Report to: Development Services Committee Report Date: May 19, 2009

SUBJECT: Parks, Storm Ponds, Woodlots and Valleys Naming Report

PREPARED BY: Linda Irvine, Manager Parks and Open Space x2120

RECOMMENDATION:

1. That the Development Services Committee Report dated May 19, 2009 entitled “Parks, Storm Ponds, Woodlots and Storm Valleys Naming Report” be received;
2. That the proposed park, storm pond and valley names contained herein be approved as the official names for Town lands that are currently unnamed;
3. That staff name and address future streets, parks and storm ponds in conjunction with the processing of draft plans of subdivision and site plan applications in accordance with approved protocols;
4. That staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial 5. Others (Strategic, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s approval of the official names for 72 parks, 28 storm ponds, 6 woodlots and 5 valleys that have been built or conveyed and are being managed by the Town, but are currently unnamed.

BACKGROUND:

Existing Policies:

On July 7, 1998, Council approved a procedure for naming new parks and facilities which identified the following reasons to name facilities and parks:

• To recognize those listed on the Markham War Veterans Honour Roll;
• To reflect the geographic location, community or neighborhood where it is located;
• To recognize the historical significance of the area;
• To reflect the unique characteristics of the site;
• To reflect the type of service or function offered, and;
• To recognize a person who has made significant accomplishments or achievements at the local, provincial or national level.

On May 27, 2008, Council approved a new “Street, Park and Storm Pond Naming and Addressing Protocol”. This protocol authorizes staff to name and address future streets, parks and storm ponds in conjunction with the processing of draft plans of subdivision and site plan applications. This protocol essentially follows the former street naming protocol but was expanded to include the naming of parks and storm pond facilities as well. This protocol has been incorporated into the Town’s Development Application Procedures (D.A.P.) Manual.

This new protocol identifies specific criteria associated with naming parks and storm ponds including:

• Developers shall request approval of street, park and storm pond names and addresses;
• Storm pond names shall generally relate to the street on which they are located, and if located on more than one street frontage, then the name of the most minor street should be used;
• Park names shall relate to the major or more minor street, as appropriate, on which they are located, the local community, or possibly reflect a name of a veteran or early heritage settler;
• At least one Markham Veteran name shall be included in plans for subdivision (for plans with a minimum of 5 elements to be named) from the list approved by Council on July 7, 1998 for review and approval.

Backlog of Town Lands Currently Without Names and Addresses:

Over a period of many years, numerous parks, storm ponds, woodlots and valleys have been acquired by the Town of Markham for which no official names have been identified. This report rectifies this backlog and enables staff to install appropriate park signage. Addressing of these assets will be done by the Geomatics Group of the Planning and Urban Design Department separately and concurrently with the installation of signage.

Town assets that may still not have names are to be named by appropriate departmental staff in accordance with the new protocols.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Staff are proposing to name the parks, storm ponds, valleys and woodlots identified in this report. The vast majority of these assets are to be named after the adjacent streets, in accordance with the new protocol. Several of these parks, ponds, woodlots and valleys are to be named after the community, veterans, settlers, or residents as follows:

• Geographic Location, Community or Neighborhood: South Unionville Village Green; South Unionville Park; Berczy Park; Wismer Park; Mount Joy Park; Swan Lake Park; Upper Cornell Park; Cornell Rouge Woodlot; Grand Cornell Park; Angus Glen Park; Box Grove Park; Galleria Pond; South Unionville Pond; Mattamy Pond; Greensborough Pond; Cathedraltown Pond; Fairtree Pond;

• Veteran: Weeden Woodlot after Gordon Weeden, WWII War Veteran;

• Historical Significance:White Rose Parkette after the White Rose Hotel in Box Grove and Sparta Parkette after the original name of the Box Grove Hamlet;

• Person: John Baird Park and Woods after John Baird who is a descendent of the Raymer family and the son of Stuart Baird who lived on lands in the Wismer Commons Secondary Plan Area (request by Frances Baird, August 2003); and Shania Johnston Parkette after Shania Johnston who lived on Rose Way and was diagnosed with a malignant tumor (neuroblastoma). With the help of her family she founded the “Shania’s Sunflower of Hope Fund” which fundraises for neuroblastoma research at Sick Kids (request by Shayne and Karen Johnson, September 2008).

