After the Ice Storm

Many of us in the Earlscourt area lost power during the recent ice storm. Ice, downed trees and hydro wires on the roads and TTC service disruptions made it difficult for many to seek warmth and light elsewhere.

Many thanks to all the friends, family and neighbours who helped each other during this difficult time. 

Special thanks to the crews from Hydro and Urban Forestry who worked around the clock to clean up and get power restored, to Councillor Palacio's office, and to City of Toronto staff for running warming centres with The Red Cross and making sure that Ward 17 was well looked after in the storm's aftermath. 

Most of the trees in Earlscourt Park fared reasonably well during the storm,  but several of the trees towards the south end of the Park were heavily damaged.  

South end of the track, beside the maintenance yard -

South side of the dog park - 

South-east end of the dog park -

South-west corner of the park -

In addition, the trail, track and dog park are quite icy after this week's thaw and freeze. Please be reminded that these areas are not maintained during winter, and to use caution if you are using the park over the next few days.  

THANK YOU!

Thanks so much to our adopt-a-tree volunteers for all your work this summer. You hauled a lot of buckets of water over the last few months!! Mother Nature can take care of things for the rest of the season 

Scenes from Adopt-A-Tree Kick-off

An enormous THANK YOU to all who came out to adopt a newly planted tree, and for working through the rain to spread a dumptruck load of mulch around them!

Special thanks to Urban Forestry to Urban Forestry for planting 80 new trees around the park (yes - 80!!), to City staff for providing mulch and tools, to Councillor Palacio for the park tour, to Park People and LEAF for hours of help with mulching, and to Tre Mari Bakery and Frank's Pizza for feeding us!

Treats for later

Volunteers from LEAF and Park People

LEAF taught us how to properly mulch a tree - see the donut?

Finishing planting of the ceremonial tree

LEAF, Park People, Councillor Palacio, FoEP

Here comes lunch - THANKS GIORGIO!

Adopt-A-Tree Kick-off - June 22, 2013

Kite Fest...and Trees!

With winter finally - FINALLY - over, what better way to celebrate spring than to head outside and fly a kite?

Many thanks to all who joined us at the park. We saw a lot of fantastic kites and had a fabulous time meeting more families from the neighbourhood-at-large.

Special thanks to Arleen Hurdon for running a pocket kite workshop, and to our volunteers Ellen & Krista for making pinwheels with the kids and organizing a great afternoon!

Pocket kite workshop in full swing

Getting the pocket kites up in the sky

Click here to view more photos!

In other park news:

We are delighted to announce that as part of the City of Toronto's Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan, Urban Forestry will be planting trees in Earlscourt Park later this season! This initiative, run in consultation with local city and community groups, is designed to increase the canopy cover as well as beautify our green spaces and increase biodiversity.

But summertime can place significant stress on young trees, whose root systems are not yet developed enough to withstand summer's high temperatures and periods of drought.

Friends of Earlscourt Park has been asked by Park People and LEAF to run an Adopt-a-Tree program to ensure these trees' survival. We are looking for neighbourhood volunteers who will give "their" tree regular watering, mulching and light weeding from early summer until mid-autumn.

Interested in becoming an adopter? Drop us a note at friendsofearlscourtpark@gmail.com. Stay tuned for news!