Review of Tuesday Evening's Meeting

The meeting was well attended with an estimated 250 residents (and numerous media) coming to express their views on the Withrow Park fence. The City of Toronto was represented by: Superintendent Tony Corrie, Toronto Police 55 Division. Don Boyle, Director, Parks & Recreation, South District. Reg Ayre, Manager, Healthy Environments, South Region. MPP Marilyn Churley of Broadview Greenwood was in the audience as was Paula Fletcher, City Councillor Ward 30. Riverdale's MP, Dennis Mills, could not attend but sent a letter expressing his position. He asked Councillor Paula Fletcher to stop the fence as it let one criminal have the power to disrupt an entire community. Comments from attendees after the meeting suggest it was a very positive exchange, one that probably should have occurred before the City started to build the fence. Rather than reviewing all of the opinions and positions voiced during this two hour meeting (let's leave the press with something to do) the following are the action items the City will respond to. First, the Parks Department will consider a number of options including opening access to the pathways and to one of the playgrounds. Second, the Police said that the park is no longer a crime scene but if more pesticide laden material is found they will reclassify it (or a part of it) as such. Finally, Public Health maintains its position that fencing the park will keep people safe.