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Repair correspondence with Parks staff, Fall 2024

Sep 23, 2024, from Jutta to Nancy Carneiro, Ward 9 Parks supvervisor

to Keely, Adam, Michelle, Erella, elizabeth, Isabel, Lily, Nancy, Skylar

Hi Nancy, Skylar forwarded me this email chain. You and I haven't met, but I have a longish history with the park including the gardens. I think it would be good to meet all together and talk about a number of outstanding issues that have been troubling park users -- including:

1. the centre path -- there are places where the asphalt is narrower and so the park vehicles esp. the garbage trucks make deep ruts on either side (photos at the bottom of this email) -- a bit dangerous for bikes as well as unsightly -- can the path be broadened where it's too scant?
2. the abandoned (by Parks) cob kitchen, which is taking on water through the exposed roof line and has a lot of sticking-up nails where children like to climb. Assuming that the structure will be demolished, can we have a date, so that we can have a goodbye party?
3. the bake ovens -- (a) is there an update on rebuilding the bigger oven?
(b) the smaller oven has a door that's very hard to open and relock. That oven was a community project in 2000 but the door was fashioned by city welders -- could a city welder come and take a look, to see if it could be made to work better?
4. the sculptured stone heads that were removed from the marsh garden and taken to city hall -- Andrea Chow wrote that some would be returned -- is that still going to happen?
5. the new DTAH-designed native species gardens beside the northwest building, which appear to be off the Parks radar at this point, and are looking sad. Are those garden areas on your Parks-gardeners roster?
6. the tetherball fixture, which was without a ball all summer -- is there a way to resolve the jurisdictional issues (whether it's the job of Parks or of Rec to put the ball up)?

I'm sure there will be a few more issues, including the one Keely raised about the brick paths and borders that are of concern. It would be great to have a site meeting and address these issues all at once, before the snow flies.

Sep 24, 2024 from Nancy Carneiro

cc Keely, Skylar, Adam, Michelle

Hello Jutta, Thank you for touching base with me as I am still familiarizing myself with Ward 9. I would be happy to meet with you, both/all who are dedicated members of the local community. Andrea Chow is absent until October, it would be best to hold this 'gathering meeting' and have Andrea attend.
At this time it is an urgent matter regarding the need to speak directly to Skylar as the representative of the community gardens. This involves an immediate hazard control for both the public and Park's staff.
I appreciate your insight and have been informed of your involvement with Dufferin Grove over the many years. Andrea has briefed me on some concerns and shared positive news as well such as the grand opening of the new Recreation Centre. Please be aware that I am familiar with Dufferin Grove and most major parks within the ward. I have represented these sites in the past for the City of Toronto on a different scale such as performing the duties of the Artificial Ice Rink Supervisor at Dufferin Grove.
Thank you for your time and lets touch base the first week of October upon Andrea's return to office.

Sep 24, 2024, Jutta to Nancy

to Peter, Nancy, Skylar, Keely, Adam, Michelle

Hi Nancy, interesting to hear from you that you were working as an AIR supervisor before. For ice maintenance? The city surely does transfer their staff around a lot, they can pop up anywhere. A legacy of Brenda Patterson.

Skylar told me this morning that she already let you know her availability and she's just waiting for you to say when you can come by. She wants to take you around to the gardens in question. Communication always works better when you can have a look together. She also reminded me that she's asked for confirmation of Peter White's verbal agreement last year, that the circle garden is now officially the Seniors' garden. I've copied him here.
Re the other issues I listed for you -- here's a clarification: I didn't mean calling a community meeting. Such meetings take a lot of time that nobody has at the moment. The list is just to get some things settled -- most need short answers. I hope that will work out sooner than October.

Sep 25, 2024, from Nancy to Jutta

Thank you for the details, I have indeed reached out to Skylar, I will touch base again today...perhaps there is now too much cross communication within the group and Skylar may be awaiting to know if we are meeting as a group now. I appreciate the notice on this.
I do not have any documentation regarding the community gardens at Dufferin, I have indeed reached out to Keely Forth on this and have been briefed. Perhaps Peter White will have that agreement, thank you for looping Peter in.
The action items you have provided are best to address upon Andrea's return. I would prefer the General Supervisors attendance when we meet. Andrea is back to the office on October 4th.

