[MacLac]

I agree with you that the design changes are a loss, but my dude, the way you're talking about these fire pits, one would think they're gonna be setting the whole park on fire on a daily basis. Smoke from fire pits should have very minimal effect over the air in the park as a whole, unless we're adding hundreds of them and dozens of them are in use at the same time, for a long time.

Fire pits + homeless = Disaster?

 

[IanO]

Stroller friendly, accessible, plus they have talked about food truck events there and even market potential.

But my point still stands.

I had my first peak at the "park" yesterday. I am astounded by the volume of concrete this park has - looks like 40% of the total area is concrete, While that may be useful to host festivals - it is not very family friendly.

 

[thommyjo]

The central grass area is really the only area meant for “grass activities” I think. All others are heavily tree’d.

My guess is that a high emphasis was put in winter use-ability, which concrete can be cleared for nicely walking through, but grass can become easily damage.

Once tables and benches go in, that’ll help break up the sense “big concrete patches”. A lot of the eastern portion is seating.

 

[thommyjo]

Somebody convince the city to buy the parking lot on the south, convert to courts temporarily, then look to sell for redevelopment.

 

[Romanov]

Toronto lots waiting for redevelopment have recently been converted to temporary courts by private operators, potentially offering a revenue source.

As for the concrete, look at Paul Kane park. Lots of concrete and benches, with pockets of grass for laying on. The concrete at this warehouse park facilitates all the various planned activities so that we actually use the park instead of having another empty vacuum on downtown vibrancy.

 

[Out of Towner]

I agree with you that the design changes are a loss, but my dude, the way you're talking about these fire pits, one would think they're gonna be setting the whole park on fire on a daily basis. Smoke from fire pits should have very minimal effect over the air in the park as a whole, unless we're adding hundreds of them and dozens of them are in use at the same time, for a long time.

If I correctly recall, there were 4 of them and while they looked pretty good they aren't insignificant fire pits. Besides the smoke fouling air quality, it stains things, and there are ashes that need to continually be cleaned up. Wait until some yahoos start cutting down the trees for firewood. On a different note, as some other posters have pointed out, we're talking about a festival center with some park window dressings. Hence the abundance of concrete, "pavilion with programmable space," and parking for food trucks. Those aren't things that people relaxing at park on a warm day need. The way the park was originally presented to the public was changed by somebody.

 

[ChazYEG]

If I correctly recall, there were 4 of them and while they looked pretty good they aren't insignificant fire pits

For 4 fire pits to significantly impact the air quality to the point of preventing people with respiratory issues or playing sports from enjoying the park they'd need to be massive, and be burning stuff that makes a lot of smoke, for a long time.

 

[ChazYEG]

Fire pits + homeless = Disaster?

if we go down that route, Park + homeless = disaster, and we might as well not even have anything nice in this city ever.

 

[Gronk!]

Somebody convince the city to buy the parking lot on the south, convert to courts temporarily, then look to sell for redevelopment.

Fixed this for you:
Somebody convince the city to buy the parking lot on the south, and expand the park to include nice things such as a water fountain.

 

[Out of Towner]

For 4 fire pits to significantly impact the air quality to the point of preventing people with respiratory issues or playing sports from enjoying the park they'd need to be massive, and be burning stuff that makes a lot of smoke, for a long time.

Can't remember where I saw the picture of them but unless they've been changed, they'll stand a good 8 feet all. Why are fire pits in the middle of the city needed in the first place?

 

[kcantor]

Can't remember where I saw the picture of them but unless they've been changed, they'll stand a good 8 feet all. Why are fire pits in the middle of the city needed in the first place?

I don't think as much for roasting hotdogs and marshmallows in the summer as it is an attempt to provide a warmer place - psychologically as well as temperature wise - to encourage more/longer winter use. How successful this will be will depend - as with many other things - on who the features attract and whether that encourages or discourages broader public use.

In the summer, it will be interesting to see if city-wide fire bans will apply...

 

[TAS]

Toronto lots waiting for redevelopment have recently been converted to temporary courts by private operators, potentially offering a revenue source.

As for the concrete, look at Paul Kane park. Lots of concrete and benches, with pockets of grass for laying on. The concrete at this warehouse park facilitates all the various planned activities so that we actually use the park instead of having another empty vacuum on downtown vibrancy.

Paul Kane Park, my favourite, came to mind as well for same reason.

 

[ChazYEG]

Can't remember where I saw the picture of them but unless they've been changed, they'll stand a good 8 feet all. Why are fire pits in the middle of the city needed in the first place?

Maybe because we're a winter city and they want the park to be used as much as possible even in the colder months?

 

[roe_]

I think it would have been better to replace the concrete with something more natural (and likely cheaper). Lots of very nice parks in Europe and New York have gravel pathways that are far more natural, easier to maintain and improve drainage.

 

[thommyjo]

I think it would have been better to replace the concrete with something more natural (and likely cheaper). Lots of very nice parks in Europe and New York have gravel pathways that are far more natural, easier to maintain and improve drainage.

Can’t brush snow off gravel. All walkways would become packed snow, then ice.