b'PARKLANDThe tools available to municipalitiesdifficult to get a parcel that is big enoughFor municipalities that are struggling to fund the shortfall in developmentforprogrammed sports, such as soccer,to find creative solutions for parkland charge collections are property taxesin areas of intensification. creation, it can be helpful to look to or user fees. And development chargesHow does a city create high-qualityprofessionals who study and understand arent always an option to updateplaces for people to livewhen coststhis work. These arethe landscape existing parks to changing communityto buy and develop parkland in built- architects, planners and others that needs. Charging a user fee for accessup areas make projects seeminglyhave the training and experience to to parkland should be a clear lose-loseunaffordable? help. Stormwater management, low-situation, so the only option is propertyimpact development and brownfield taxes, which has numerous and variedCREATIVITY CREATES OPPORTUNITIES remediation are all taught in landscape priorities all competing for funding.Despite the challenges faced byarchitecture and other professional During a pandemic, with businessesmunicipalities to balance and manageallprograms across North America. restricted and many lay-offsoftheir responsibilities, many citiesProfessionals will be capable of leading experienced, it is even harder toacross Canada have been incrediblythese projects for years to come. balanceall ofa municipalitys fundingcreative in finding new ways to build needs against the desire to keep lifeparkland and open space.Across Canada,COVID-19 has challenged all of us to do affordable for its residents. innovation is allowing municipalities tothings in new ways. For example, think Recent grant programs, throughcreate new public spaces in places notabout the move to virtual meetings and provincial and federal governments,considered before.staff working from home. Consider are an important source of fundingConsider projects such as TheBentwayinthe potential impact this might have on to help municipalities move forwardToronto. That project turned unusedair pollution and even infrastructure important city building projects, butand forgotten space under an elevatedrequirements in the future. We can all only during the pandemic. Thesehighway into an award-winninglearn important lessons about how to include the recent COVID-19 Resiliencerecreational space with ice loop, walkingchallenge traditions and find new ways stream of the Investing in Canadatrailsand unprogrammed places forto solve problems.program. Municipalities can takepeople. advantage of these programs to getNOT THE OLD NORMALprojects done that otherwise might notAnother example of found spaceCanada has now acquired and is be funded, and that have the additionalin Toronto is the transformation ofdistributing newlyapproved vaccines, benefit of providing job opportunities fora cross-city hydro corridor into thewithfront-line health-care workers local businesses. Meadoway. It features extensivehaving received their first dose.The walking trails, community gardens andhope is that sometime in 2021Canada Be thoughtful about location andother amenities to increase the quality ofwill get back to normal. But we must community needs life forresidents. work hard not to forget the lessons of The other main challenge faced byNation-wide examples includeCOVID-19and what is important. builders of green space is that there is aVancouvers planned park on top limited supply of land. So how are newofOakridge Mall,which will create newMaybe children have it right. Their parks located? priorities are playing at the local park, acres of parklandin thecentreof thehaving safe spaces to hang out and Many cities have master plans thatcity.Calgarys Flyover Park, Montrealsfriends. As our circles tightened with define the standard for parkland supplyParc Frdric-Back and EdmontonsHigh to achieve, such as one hectare ofLevelLine are all exciting examples ofrestrictions, theses are the necessities parkland per 1,000 residents.For thoselooking at land differently and findingthat came into clear focus.municipalities without park mastercreative ways to make high-quality openComing out of pandemic life and into plans, it can be difficult to know how tospaces forpeople. recovery, lets try and make sure that a prioritize andfocus efforts where mostnew normal is establishedone where needed to address shortages in parklandChanges in policy around who has provision. priority in a citycan help to find newthe mental and physical health benefits places for parklandas well.For instance,of outdoor spaces are valued and An additional pressure is seeninlargeran emphasis on active transportationcontinue to be prioritized as essential to cities with booming developments andthat prioritizes cycling lanes, pathwayshealthy andliveablecities.intensification in built-up areas, spurredand walking infrastructure removes by provincial growth targets. thepriorityfrom the commuter in aCynthia Graham, OALA, CSLA, is the co-Naturally, development lands arecar.The creation and emphasis on publicchair of the Municipal Outreach Committee limited, which leads to increases in thetransit through cities works the sameof the Ontario Association of Landscape land prices; however, that also meansway. Suddenly, the need for massiveArchitects. She is also the Acting Director that municipalities have to pay thoseparking lots downtown is reduced, and Environmental Services Division for same land values when trying to acquirea transformation to parkland can bethe City of Hamilton. As well, Cynthia is a parkland.This can make it challengingfacilitated. This has been a successfulboard member of the Canadian Society to achieve the balanced neighbourhoodsstrategy across many municipalities of Landscape Architects. Graham can be that contribute to a high quality ofto depave, and create paradise, withreached at cynthia.graham@hamilton.ca or life.Additionally, it isparticularlyapologies to Joni Mitchell.905-546-2424 ext. 2337.16 2021/22 OALA SOURCE GUIDE'