The City is proposing to withdraw funding from the pool at Frankland CC., as well as 6 other TDSB pools at Bedford Park CC, Gordon A. Brown MS, Hillcrest CC, Runnymede CI, S.H. Armstrong CRC and Sir Wilfred Laurier CI. I am very concerned about this.
I am absolutely shocked that this announcement would be made without any prior consultation with the City's community partners, the Toronto District School
Closing down pools and eliminating recreation programming in community centres makes no sense. The rationale that these pools were selected based on low annual visits doesn't hold water. The Frankland pool is busy from morning till night; it features lessons for younger children and plays a vital role in the lives of hundreds of families in our community.
I am committed to fighting this with you. I am monitoring the situation very closely and working with the Parent Councils, the Aquatic Working Group, Trustee Cathy Dandy and TPL Chair, David Crombie. By working together we will develop a winning strategy to save these pools and much needed swimming programs.
I will keep you informed of any meetings and be happy to attend any that the community sets up. Hopefully the Aquatic Working Group meeting on December 15th will be about these proposed closures.
The City's Budget Committee is meeting on December 7th and 8th and will hear deputations. You must register by 4pm on Tuesday December 6 if you wish to speak. You can also send a letter to the Budget Committee. The contact for both is Merle MacDonald, at [email protected] or 416-392-7340.
These closures will be reviewed and discussed at Budget Committee, Executive Committee and by City Council. The budget will not be finalized until City Council approves it at its meeting on January 17, 18 and 19, 2012 and changes may occur during that time.
Full details on the City's Parks, Forestry and Recreation budget are posted here: http://www.toronto.ca/budget2012/pdf/op12_an_pfr.pdf
You can link to the Parks Forestry and Recreation Services Change descriptions here http://www.toronto.ca/budget2012/pdf/pfr_service_locns.pdf
Full details on the City's 2012 Budget are posted on the City's website at http://www.toronto.ca/budget2012.
Let's work together to save our pools. Please email me at
[email protected] to add your voice to the list of support for
Frankland and the other 6 TDSB pools.
Thank you,
Paula
This month's City Council session was especially significant for me, as two initiatives I've worked on for a long time came to fruition.
Danforth Pizza House celebrating 60th anniversary today with special guests.
City Council to consider a report recommending the approval of a renovictions by-law.
