Four key areas identified for improvement in Scarborough

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The Taylor Massey Project has a plan to regenerate Taylor Massey Creek that includes five top priorities and comes with a $4.275 million price tag.

"We're hoping the selection of our top five priorities can reasonably be done in the first five years," said Andrew McCammon, founding chair of the Taylor Massey Project.

He believes the $4.275 million estimate to complete the five priorities in Reach by Reach can be found within the normal budget in conjunction with budget items such as the wet weather flow upgrade project.

"We think it's reasonable," he said.

The draft plan will be released next Wednesday, Nov. 26.

It's being offered as a companion document to the new Don Watershed Plan being developed by Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) and its advisory committee, the Don Watershed Regeneration Council. Taylor Massey Creek is a major tributary to the Don River.

The 49-page report provides both strategic recommendations to three levels of government and the TRCA, and details on regenerating the Taylor Massey sub-watershed to the fullest extent possible, which is the most polluted and degraded watercourse in Ontario.

Not only is it polluted, it is in bad shape physically.

"We have falling creek banks everywhere. We may lose some bridges, we may have some pipes for the sewer become exposed," McCammon said.

The draft of the Don Plan provides an high-level vision of the watershed, urging smart growth, municipal-conservation authority co-operation, the adoption of green technologies ranging from expanded mass transit to energy-efficient buildings, and six regeneration concept sites for the Don watershed.

"Nonetheless, it falls short on implementation details and would not result in the full regeneration of any of the Don's three main tributaries, let alone the whole watershed." McCammon said.

The Taylor Massey Project's plan focuses on each of the creek's reaches (similar to an arm of the creek).

"In contrast to the new Don Plan, Reach by Reach shines a light on how to implement the regeneration of a full sub-watershed, augmenting the six concept sites being proposed in the new Don Plan with a systematic plan for the regeneration of Taylor Massey Creek," said Nancy Penny, chair of the Taylor Massey Project.

Included in the top priorities are:

- Regenerating Terraview-Willowfield in the north from south of Hwy. 401 to Ellesmere Road by remediation of the plunge pool and underground stormwater pond, as well as creating a leash-free dog area, a butterfly garden, and adding a dual pedestrian and cycling trail and a safe crossing at Ellesmere Road;

- Improving the Eglinton Reach by working on Maida Vale, Eglinton and Farlinger ravines with extensive natural regeneration and significant infrastructure including tree planting, pedestrian bridges in Maida Vale and Eglinton Flats, and a railway crossing south of Eglinton;

- Regenerating the Underwriters' Reach;

- Improving the Warden Woods Reach by designating it an environmentally significant area and providing $50,000 a year for three years to create a community stewardship initiative, as well as $50,000 to develop a regeneration plan and $500,000 to implement the plan.

"Those four would clearly be a benefit to the creek," McCammon said.

The No.1 priority, however, is the completion of the Warden Hydro Trail.

"The strongest message that can be sent on managing TMC as a watershed is a commitment by the City of Toronto to acquire responsibility for the corridor," the report reads.

It recommends the construction of separate pedestrian and cycling paths, and the planting of 10,000 trees and shrubs a year for 20 years.

"We need the Warden Hydro corridor that will allow neighbours to connect," McCammon said. "It's such an opportunity to make amends for the huge planning mistakes of the '40s and '50s."

The report is being released on the Taylor Massey Project website (www.thetmp.org) Nov. 26, but members and the public can pick up a copy at the project's fifth annual fundraising event Nov. 25 at the Beaver and Firkin at Eglinton Town Centre on Lebovic Avneue from 6 to 8 p.m.

McCammon said they will receive comments and suggestions on Reach by Reach until early 2009 and the final version will be formally submitted to the TRC at the end of the public consultations on the Don Plan, which begin in early 2009.