Design Review of Hinge Park Based on The Seven Cs Framework for Evaluating Natural Play Environments

Photos from PWL Partnership

This presentation provides an introduction to a new community park that is generally referred to as Hinge Park, although has not been formally named by the Vancouver Parks Board. This park is located next to the 2010 Olympic Athletes Village, or what is now known as the Southeast False Creek Neighbourhood. Overall this park is a wonderful example of a master planned site that provides unique elements for play and relaxation.

The presentation includes a unique site tour created using Google Earth Pro, and it describes the park design elements and how they support the broader design goals of the community. There is also discussion of the artificial habitat island (or beer island as it is often called), the planning policies of the city that are supported by this project. The presentation also describes the Seven Cs, an evidence-based framework for evaluating the quality of natural outdoor play spaces for children. Several lessons for the City of Toronto are also suggested.

This presentation was delivered in an urban park planning class in the Master of Urban Planning program at Ryerson University in Toronto.





The following slide summarizes my own personal evaluation of this space:

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Building Transit Equity in Toronto

I am pleased to share a new research paper called Toronto Transit Choices: Evaluation of the
Downtown Relief Line + SmartTrack Options (Click to download) that I crafted for Ryerson PL8105 - Planning for Sustainability last semester.

This project is a comparative evaluation of two important options for expanded heavy rail transit service in Toronto. To accomplish this task I developed a GIS database of the current subway network in Toronto, and two custom future scenarios: the 'Downtown Relief Line' (DRL) that has been planned for many years (the DRL has no formal route maps yet, so the route shown is an educated guess based on extensive research), and new Mayor John Tory's 'SmartTrack' line based on electrification of the existing GO network. The current subway network and the proposed routes are shown below:



Additionally, the following three maps highlight the population density, median household incomes and visible minority populations living in close proximity to each current and proposed network.

In the paper I also summarized these variables within 800 metres of the current network and each proposal, in order to compare and contrast who would benefit from expanded transit service. Among other conclusions, I recommended the City of Toronto prioritize the SmartTrack plan in the short term, and also continue ongoing development of the DRL in the longer term.

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Arbutus Corridor: Greenway or Railway?

Given the recent CBC news story about CP Rail considering running freight trains along the Arbutus Corridor through the center of Vancouver, I decided we needed a map or two. My personal interest is focused on the northern portion of the corridor, along 6th ave where I have a garden plot in Cypress Garden. This garden is one of six community gardens located on City of Vancouver owned land next to the CP Rail right-of-way, that would be significantly disrupted if industrial activities were to resume along the Arbutus Corridor.



Another thing to consider, there are approximately 22,000 residents living within 250 metres of the tracks. I think they may be concerned about new cargo trains moving through their front yard.



In my opinion, there is absolutely no feasible way there will ever be another train on the current tracks. I think CP rail is trying to force the City to buy their land for several hundred million dollars.

Please also visit my recent post about Cypress Community Garden that shows detailed view of 64 garden plots on the City of Vancouver right-of-way next to the CP railway land.

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