New Park in St James Town at 60 Howard St.

By Megan Bocchinfuso – thebridgenews.ca

Welcome to RPTV Weekly News Show Episode 39. In this weekly news show hosted by RPTV reporters Allanis Inguillo, Kedar Ahmed, Fred Alvarado and Raymond Browne, we present news that impacts on Toronto's Regent Park and the surrounding areas.

Episode 39 features segments on:

• Election Results in Toronto Centre 2022 (01:17 min);
• Café Zuzu is now open in Regent Park (03:05 min); Regent Park celebrates October Funfest (07:21 min);
• New Park in St James Town at 60 Howard St. (10:42 min);
• Bain Co-op celebrates street festival 2022 (11:22 min);
• Toronto Community Groups Challenge City and Developers over New Affordable Housing Bylaw (12:51 min);
• Toronto Police 51 Division meets with Regent Park residents at Daniels Spectrum (16:54 min);
• Toronto mayor calls for 'immediate funding' to help prevent service cuts and layoffs (19:08 min);
• Covid-19 and Vaccination Update (20:34 min); Events in Regent Park (22:55 min).

This week's Lead story come to us by way of Megan Bocchinfuso – thebridgenews.ca

St. James Town has a new green addition; in October residents welcomed the 60 Howard Street Park. (The name is temporary while the city reviews its property naming policy.)

 The new park features a slide, in-ground fog misters, an open lawn and natural play area, picnic tables and new plants and trees.

60 Howard Street Park was built as a response to the community need for a green space for children. Its design was developed “with the help of the community and stakeholders,” said Crystal Rodrigues, policy and project advisor for the city, Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department. “Through consultations it was determined that there was a community desire for children’s play equipment and passive green space.”

“I think kids love the colour and the way it was made (the design),” Neha Dahiya, a parent and visitor, said. “I think it’s good for kids.”

60 Howard Street Park, sitting among large condominiums at 575-565 Bloor Street East, near Parliament Street, was a requirement for the condo developers. City staff selected the location as “a transition from the centre of the North St. James Town neighbourhood to the development,” Rodrigues said.

Park visitor Abhinav Suhag said the location raised safety concerns. Children “might be playing with a football or something and run across the street.”

The park also has a safe needle disposal box, the first in the area. City staff recommended putting it in the park due to the number of needles frequently removed from the area, but do not currently plan additional needle bins there, Rodrigues said.

Parents have raised concerns about the safe needle drop-box. “It should not be here near the kids,” Dahiya said. “It should definitely not be here in the park.