Open space has become critical in this increasingly dense downtown area where so many of our residents live now live in high-rise buildings. Parks provide much-needed tranquility within the busy city, with studies showing that in urban environments trees and green areas can provide a host of benefits including shade, storm water runoff reduction, improved air quality, reduced electricity use, and improved health and quality of life for residents.

In this increasingly dense downtown area with more of our residents living in high-rise buildings open space is critical. Not only do parks provide a needed place to find tranquility from the busy city, studies show that  in urban environments, trees and green areas can yield a host of benefits including: providing shade, reducing storm water runoff, improving air quality, reducing electricity use, and improving residents’ health and quality of life.

ABCRA advocates for:

• Better maintenance of existing parks
• New parks and green space in proportion to new residential units approved
• Direction of park levies and Section 37 development fees to improvements to public space in the area of development
• Contribution of public space in the neighbourhood by new developments beyond the minimum City requirements
• Maintenance of existing trees and active new planting to increase overall canopy

ABCRA expects and advocates for:

• Existing parks to be better maintained.
• New parks and green space to be added in proportion to new residential units being approved.
• Park Levies and Section 37 development fees to be directed to improvements to the public space in the area of the development.
• New developments to contribute responsibly beyond what City rules require to the public space in the neighbourhood.
• Tree canopy to be sustained and re-planted.

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