The theme of the 2015 Toronto Park Summit was sharing insight on park successes and challenges from across Canada. We spoke to the three speakers at the Toronto Park People-hosted event about what they think parks need to succeed and what they learned from their first cross-Canada summit experience.
KEVIN HUNTER
Director of Marketing and Community Engagement
Assiniboine Park Conservancy, Winnipeg
WHAT PARKS NEED TO SUCCEED: Champions and an awareness of community needs
We have champions on a community level, a business level and a government level. You see those people who are really passionate about what parks are, what they can be. When you see those groups mobilize, and be given and develop mandates for what parks can be and the vision for them, you really start to see things happen.
All these parks are so different. For our park what we needed was community gathering spaces, which we didn’t have. So we built a new restaurant, new family centres, theatres to bring people in, and those types of events. But for other parks, it’s going to be different things that bring those people in, whether it be animal focused or community-focused. So there’s a constant theme — it’s really whatever’s specific to your park that brings the community to you and serves those functions. My background is in marketing so I really look at it in a customer-focused standpoint. It’s not about what we want; it’s about what the customer wants. And those are the users of the park, so as long as … we can hear what those needs are, what those wants are, and we’re able to match (them), I think we’re away to the races.
WHAT HE LEARNED FROM THE SUMMIT: Big or small, all parks face similar challenges
In our organization, in Assiniboine Park Conservancy, we’re dealing with multimillion-dollar campaigns … so we deal with things on a very large level. But the challenges that we have are very similar to those that are faced in smaller parks and the solutions that are being looked at and developed for those challenges are actually similar as well. (The) one thing that I’ve learned here is that that passion for parks is really across the board and that everyone is looking to solve those issues that we’re all facing in very unique and creative ways and having a lot of success doing it.
What has set Winnipeg’s parks — and Assiniboine Park Conservancy — apart: Vision
The Assiniboine Park Conservancy was created by the city of Winnipeg so the vision, the origin of our organization, the genesis of it, came from those politicians. I guess the best way to put it is we didn’t start by having to sell this thing uphill. That vision was already there for what Assiniboine Park and what Assiniboine Park zoo needed to be. We were handed that task, that mandate to come up with the most bold vision we could. So being given that kind of green light to create just the biggest and the best things really started us off on a good foot.
ALI SHAVER
Park Avenue Community Oven
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
WHAT PARKS NEED TO SUCCEED: flexibility
Some communities want ABC in their parks and other communities don’t want that at all. For me and the oven, we wanted an oven in our park and other people really didn’t because an oven requires picnic tables and they don’t want picnic tables … so I don’t think all parks can be everything to everybody. I’m not sure what the one unifying thing would be for every park because I think it depends on what that park’s context is, what you want to accomplish there. Do you want to do sports, do you want it for quiet time?
There must be some way to design parks so that they have flexibility of use. So as a user you can sort of adapt and create the space or the thing that you want to do in that park. And then someone else can come after me and do something else. A sense of flexibility and a sense of ownership too, that you can sort of take ownership in your park and create what you want… Adaptability … I think that would be awesome.
WHAT SHE LEARNED FROM THE SUMMIT: Cider-pressing and a container-ship cafe
There are two ideas that I would love to try to get going in Dartmouth. The cider, I think that would be an awesome compliment to the oven and the urban orchard. We won’t have apples for quite a while but we have a farmer’s market down the road from the oven and they donated apples to our events so we can turn it into a cider mill as well. I think that would be awesome. We have a strong history of apple growers in the valley in Nova Scotia, so it connects really well.
The other project I’m really excited about is the container ship coffee shop in McCormick Park. We’re a port city, Halifax, so we have a lot of containers and they just sit around and sometimes they’re full, and sometimes they’re empty. So the container could connect to our history and our big industry in Halifax. So yeah those are really exciting projects that i think could translate really well to Halifax…I’m going home so inspired.
Something Halifax’s parks are doing that sets them apart: New ideas are okay
We look to Toronto for our inspiration and the evidence that says that ‘okay, this can happen and it’s not impossible.’ This is not something I’m involved in at all but we have a number of municipal beaches. Last summer, I think, or maybe two summers ago, the city decided to offer free swim lessons to all kids. You have to sign up and get a spot, but I think that’s an amazing initiative.
MALCOLM BROMELY
General Manager, Parks and Recreation
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
WHAT PARKS NEED TO SUCCEED: More openness from government
I would like to see government and staff and agencies work hand in hand toward a shared vision with residents. (And to see them) harness the power of people together toward maximizing public space, helping people realize the full potential of these green spaces, particularly in urban areas where they’re increasingly under pressure to densification. And so I think we’re at an era now where no longer is the responsibility of parks and recreation solely with the professionals and with the government. It has to be a shared vision enabled and encouraged by government.
WHAT HE LEARNED FROM THE SUMMIT: Power of the people
(The summit) continued to reinforce just the passion and the power and the impact that one individual could have on a small group. Never underestimate the power of a small group of people and what they can achieve. Whether it’s a community bake oven or a master plan or a multimillion-dollar facility, it usually starts with a good idea (and) a small group of people who aren’t presented with too many roadblocks.
What other cities can learn from Vancouver: Public engagement is key
I think they can learn about the power of engagement. It doesn’t always go smoothly; there are times where, you know, conflict occurs. But I think if you have a positive attitude and respect for the public and respect for public engagement, you’ll get through those rough times. I would think that the philosophy of public engagement and encouraging people to be involved is something that other cities can only benefit from. The society and the culture (of Vancouver) has a long history of it, where there’s a high demand for that. People expect to be involved in decision-making that affects their lives. The landmass is small (and) it’s extremely dense. Greenpeace started there, the Suzuki foundation started there. A lot of movements of advocacy and protection of the environment started in Vancouver and that energy still exists.
