Report to / Rapport au:

Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee

Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux

and Council / et au Conseil

18 June 2003 / le 18 juin 2003

Submitted by / Soumis par : Ottawa Youth Cabinet / Cabinet des jeunes d’Ottawa

Contact / Personne-ressource: Tania Richard / Advisory Committee Coordinator

Coordinatrice des comités consultatifs

580-2424 Ext / poste, 29081 / Tania.Richard@ottawa.ca

Ref. N°: ACS2003-CCV-OYC-0007

SUBJECT:	PIECE PARK COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
OBJET:	INITIATIVE COMMUNAUTAIRE RELATIVE AU PARC RÉCRÉATIF

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee recommend to City Council that, whatever happens to the site, the City of Ottawa work with interested parties, including, but not limited to, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and local artists, to ensure that the main elements of the proposed Piece Park, including the current Tech Wall, be preserved; and that Council go on record as supporting the spirit and intent of the Piece Park community initiative.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux recommande au Conseil municipal, peu importe ce qu’il adviendra de l’emplacement, que la Ville d’Ottawa collabore avec les parties intéressées, y compris, mais non exclusivement, le Ottawa-Carleton District School Board et les artistes locaux, en vue de voir à ce que les éléments principaux du parc de pièces proposés soient conservés, ce qui comprend entre autres le mur de graffitis présent à l’emplacement; et que le Conseil déclare publiquement son soutien à l’esprit de l’initiative communautaire relative au parc de pièces ainsi qu’à l’objectif qu’elle vise.

BACKGROUND

The “Piece Park” is a concept that sets out to enhance the environmental and artistic integrity of Ottawa’s urban landscape. The area in question is at the corner of Bronson and Slater streets. It is the field that is connected to the Ottawa Technical High School. The Ottawa Carleton District School Board currently owns the area. The objective of the “Piece Park” committee is to maintain the significance of this space by creating a sustainable, versatile environment for the community. This revitalization initiative will not only build a more sustainable environment, but also engineer community strength.

The following resolution was approved at the Ottawa Youth Cabinet meeting of 10 June 2003.

WHEREAS residents of Ottawa should be able to express themselves in public forums;

WHEREAS the site of the proposed Piece Park at Bronson and Slater, with the Tech Wall, is already a site where many young artists come together and showcase their work;

WHEREAS this site is of huge cultural significance to artists, and is therefore unlike any other site in the City;

WHEREAS the proposed project would preserve green space in the downtown core;

WHEREAS the future of the site is in doubt, with the possibility that it may be sold to developers; and

WHEREAS the Piece Park Committee has been able to garner much public support.

BE IT RESOLVED that the Ottawa Youth Cabinet supports the Piece Park community initiative.

DEPARTMENTAL COMMENTS

The Ottawa Technical School site is part of the Central Design Study presently being prepared by the Development Services Department with the support of consultants. In this study, the previous identification of part of this site for a park is being reviewed. It is premature at this time to know what the final outcome will be. As part of this work there are ongoing discussions with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board who are the owners of the site.

The elements included in the proposal from the Piece Park Committee are ones, which have been identified previously by work undertaken by the former City of Ottawa, with the exception of the ‘art wall’. This however could be compatible with the other recreation elements identified.

ATTACHMENTS

Appendix 1: “The Piece Park”

Appendix 2: Extract of draft OYC minutes – 10 June 2003

DISPOSITION

The Committee Coordinator will inform the Ottawa Youth Cabinet of the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee’s decision on the recommendations.

APPENDIX 1

THE PIECE PARK

Written by Robin Sokoloski

Description: The “Piece Park” is a concept that sets out to enhance the environmental and artistic integrity of Ottawa’s urban landscape. This revitalization initiative will not only build a more sustainable environment, but also engineer community strength. As the ideas of the community merge and materialize, a transformation within Ottawa’s public space will arise. This will set into motion the development of a one of kind recreational amenity that will enrich the public landscape.

In building the community, this park will bring together the young and the elderly, the private and the public sectors, and the city and its citizens. The production of this park will illustrate a constructive example for youth-at-risk. The revival of a younger force participating within its own culture largely depends upon their own realization that an individual can really make a difference if they see themselves capable of making positive changes.

