Heart-shaped park opens at last

[attach]5321[/attach]Ward 16 councillor Karen Stintz finally got to realize a vision that has been close to her heart for some time with the opening of Heart Park.

“It’s very exciting to be opening Heart Park finally after so many years of planning,” Stintz said. “To see it actually come together is a great moment.”

The park, located on Avenue Road and Glenview Avenue, was formerly a bus turnaround known as the Otter Loop and was last used by the TTC in the 1970s. The site also included an old bus shelter.

The new park includes a heart-shaped path, which winds between the newly planted shrubs and trees.

“The actual park actually exceeded my vision for what it would look like,” Stintz said. “The plantings have been done very nicely and the pathways in the shape of a heart have really created a unique sense of space in the neighbourhood.”

Two of the newly planted trees were dedicated to deceased members of the community during the park’s opening on Dec. 21. One was planted in memory of Hubert Van Tol, a local resident who died five years ago in a cycling accident, while the other was dedicated to the memory of Allan and Ruby Facey, who lived their entire lives on Edgecombe Avenue, according to Stintz’ executive assistant, Adah Pentingill.

A tree lighting ceremony also took place during the official opening and those in attendance were treated to refreshments of coffee and apple cider as they listened to songs performed by Havergal College Chamber Choir.

Heart Park’s design was conceived by Karen Aiken, whose plan won a contest held to determine the layout of the space and who was also in attendance during the commemoration.

The 63-year-old bus shelter that once stood at the turnabout was the first portion of Otter Loop to be demolished in order to make way for the park. However, some local residents and members of the North York Community Preservation Panel had called for it to be included in the new park’s plan. But at the time of the demolition Stintz said the shelter posed a possible safety concern for the community.

“We tried to incorporate the shelter into the design of the park but it just didn’t fit and I think now that we see the results of the design I think what we have now is a much more beautiful space,” Stintz said.