THANK YOU! Town Square Phase 1 opens to blue skies
Residents flock into the new Town Square after the official opening. Photo courtesy Erin Hatfield
Phase 1 of the new Sorauren Park Town Square — Toronto’s newest magical public space — opened July 7 to rave reviews and under blue skies despite the day’s rain.
While the Farmers Market bustled and soccer players hustled on the park’s sports field, the Square was officially opened by Parks staff removing fencing, on cue from Councillor Gord Perks, who gave welcoming remarks.
Prior to the opening, Company Blonde Dance Projects performed an initiation dance on the Square. Chander Chaddah, a board member from the Wabash Building Society, thanked Square supporters and gave a brief history. The Wabash Building Society is the non-profit community group that initiated and shepherded the project in collaboration with Parks, Forestry and Recreation and funding groups.
After the fence opened, everyone was invited to join a Zumba dance on the Square. Meanwhile, the new all-volunteer Adopt-A-Tree crew, led by coordinator May Haslam, furiously attended to the 40+ new trees and hedges with plenty of water.
Visit the Parkdale Villager website for story and photo.
BEFORE: the derelict and off-limits industrial land prior to the new Town Square and green spaces
SPECIAL THANK YOU to these supporters:
Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation: Alex Mut, Peter Didiano, Peter White, Lennox Morgan, Trena Cesario, Rob Richardson and many other PFR staff
Live Green Toronto: Jeff McCormick and staff
TD Friends of the Environment: Carolyn Scotchmer and staff
Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation: Jayne Fry and board
Sound system: Natalie Waddell and Jorge Miguel
Company Blonde Dance Projects
Diane, the awesome Zumba instructor
The Planning Partnership: Town Square designers
Sorauren Farmers’ Market
Roncesvalles-Macdonell Residents’ Association, which started the Sorauren Park initiatives many, many years ago
The many Phase 1 donors listed on the website and now on the Phase 1 donor banner posted in the park on the east-side fence
Phase 2 fundraising is now under way to furnish the Square with benches, a bake oven, an iconic trellis from which to hang movie screens, donor walls and art, and more. Learn about the Buy a Bench program (limited benches available), how to get a tax receipt, and how to join the donor wall.
See you at the Town Square!
Sorauren Park 