Consultations for Renewal of George Hislop, Norman Jewison & Alexander St. Parks Underway

 The City has started the final series of consultations for the revitalization of  George Hislop and Norman Jewison Parks and Alexander Street Parkette. The first (online) public consultation was on Thursday, Nov. 5.  A second online public consultation will take place in February.   

A master plan for the three connected parks parallel to Yonge Street (George Hislop, Norman Jewison and James Canning Gardens) was completed in 2017 and James Canning Gardens is now being renovated in line with that plan.

Alexander Street Parkette, which was not included in the 2017 master plan, has been added to the scope of the project. 

According to the City's Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division, the consultation process will "refresh and build on engagement completed to date for the linear parks, and provide opportunities for additional input during the design process. While the master plan identifies a conceptual design framework for the park with activity areas, planting, seating, lighting, and paths etc., finalizing the park concept plans to meet current community needs will be part of the exercise.  George Hislop Park will also have an integrated public art/design element that celebrates LGBTQ2S+ history, leadership, excellence and resilience - a new feature that was not identified in the master plan."
 
The consultations, held between September 2020 and February 2022, include:

• 3 public information events, the first of which was held November 5; the second will be held in early December.   
• several  stakeholder (Community Resource Group) review meetings (online), the first of which has already been held. CWNA is a participant. 
• physically distant interviews/site walks with vulnerable communities/park users (in person)
  
• public feedback via email, phone, mail and  online survey.  
  

George Hislop Park is currently closed and will be the first of the three parks to be rebuilt. Parks & Foresty's most optimistic estimate for George Hislop is a start date of mid-2021 with completion in late 2021 or summer 2022.  The other parks will follow.  

Ongoing updates are being posted on the City's web page, Yonge Street Linear Park Improvements.  ​