto that have provided a new look for a building without having to destroy what existed.
comments = A Community Recreation Centre is much needed and would be very much used by our family. It would put land to good use. We look forward to having access to the Wabash Community Recreation Centre.
comments = Cafe with healthy food
From faxed, mailed or drop-off survey respondents:
-rooftop garden café or at least chairs and tables in good weather to drink tour café fare from downstairs
-Would rooftop garden have space for allotment gardens?
-Keep existing building - historical ties to neighbourhood
-Children's programs - new mom's group and/or parent group
-Art classes/ library
-Maintain building exterior!
-Check out Trinity Bellwoods and Lucy McCormick Rec centres
-Outdoor skating rink
-community space, coffee shop
-no community kitchen - [to help homeless]
-gym that can be divided up
-basic cafeteria
-Therapy pool- for handicapped
-room for climbing
-Artistic play room
-be artistic - less sports focused!
-community bulletin board
-outdoor playground
-400 metre track
-theatre?
-before-after school programs
-music recording studio
-whole centre should be "green"
-Check out Dufferin Grove Park
-Centre should be open into park
-space for community groups to rent rooms
-Keep ties to existing building
-Thanks for all your hard work!
-study and control access to the site via Sorauren!
-Need more day care, not more pools
-Gallery space for artists
-dog splash pool
-sauna/ arboretum/ open gardens
-Trees!
-outdoor space for art programs, camps
-access for all, heart of the community, allow for continuing community input
-cooking classes
-skating rink, whirlpool
-Great idea - been waiting for years!
-outdoor rink with community kitchen and burning ovens
-leisure/relaxation room
-dance studio/ music room
-café - juice bar
-trampoline
-community theatre
-roller rink, party room, fountain
-workshop (woodworking)
-park cars near tracks
-First aid room
-Lobby with atriumto the building of your neighbourhood community centre. The sooner a significant amount of contributions start rolling in, the sooner the community centre will be a reality. Cheques can be made payable to City of Toronto with a notation that the funds are for the Wabash Community Centre Project Reserve Fund.
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