June 22, 2010

The one thing two groups vying for the Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) playing field can agree on is that the grounds are in dire need of rejuvenation.

An informal competition for redevelopment rights to the relatively grassless field began in early May when Moore Park residents first heard of a proposal by the Rosedale-Moore Park Association (Mooredale) to lay a 40 yard by 60 yard Astroturf soccer field over the school's current playing field.

If approved, the cost of the $250,000 field would be incurred by Mooredale in exchange for a ten-year permit use of the facility for soccer and other field sports after school hours and on weekends, from spring through the fall.

Mooredale hopes to complete the project later this year if given the green light from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) - but many residents have decried the project as a bad fit for the community and come up with a alternative proposal of their own.

At its Wednesday, June 16 monthly meeting, TCDSB supervisor Richard Alway listened as a total of eight representatives from the two opposing views took to the microphone.

Jacquie Martinez, a member of the OLPH school community, lauded the Mooredale proposal as a "huge asset" to the community.

"The playing field has been a huge problem for years," she said, noting that it's become more of a dust bowl in recent days. "I'm here tonight in support of Mooredale's proposal of $250,000... raising that kind of money is a daunting task and also one that could take many, many years."

"The Mooredale program and proposal will benefit us in so many ways, not the least of which is that it'll be ready in September when we need it," she added.

But not all in attendance gave the proposal such a glowing review. Tom Curry, who has lived next to OLPH for about 15 years, said the field controversy is an issue that has divided the community in an "unprecedented way."

"It's unfortunate that we've been sharply divided over this question," he said, noting all the issues with the Mooredale proposal that cause concern for the community - from increased traffic and parking problems, to noise, litter and security.

"Also, what Mooredale proposes is a single-use facility - a carpet of Astroturf to go down over a site that is presently a baseball diamond with a cage, a grass field, which is admittedly in terrible shape... and an asphalt running track. All of that will be gone (if the Mooredale proposal is approved) and you will have an admittedly pristine soccer field, but that's all you would have and people are concerned by that."

Moore Park Residents' Association President Tim Costigan, a nearby resident and parent of two OLPH students, agreed that the Mooredale proposal originated with good intentions, but argued that the community's expressed concerns with the project are too serious to ignore.

In the four weeks since learning of Mooredale's plans, the Residents' Association has been fundraising for a proposal of their own, he added.

"We're thinking a multi-purpose is what we need. We want it to be about the size of the current field... no lines, no goal posts, just a plain artificial turf field which covers the area that is now our diamond and outfield - that would leave the track there for some great activities," he said, noting the community proposal would also retain the field's baseball use, while creating some soft play areas around the edge of the field for non-sports activities.

Costigan said the projected cost of the project would be in the $170,000 range, of which the Residents' Association has already secured about $72,000 in pledges, with another resident willing to donate as much as $50,000 to the project if need be.

In exchange for such a donation to the school community, Costigan said they would ask only that the field be kept open for public use. He asked the TCDSB for more time to be able to fully develop fundraising initiatives for the association's privately-funded proposal, as well as the plans for the field itself. The residents' association is currently working with a landscape architect on that proposal, he added.

Neither Alway, nor any TCDSB staff, commented on the debate Wednesday night, June 16 as the issue was not officially on their agenda.

In an online update to its members last Thursday, Mooredale executives wrote they expect the TCDSB to make a decision on the OLPH playground redevelopment by the end of the month.

"Mooredale has made its generous offer conditional on a mini-field being built in 2010," it reads. "If the TCDSB defers its decision to a later date, the Mooredale Turf Committee will reconsider its proposal in light of other field opportunities it is presently considering."