Friends of Sam Smith Park

Please accept this letter as an invitation for the Friends of Sam Smith to participate in a review of the proposed skateboard park in Col. Sam Smith Park.

Councillor Grimes has asked me to review the decision reached by City of Toronto staff to locate the new skateboard park within Col. Sam Smith Park. Specifically, I will answer:

1.) Is Sam Smith park the best location to build the new skateboard park – yes or no, and:
2.) If no, where should the new skateboard park be located.

The first two meetings I have scheduled are:

1.) Thursday, August 24, 2006
Meeting to receive input from community groups
7:30 p.m.
Location: Power House
Directions: 65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive

2.) Thursday, September, 14, 2006
Meeting to receive public input from individuals
7:30 p.m.
Location: The Assembly Hall
Directions: 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive


I am asking each group, including yours, to attend the Thursday, August 24th meeting and present me with your groups thoughts, opinions and ideas with regard to the two questions outlined above. I’m also inviting each group to attend the Thursday, September 14, 2006 meeting to hear individual members of the public provide their input as well. Both meetings are open to all members of the public.

I would not normally call a public meeting in the month of August - when many of us are on holidays - but given the urgency of this issue, I wanted to assure everyone in the community that work is being done to resolve this issue.

Councillor Grimes has stated to me that he will support the findings I present to him – whichever way they go. So I would encourage your group to continue to provide public input on this issue. Councillor Grimes has been listening closely to public input so far – that’s why he’s asked me, a well-known environmentalist, to step in and review the city staff recommendations – and I know he will take my recommendations seriously as well.

For my part, I can guarantee you that I will listen closely to everything that you say. I will do my very best to ensure that any decisions made respect the environment, the community and our local skateboarders.

Please send me a letter from your organization letting me know if your group can participate as well as who your group’s designated representative is (and who that person’s “alternate” is in case your designated person cannot attend a meeting). If you have any questions regarding my review please feel free to contact my office at 416-392-0204.

Cheers,



Glenn De Baeremaeker
Councillor, City of Toronto
Ward 38, Scarborough Centre

P.S. While some of the material will be familiar to you, I will be sending everyone a background information package to review before the August 24th meeting.

Groups Invited to Join the Advisory Group:

Friends of Sam Smith
South Etobicoke Skateboard Association
Good Neighbours of New Toronto
Lakeshore Planning Council
Alderwood Residents Association
Mimico Residents Association
Long Branch Business Improvement Association
Etobicoke Yacht Club
Humber Bay Shores Association
Lakeshore Area Multi-Services Project
Toronto District Catholic School Board
Toronto District School Board
Citizens Concerned about the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront
Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Association
Long Branch Residents Association
Rotary Club of Etobicoke
Lakeshore Lions Club
Ruth Grier (Former Ontario Minister of the Environment)