Sep 25, 2024, Nancy to Skylar

Are you available to meet Thursday anytime between 8am-2:30pm or Monday anytime that works for you best. Thank you kindly.
Sept.25, from Skylar: Hi Nancy: I am available on Monday between 9:30 - 12noon. Looking forward to meeting with you.
Sept.25, from Nancy: Sounds Great Skylar, I will be there at at 9 am, please let me know if I may bring you a coffee/tea.
Sept.25, from Skylar:Hi Nancy: Confirming 9am on Monday, Sept. 30. No tea or coffee, thank you. I rarely drink either. Shall we meet in the DGP Clubhouse?
Sept.25, from Nancy: Skylar, Yes, we can meet there, I think you are talking about the 'washroom building', not the recreation centre. If you prefer another type of beverage please don't be shy.
Sept.25, from Skylar: Hi Nancy: No, not the Field House washroom/Clay & Paper building. I suggested meeting in, or outside, the new DGP Clubhouse. Re: beverage. Nothing, thank you.

Oct 1, 2024, from Nancy Carneiro

Subject: Dufferin Grove-On site follow up

To: Skylar hill-jackson <skylarhilljackson@gmail.com>, Keely Forth <Keely.Forth@toronto.ca> Cc: Andrea Chow <Andrea.Chow@toronto.ca>

I wanted to follow up from our on site yesterday. Thank you very much for your accommodation in meeting so quickly and it was a pleasure meeting you for the first time. I appreciate your dedication to the site and understanding of Park Standards. Your knowledge and teaching of the bounty of nature is something that this world needs more of. Some key points so that Keely is in the loop;
* Removal of all bricks from Dufferin Grove which are being used as garden borders is required as soon as possible due to seasonal changes and scheduled upcoming maintenance. Parks will be happy to provide staff support to help with your attendance if preferred. Due to this being a hazard as discussed the bricks need to be removed from the property by October 15th. As described in order to dedicate a garden bed it would require a proper edge as per Park Standards, I have included an example photos of proper edging. If you would like help on edging or to have our team perform a training session, please advise.
*Please provide a list of any signage you may request to mark out the community spaces/gardens. I can not promise these will be approved but I will absolutely try to have this implemented.
*I have requested for a site plan / drawing (can be simple) of the following; sites that are dedicated spaces currently in use by your team. Pin locations of supplies boxes/sheds. Pin location of where debris will be left for Parks staff to collect.
*Going forward please ensure that any new spaces that are of interest as a garden site be provided in writing with a photo of said space, a plan, and a maintenance plan for the subsequent years.
*For any requests of mulch/wood chips we ask for a minimum of three weeks in advance notice.
*For any assets that require removal/change or any you would like to implement this would require approval.

if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. I will be following up with Andrea Chow and scheduling a meeting with all parties involved. Friendly reminder if you have the contact for the indigenous gardens that appear to have abandoned.

