Item - 2017.PE21.3

The Parks and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to amend the existing Licence Agreement with High Park Initiatives governing the use of the High Park Forest School building to include an agreement to raise third-party funding for capital improvements to the High Park Forest School building, and to extend the term of the Agreement for five years to March 31, 2025, with an option to renew for an additional five years expiring on March 31, 2030, at the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation's discretion, to cover the period of the capital fundraising campaign, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and in form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to accept third-party funds raised through the High Park Forest School capital fundraising campaign, as described in the Agreement, and to contribute the funds as they become available to High Park Forest School capital projects in Parks, Forestry and Recreation's Capital Budget and Plan for the purpose of capital improvements to the High Park Forest School, subject to the budget process.

The purpose of this report is to seek approval from City Council to amend an existing Licence Agreement with High Park Initiatives, the charitable, non-profit organization operating the High Park Nature Centre in the High Park Forest School building. The Agreement governs the use of the building by High Park Initiatives for its year-round Nature Centre programming. The building is 85 years old and requires renovations to improve accessibility and modernize washrooms, mechanical systems and space usage. The vision is to create, through these renovations, the High Park Visitor and Nature Centre. High Park Initiatives, in collaboration with Parks, Forestry and Recreation wishes to launch a fundraising campaign to raise the necessary funds. To accomplish this, this report recommends amending the Licence Agreement to include an agreement to raise funds for capital improvements for the High Park Forest School building. The Agreement term also needs to be extended to cover the period of the fundraising campaign. This report also seeks Council authority to accept donations raised through the fundraising campaign.