Below are the proposed park, storm pond, woodlot and valley names for each ward. (Maps are attached as an appendix which locates all of the assets to be named. There are no parks or ponds to name in Ward 1 at this time).

Current Working Title	Ward	Community	Figure and Key No.	Proposed Name	Comments (*named after adjacent street unless noted otherwise)
N/A	1	N/A	N/A	No new parks to name in Ward 1	No new parks to name in Ward 1
Times NP	2	Leitchcroft/Times	Fig 1, #1	Suncrest Park	*
Leitchcroft Times Galleria NP	2	Leitchcroft/Times	Fig 1, #2	Saddlecreek Park	*
Caboto Trail Park South Unionville	3	South Unionville	Fig 2, #3	Caboto Trail Park	*
Ray Street Park	3	South Unionville	Fig 2, #4	Ray Street Park	*
South Unionville Village Green	3	South Unionville	Fig 2, #5	South Unionville Village Green	Named after the community
South Unionville Community Park	3	South Unionville	Fig 2, #6	South Unionville Park	Named after the community
South Unionville East Central Park	3	South Unionville	Fig 2, #7	Bianca Park	*
N/A	3	South Unionville	Fig 2, #8	Piera Valley	*
N/A	3	South Unionville	Fig 2, #9	Annina Valley	*
Berczy West Parkette, Cynthia Jean Park	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #10	Weatherhill Parkette	*
Berczy Community Park	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #11	Berczy Park	Named after the community
Berczy Community Park South	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #12	Berczy Park South	Named after the community
Berczy NBHD Park	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #13	Belgrave Park	*
Berczy East Parkette	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #14	Brookhaven Parkette	*
Everyvale Park	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #15	Chelsea Park	Named after neighbourhood
Fulham Gate Park	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #16	Fulham Gate Park	*
Hillwood Park	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #17	Cobblehill Parkette	*
Robinson Creek	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #18	Lampton Park & Valley	*
Robinson Creek	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #19	Country Ridge Park & Valley	*
Wismer Robinson Creek Parkette	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #20	Storybook Park & Valley	*
Wismer South Parkette with Oak	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #21	Forest Manor Parkette	*
Wismer Community Park	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #22	Wismer Park	Named after the community
Fred McLaren Park, Stricker Parkette	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #23	Roy Rainey Park	*
Wismer NBHD Park 4 or Fred McLaren Blvd Park	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #24	Ralph Chalmers Park	*
Calbert Park Wismer North Parkette	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #25	Everett Parkette	*
John Baird Park & Woods	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #26	John Baird Park & Woods	Request of the John Baird family
Mount Joy Park, Merano Park	5	Mount Joy	Fig 5, #27	Mount Joy Park	* and named after the adjacent Community Centre
Swan Lake Park Blk 31	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #28	Swan Lake Park	Named after the community
Greensborough NBHD Park on Stallmaster	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #29	Stalmaster Park	*
Saffron Park	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #30	Castlemore Park	*
Greensborough Parkettes New Quad	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #31	Charing Cross Parkette	*
Greensborough Parkettes New Quad	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #32	Arbour Parkette	*
N/A	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #33	Weeden Woodlot	Named after WWII War veteran - Gordon Weeden
Ames Court Park	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #34	Appleview Parkette	*
Orchardview Park, Humbold Park	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #35	Orchardview Park	*
Greensborough NBHD Park on Bur Oak or MDJV Park	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #36	Chancery Park	*
Upper Cornell NBHD Park	5	Upper Cornell	Fig 5, #37	Upper Cornell Park	Named after the community
The Meadows Parkette	5	Cornell	Fig 6, #38	The Meadows Parkette	*
White's Hill Park	5	Cornell	Fig 6, #39	White's Hill Park	*