A group of Ottawa’s local residents have come together to design an amalgamated vision that will create a public space for the public. The park will consist of:

Ø A skateboard park

Ø A soccer field

Ø A basketball court

Ø A free and friendly Greenspace

Ø A community Garden

Ø An Art Wall and the preservation of its current practices

Ø Amphitheatre

Ø Wheelchair accessible

Ø Dog Walking

Ø Picnic area

Ø Chess & Checker boards

Location: The area in question is at the corner of Bronson and Slater. It is field that is connected to the Ottawa technical High school. This area sits directly outside of Ottawa’s downtown core. The Ottawa Carleton district school board owns the area. This space indicates a ghostly reminder that it once served as a place of recreation.

The area presently consists of:

• An uncared for Soccer field
• An uncared for basketball court
• Tech wall: This wall is Ottawa’s only legal graffiti space.

Immediate Threat: On November 26^th 2002, Mervyn Beckstead (the former School board supervisor) gave a statement concerning the financial stability of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. This statement concentrated on Mr. Beckstead’s long-term recovery plan. One strategy that Mr. Beckstead laid on the table to decrease the school board’s debt would be the re-investment of proceeds from the sale of surplus realestate, such as the Ottawa Technical High School. Should this strategy follow though, the property that would be put on the market would include a significant urban youth landmark, “Tech Wall”. If the land were to be sold to those who are indifferent to the importance of this space, the existence of this landmark is at stake.

Mandate: To maintain the significance of this space by creating a sustainable versatile environment for the community.

Objectives/Benefits: Should this project take place, the enrichment of this space will not only financially enhance the property value, but also will:

Ø Preserve and maintain “Tech Wall” and its practices.

Ø Incorporate art into local development that aims to combine the natural landscape with user activity.

Ø Create partnerships within Ottawa that will strengthen the community.

Ø Develop a space that is diverse, safe, stimulating and attractive.

Ø Keep Ottawa’s artists in the city and encourage others to join them

Ø Encourage tourism

Guidelines: The area’s environmental and artistic integrity will continually be sustained by implementing the following guidelines:

Ø NO section of this park will be used for commercial advertising. Rather those who sponsor the park will be given a small plaque for their generosity.

Ø Throughout the designing phase, the park will be made inclusive, physically and psychologically.

Time Line

Accomplishments:

Date Accomplishment Comments

February	First group meeting at Zibbibo	There was a great turn out of business owners, community members, and artists.
March	City Council Meeting (Ottawa 20/20)	Pat delivered a presentation sparking the interest of community groups and city councillors such as Clive Doucet.
April	Meeting with Joan Spice (school board support) & Elisabeth Arnold (City Councilor support	The park’s vision was expressed to a member of City council and the school board.
May	Meeting with Dave Smith (corporate support)	The park’s vision was discussed looking at it from a corporate point of view
May 24^th	Festival “Techwallup”	This festival raised awareness of the park and brought approximately 400 people on rainy day.
May - ongoing	Surveys	106 surveys were filled out during May 24^th. More have been handed out to be filled.
June 10th	Ottawa Youth cabinet meeting	A presentation was delivered to the Ottawa Youth Cabinet. A motion was passed to offer their support to the park

Currently:

Piece park email: piecepark@yahoo.com

Piece park Website: www.piecepark.org

New Headquarters: 777-2396

Promo Package done by August 30^th

Future

1. School presentations & other presentations

2. Become a not for profit organization

3. Commercial for CKCU: Promotion

4. Surveys

We want everyone to get 20 surveys (or more) filled out and returned to Pat Thompson or to Top of the world.

5. Fundraising event

6. Letter to School Board From a month from now if these tasks are all underway Robin will write a letter to Kyle Murray (school board supervisor) owner of the land.

7. Create Design layout

DESIGN PRINCIPLE:

Improve the quality of life of our community

RECREATION:

Goal:

To support recreational activity, allowing for more formal competitions.

Strategy:

1) Addition of playground for children (swings, slides, climbing structure. . . )

2) Improvement of existing basketball court

3) Addition of Soccer Nets and markers in the field

4) Design of a street skate park

ENVIRONMENT:

Goal:

To improve the overall environment, making it more inviting to our community.