Oct 2, 2024, from Skylar to the garden coop list

So, the City of Toronto Parks has given the DGP Garden Co-op until October 15 to remove the brick edging to the gardens, deemed a hazard to city workers. The Garden Co-op will be focused on removing the bricks (for the city workers to collect and dispose of) and digging an edging as featured above. We will start with the gardens along the fence line at today's Garden session (Wed 4-6pm). Many thanks for being a member of the DGP Garden Co-op.
Oct 2, from Skylar to Nancy, Keely, Andrea, Meagan Thank you for your follow-up email regarding the Dufferin Grove Park gardens site-visit, Nancy.
1. Confirming the garden edging bricks will be removed by October 15. Yes, the Garden Co-op members would like the city workers to collect and dispose of the bricks.
2. Yes, the Garden Co-op will dig a natural edge to the garden sites. Yes, the Garden Co-op would appreciate training and help with garden edging from city workers. We are not sure that we have garden edging tools.
3. Yes, the Garden Co-op will provide a site map featuring the gardens we take care of, and the location of the two garden waste pick-up sites.
4. DGP Indigenous Three Sisters and Medicine gardens contact: Emerelle.sliwa-julian@tdsb.on.ca
5. DGP Garden Co-op sessions: Mondays 9:30-11:30am, Wednesdays 4-6pm and Saturdays 10-12noon.
Oct 2, from Nancy cc Meagan, Keely, Andrea, Jutta
Hello Skylar, I am very happy we have connected and all of this is wonderful news. I am very happy to have Parks staff step in for the removal of all bricks.
2. Please let me know what day/time works best for your group to meet on site and do a little training session. We are happy to perform the work and help.
3. I sent a map to Jutta, cc you. I hope this suffices. If you would like me to print I can drop it off at your convenience.
4. I really appreciate the contact information, this is very helpful. Would you like to meet with them if a meeting is scheduled?
5. Good to know your schedule. I will advise the Parks team for awareness.
Oct 3, from Skylar: Morning Nancy: At the DGP Garden Co-op garden session Wed. 4-6pm we removed all the bricks from the fence line gardens, the Field House gardens and the Forest circle garden. The bricks are neatly piled in those three areas and ready for the city workers to collect and dispose of.
Oct 29, from Skylar Hi Nancy: I see that the piles of bricks the Garden Co-op volunteers piled up have been collected by city workers. Sadly, the workers took bricks that were not a hazard to anyone (between the two garden sheds) and also concrete slabs that were in front of the two garden sheds which we need to help us get the wheelbarrows into the sheds. We need them back.
We are ready to have the 'training' and the help you offered on how to 'edge' the gardens. We have garden sessions on Saturday mornings 10-12noon. It is important to have the gardens edged so city workers know there are gardens there, and so city workers do not weed-whack important pollinator native flowers and plants.
All the Dufferin Grove Park gardens contain very important native plants which are necessary for a variety of native pollinators: bees, butterflies, flies, moths, and so on. "No pollinators no food." The park pollinator gardens are important to combat climate change challenges. The Garden Co-op volunteers are committed to making all the corners of the Dufferin Grove Park pollinator habitats.
Nov.26, from Nancy Hello Skylar, I am unsure if this email ever reached you properly as I have found it in my drafts. I hope it was received well as I wrote it in response immediately:
Apologies if staff removed concrete slabs, they were instructed to remove all brinks outside of the circle gardens as we had discussed. The bricks in-between sheds ? which shed as we discussed on site to remove the ones closest to the 'children's' garden which was not under your purview.
The summer season has ended as of today and all our gardeners are off their contacts, we no longer have staff support for horticulture needs. The Parks have started winter operations as of today. We do have our wonderful Leadhand Horticulture who has helped you directly in the past, Cameron Glenn. I can make arrangements to have Cameron come in on a Saturday to assist with a training session, but he would not be able to create all the edges alone. What Saturday would be best? Tomorrow is a bit short notice. Also, do you have equipment for your team? You would need edgers and if you don't have them, I am happy to supply them for the training needs, etc.
Thank you for your time,
Nov.26, from Skylar to Nancy No, I did not receive a response from you, Nancy. Yes, the park staff removed the concrete slabs. May we please have them back? The slabs served the purpose of easier access to putting the wheelbarrows in and out of the garden sheds. Also the bricks that were between the two sheds were actually for overwintering pollinators. The bricks had holes with dirt inside the holes...perfect for pollinators.
I am sorry we did not have the park staff for 'garden edging' training and help, in a timely manner, as promised, because now the 'tents' don't know where the gardens are and tent-owners are parking tents and wheelchairs and other stuff on top of the garden plants.
This Saturday morning is the only available time I have. I am out of the country for two months from Dec. 3. Most of my volunteers are finished for the season, and my main volunteer is currently out of the country.
If Cameron is available this Sat morning I can make myself available too. I will try to get a couple of the volunteers to join us. We don't have edging equipment and would appreciate use of whatever you have on hand. That way we will know exactly what we need to maintain the garden edges.
Also, DGP was supposed to get back the sculptures that were taken from the park last spring. I sent in information about where to place the sculptures last spring and then heard nothing further. Thank you for checking on the status of the sculptures.
Nov.26, From Skylar Hi Nancy: It seems that none of my garden volunteers are available for Sat morning...

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