Morning Dove Square	5	Cornell	Fig 6, #40	Morning Dove Square	*
Mattamy NBHD Park	5	Cornell	Fig 6, #41	Chippenham Park	*
Cornell Rouge Park & Woodlot (Madison)	5	Cornell Rouge	Fig 6, #42	Black Walnut Park	Planted Black Walnut stand
Cornell Rouge Parkette	5	Cornell Rouge	Fig 6, #43	Albert Lewis Parkette	*
Cornell Rouge Urban Parkette (Madison)	5	Cornell Rouge	Fig 6, #44	Hosta Parkette	*
Cornell Rouge Woodlot???	5	Cornell Rouge	Fig 6, #45	Cornell Rouge Woodlot	Named after the community
Grand Cornell North Parkette	5	Grand Cornell	Fig 7, #46	Shania Johnston Parkette	Request of the Shania Johnston family
Grand Cornell South Parkette	5	Grand Cornell	Fig 7, #47	Dalton Parkette	*
Grand Cornell Park	5	Grand Cornell	Fig 7, #48	Grand Cornell Park	Named after the community
Finger Park	5	Grand Cornell	Fig 7, #49	New Union Park	*
Crescent Park	6	Cathedraltown	Fig 8, #50	Crescent Park	*
Park Square	6	Cathedraltown	Fig 8, #51	Bonheur Square	*
Panorama Park	6	Cathedraltown	Fig 8, #52	Betty Roman Parkette	*
East Cathedral Community Park	6	East Cathedral	Fig 8, #53	Vinecliffe Park	*
East Cathedral NBHD Park	6	East Cathedral	Fig 8, #54	Hazelton Park	*
Woodbine North Parkette	6	Woodbine North Cachet	Fig 8, #55	Starhill Parkette	*
Woodbine Community Park	6	Woodbine North Cachet	Fig 8, #56	Willowheights Park	*
Angus Glen Community Park	6	Angus Glen	Fig 9, #57	Angus Glen Park	Named after the community
Cachet Enclave SWM Pond	6	Cachet Woods	Fig 9, #58	Melanie Woods	*
Glenburn Forest	6	Glenburn	Fig 9, #59	Glenburn Forest	*
Highglen NBHD Park	7	Highglen	Fig 11, #60	Brando Park	*
Fairtree Woodlot NBHD Park Denison	7	Villages of Fairtree	Fig 11, #61	Bussa Park	*
Fairtree NBHD Park	7	Villages of Fairtree	Fig 11, #62	Eastvale Park	*
Fairtree Woodlot NBHD Park Billingsly	7	Villages of Fairtree	Fig 11, #63	Billingsley Woodlot	*
Box Grove Heritage House Parkette	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #64	Terrance Parkette	*
Box Grove South Villasge NBHD Park	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #65	Fieldside Parkette	*
Box Grove South Villasge NBHD Park	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #66	Riverwalk Park	*
Box Grove Community Park	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #67	Box Grove Park	Named after the community
Box Grove Woodlot Parkette	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #68	Oakborough Woods	*
Tributary A	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #69	Stonechurch Valley	*
Tributary A	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #70	Boswell Valley North	*
Tributary A	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #71	Boswell Valley South	*
Rizal Parkette	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #72	Rizal Parkette	*
Tributary B	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #73	Smoothwater Valley South	*
Tributary B	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #74	Smoothwater Valley North	*
Tributary B	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #75	Larkspur Valley	*
Collingham Parkette	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #76	Collingham Parkette	*
N/A	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #77	White Rose Parkette	Named after the White Rose Hotel, an early inn that stood to the west of this site.
N/A	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #78	Sparta Parkette	Sparta was the original name for the Box Grove hamlet.

