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!

Join us for Kite Fest 2013!

Community Cleanup Day at the Park!

We spoke too soon when we said that winter was over!  However, an army of volunteers braved the windy, chilly weather and SNOW FLURRIES this morning to clean up the park in record time!

(See more photos here!) 

The kids in our 'hood helped get the word out

With MPP Jonah Schein & Ward 17 Councillor Cesar Palacio - getting ready to start!

Thanks to Tre Mari Bakery for supplying the treats!

Thanks to all - what a fantastic crew!

Community Cleanup Day - April 20, 2013

Winter is finally over! Join us on Saturday, April 20 from 10am to noon to help give the park a good spring clean. Meet up by the playround. We'll supply the garbage bags and gloves!

Scenes from Winter in the Park

We've had a great winter in Toronto this year - a few days of wild weather, but there has been snow to play in and mild enough weather to be outside enjoying it. Thanks to those who sent in their favourite pics from the season!

Wild and windy day - January 2013

Hitting the slopes! February 2013

Blizzard! February 2013

Fresh blanket of snow after the blizzard

So peaceful!

Park Talk: Creating Community Gardens in Parks

Earlscourt Park is home to a wonderful community garden run by The Stop Community Food Centre. According to The Stop: 

Every year, we harvest approximately 2,500 lbs of organic produce at our community garden in Earlscourt Park, everything from lettuce, kate and radishes to zucchini, eggplant and pumpkins, The produce is split evenly between our gardeners and programs like our food bank, drop-in and community kitchens programs, and is an important source of veggies for people in our community. 

Walk past the garden in spring, summer or fall and you will notice that it's literally buzzing with activity - it attracts bees, butterflies and other pollinators that are so critical to our ecosystem.  It is also a wonderful learning tool for our children as they watch the garden through the season from planting to flowering to harvest.

It would be wonderful if all parks could reserve a corner for a food garden, yet only about half of Toronto's parks feature one. 

Park People, together with The Stop, FoodShare and the Toronto Community Garden Network will be hosting a talk next week on creating community gardens in parks. We encourage all parks groups and interested citizens to attend!

When: Thursday, February 7th, 2013, 6:00 to 7:30pm
Where: Bickford Community Centre, 777 Bloor St. West, Room 205

UPDATED: Park People has posted notes from this meeting. Please visit: 
http://parkpeople.ca/content/news-reports/how-make-it-easier-create-community-gardens-parks 

Ghost Bike at Lansdowne & Davenport

A beautiful memorial has appeared at the south-east corner of Earlscourt Park for Tom Samson, beloved husband and father of two. On November 23rd, 2012, while riding his bike to work, the elementary school teacher was struck and killed by two vehicles at Lansdowne & Davenport, one of which was a hit-and-run driver. 

Ghost Bikes are installed near cyclists' crash sites as quiet reminders of cyclists' right to safe travel. A moving tribute to a kind soul, Tom's memorial is flanked by flowers and illuminated by candles at night.

If you want a glimpse into Tom's life as a teacher, please check out the video clips on Swansea Public School's website:

http://www.swansea-canada.com/Swansea_Public_School/Videos.html.  

And if you're at that corner of the Park, please take a moment to remember Tom.