Item - 2025.IE26.12

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the General Manger, Parks and Recreation to accept the in-kind donation of up to $15.0 million from the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto for the purposes of constructing an Asian Garden including amenities such as an atrium, tea houses, horticulture and greenhouses, on a portion of parkland at Cynthia Lai Park as shown in Attachment 1 to the report (November 20, 2025) from the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, in compliance with the Donations to the City of Toronto for Community Benefits Policy.

2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to negotiate and execute a Construction and Donation Agreement with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto to facilitate the construction of an Asian Garden on a portion of parkland at Cynthia Lai Park, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor, and in accordance with City policies relating to capital projects, including compliance with the City's Fair Wage Policy and the City's Labour Trades Contractual Obligations in the Construction Industry, if applicable.

3.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to negotiate and execute a Fundraising Agreement with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto Foundation to raise funds for the construction and management of an Asian Garden on a portion of parkland at Cynthia Lai Park, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, and in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

4.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to negotiate and execute a Management Agreement with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, for a term of 20 years, plus two 10 year renewal options, commencing after the construction of the Asian Garden has been completed to the General Manager's satisfaction, at the General Manager's discretion after consultation with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, for the purposes of managing an Asian Garden to be constructed by the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto on a portion of parkland at Cynthia Lai Park, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, and in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

This report responds to City Council direction (2022.MM45.9), which endorsed in principle the use of parkland at Cynthia Lai Park (1051 Progress Avenue) by the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto for the implementation of an Asian Garden Project, subject to approval of design by Parks and Recreation staff and provided the project be fully funded by the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto and at no cost to the City.

Staff were also authorized to conduct community engagement on the proposed design and directed to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the results of community engagement and negotiations with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, and to seek any required authority for future agreements to implement the project.

The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to promoting Chinese culture and fostering intercultural understanding. The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto proposes to design, fund, and construct an Asian Garden as a new cultural and community landmark celebrating Chinese heritage and multicultural exchange. The project also adds additional parking to help alleviate the limited capacity currently available at the adjacent Scarborough Community Complex.

In response to Council direction, City staff collaborated with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto and the local Councillor on a comprehensive engagement process, including a community consultation meeting on September 11, 2025, attended by more than 120 participants and an information flyer that was distributed to 1,200 nearby households. Feedback was broadly supportive, with comments focused on design, operations, funding, and programming. Additional outreach materials produced by the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto included an information booklet, a video overview of the proposal, and a survey that generated over 200 responses, along with ongoing updates via a project webpage managed by the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto.

This report summarizes the findings of community engagement and status of negotiations with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto and seeks Council authority to accept the in-kind donation of the Asian Garden from the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, and to negotiate and enter into a Fundraising Agreement and a Construction and Donation Agreement to support project implementation. In addition, staff recommend that Council authorize the City to negotiate and enter into a Management Agreement with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto to manage, operate, and maintain the Asian Garden following its completion for a 20-year term, with an option to extend for an additional two 10-year terms.