Current Working Title	Ward	Community	Figure and Key No.	Proposed Name	Comments (*named after adjacent street unless noted otherwise)
N/A	1	N/A	N/A	No New SWM Ponds to name in Ward 1	No New SWM Ponds to name in Ward 1
West Pond Galleria Dev.	2	Leitchcroft/Times	Fig 1, #1SWM	Galleria Pond	Named after the development
East Pond, Galleria Development (Leitchcroft Farm)	2	Leitchcroft/Times	Fig 1, #2SWM	Vanhorn Pond	Long time 19th and 20th century land owner. Pond also abuts existing Vanhorn Park
South Unionville Secondary plan Pond 7	3	South Unionville	Fig 2, #3SWM	South Unionville Pond	* and community
Berczy Village, Pond I	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #4SWM	Mattamy Pond	Named after development corporation that build the adjacent community
N/A	4	Berczy	Fig 3, #5SWM	Glenhaven Pond	*
H&R Dry Pond	4	Berczy	Fig 4, #6	Landsdown Meadow	*
N/A	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #7SWM	Jeffreys Pond	*
N/A	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #8SWM	Roy Rainey Pond	*
N/A	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #9SWM	Golden Meadow Pond	*
N/A	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #10SWM	Raspberry Ridge Pond	*
N/A	4	Wismer	Fig 4, #11SWM	Monkhouse Pond	*
N/A	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #12SWM	Avida Pond	N/A
N/A	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #13SWM	Greensborough Pond	Named after community
N/A	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #14SWM	Lakeside Vista Pond	*
N/A	5	Upper Cornell	Fig 5, #15SWM	Country Glen Pond	*
N/A	5	Greensborough	Fig 5, #16SWM	Alfred Paterson Pond	*
N/A	5	Grand Cornell	Fig 7, #17SWM	Oakmoor Pond	*
N/A	6	Cathedraltown	Fig 8, #18SWM	Cathedraltown Pond	Community Name
Metrus SWM Pond	6	East Cathedral	Fig 8, #19SWM	Artisan Trail Pond and Valley	*
N/A	6	East Cathedral	Fig 8, #20SWM	Vinecliff Pond	*
N/A	6	Angus Glen	Fig 9, #21SWM	Gord Stollery Pond	Landowner / developer
N/A	6	Angus Glen	Fig 9, #22SWM	Royal Troon Pond	*
N/A	6	N/A	Fig 9, #23SWM	Heritage Woods Pond	*
Cachet Woods Channel 2D	6	N/A	Fig 10, #24SWM	Ashton Meadows Waterway	Adjacent School and Park
N/A	6	N/A	Fig 10, #25	Yorktech Valley	*
N/A	6	N/A	Fig 10, #26	Rodick Valley North	*
N/A	6	N/A	Fig 10, #27	Rodick Valley South	*
N/A	6	N/A	Fig 10, #28	Addiscott Valley	*
Ser quadrant Browns Corners	6	N/A	Fig 10, #29SWM	Yorktech Pond	*
Armadale North Pond – Markham Study Area 1A (MOEE Demonstration Pond)	7	Villages of Fairtree	Fig 11, #30SWM	Fairtree Pond	Named after community
N/A	7	Villages of Fairtree	Fig 11, #31SWM	Billingsley Pond	*
N/A	7	Box Grove	Fig 12, #32SWM	Sanders Pond	*
Old Mill Pond – Minto Markham	7	Legacy	Fig 12, #33SWM	Old Mill Pond	N/A

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE

None.

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

Naming of these Town assets helps to increase public safety as emergency services will be able to quickly identify where particular parks, storm ponds, valleys and woodlots are located and respond quickly. Naming of the parks aligns them with strategic priorities

DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Departments consulted in the preparation of this report include Heritage, Operations, Corporate Communications and Fire.

RECOMMENDED

BY: ________________________ ________________________

Ronji Borooah, OAA Jim Baird, MCIP, RPP

Town Architect Commissioner of Development Services

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix ‘A’: Figures 1 through 12 – Proposed Park and Pond Names

Q:\Development\Design\linda\Parks\Park_naming_report May 19.doc