Strategy:

5) Landscape property, plant flowers, trees and replace fence with hedge

6) Addition of benches, picnic tables and games tables

7) Create a wheelchair path for accessibility to all

8) Design a pleasant commuter trail for access to public transit on Slater street

EVENTS:

Goal:

To promote a sense of community involvement through festivals and activities

Strategy:

9) Design an amphitheater for acoustic concerts

ART:

Goal:

To recognize local talent of artists who have kept this space alive, despite the apparent neglect of this property.

Strategy:

10) Preservation of the historical Tech Wall

11) Design of a link between the upper and lower walls

Who’s Involved: This project includes a volunteer public art committee that consists of artists, urban designers and community representatives.

Pat Thompson Project Manager/ Creative Director

Melissa Estable Project Manager/ Coordinator

Howard Esbin Executive director of Hope Volleyball

Melissa Wheeler Journalist, Ottawa Xpress

Jo Moffat Local Artist

Jeremy Sills Local Musician

Terrance Gibson Basketball Coordinator/business owner

Jay Bridges Skateboard specialist/ Top of the world

Dave Nolan Skateboarder

Joe Buffalo Skateboarder

Tavis Huffman Skateboard

Nathan Hauch Ottawa Youth Cabinet Member (Ward 14)

Catherine Landry CHEO/ Networker

Juan Carlos Noria artist/Art Activist

Diane Huffman Landscape designer

Other People Involved in the Project:

Elisabeth Arnold, City Councillor, Ward 14

Clive Doucet’s office

Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa

Top of the World

Rosemary Taylor, Community garden Group

Nancy Burgoyne, Community Arts for the City of Ottawa

Caroline Obeid, Community Services, City of Ottawa

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL PAT THOMPSON AT evocal@hotmail.com

APPENDIX 2

PIECE PARK COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

INITIATIVE COMMUNAUTAIRE RELATIVE AU PARC RÉCRÉATIF

Robin Sokoloski and Melissa Estable, project managers for the Piece Park Community Initiative, presented an overview of a concept that was initiated by a group of people who wish to emphasize the culture and community within the City of Ottawa. The project includes a volunteer public art committee that consists of artists, urban designers and community representatives.

The “Piece Park” is a concept that sets out to enhance the environmental and artistic integrity of Ottawa’s urban landscape. The area in question is at the corner of Bronson and Slater streets. The field is connected to the Ottawa Technical High School where the “Tech Wall”, the only legal graffiti space in Ottawa, currently stands. The Ottawa Carleton District School Board currently owns the land, however, if it was to be sold to someone who is indifferent to the importance of this space, the existence of the Tech Wall landmark could be at stake. The mandate of the “Piece Park” committee is to maintain the significance and preservation of this space by creating a sustainable, versatile environment for the community. This revitalization initiative will not only build a more sustainable environment, but also engineer community strength.

The Piece Park committee also realizes the importance of keeping the area as a recreational green space, improving the general environment, and providing accessibility, which currently does not exist. On 24 May 2003, a “Tech Wall Up” fundraising event was held. Over 400 people attended and the committee received overwhelming support for their initiative.

Ms. Sokoloski and Ms. Estable asked for the Cabinet’s support for their concept. Some OYC members expressed concern over the possible costs attributed with the project, but overall, most of the Cabinet members approved of the proposed design of the area.

Moved by Nathan Hauch

WHEREAS residents of Ottawa should be able to express themselves in public forums;

WHEREAS the site of the proposed Piece Park at Bronson and Slater, with the Tech Wall, is already a site where many young artists come together and showcase their work;

WHEREAS this site is of huge cultural significance to this artists, and is therefore unlike any other site in the City;

WHEREAS the proposed project would preserve green space in the downtown core;

WHEREAS the future of the site is in doubt, with the possibility that it may be sold to developers; and

WHEREAS the Piece Park Committee has been able to garner much public support.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ottawa Youth Cabinet supports the Piece Park community initiative;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, whatever happens to the site, that the City work with interested parties, including, but not limited to, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and local artists, to ensure that the main elements of the proposed Piece Park, including the current Tech Wall, be preserved; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ottawa Youth Cabinet urge Council to go on record as supporting the spirit and intent of the Piece Park community initiative.

CARRIED

YEAS(12):A. Moonsammy, C. Sabarre, V. Brulé, K. Vezzaro, A. Gadia, P. Ghosh,

M. Johnson, T. McLean, N. Hauch, M. Marlin, R. Ullyatt, C. Payne….

NAYS(2): W. Arshinoff, S. Blais….