Think kids & families deserve MORE instead of

FEWER outdoor play spaces?

Think people should be consulted BEFORE instead of
AFTER the City decides to flip parkland into housing?
Worried about the future of green space in your
neighbourhood?

On Sept. 6, City Council endorsed a plan that split the St. Josephs/St. Marys School property (corner
of Brock and Napier Streets) into affordable housing, private market housing and parkland. Council
did this even though they purchased the lot for parkland and even though there was:
absolutely no public consultation: No community engagement occurred prior to the Sept. 6
proposal despite City Councils stated strategic priority of open government and civic engagement.
scant time for public comments: When a consultation meeting was finally held Oct. 3, the
public had less than a week to provide further feedback.
blatant disregard for City plans, policies, data: The Citys Parks & Recreation Master Plan
says that preserving parkland and open spaces should be a priority and that this includes
purchasing surplus school sites for parkland. Also, the most recent census figures (2011) show
that the Williamsville District, where the school property is located, is one of the most deficient
neighbourhoods in the city in terms of parkland per capita. And a City report admits that acquiring
additional parkland in the area is increasingly a challenge.

Why is the City passing up the rare opportunity to add parkland

to the city core?
Why did the City draw up a plan before consulting the people who
will see their neighbourhood dramatically change?
Will other neighbourhoods with surplus school sites be faced with
the same kind of change & same lack of input?

What can you do? Keep asking questions & speak up!
Sign the online Sunnyside Neighbourhood Parkland Petition at
http://www.chn.ge/2e0kLbs.
Write to the Mayor & City Councillors at www.cityofkingston.ca (follow the City Hall/City
Council links). Ask them to fully consult and to consider other redevelopment options.
Attend the City Council Meeting, 7:30 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 18. Support a neighbourhood
asking the City to honour its commitments to fostering open government and creating
a liveable city.