Item - 2026.MM39.15

Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Councillor Shelley Carroll, recommends that:

1. City Council amend the 2026 Capital Budget for Parks and Recreation to:

a. create a new capital sub-project known as the Wellesley Magill Revitalization Project in the Park Development project, with a project cost and cash flow of $250,000.00 gross and $0 debt in 2026, fully funded by Section 37 community benefits obtained from the development at 59 Richmond Street East and 144 and 130 Church Street secured for outdoor public realm and parkland improvements (Source Account: XR3026-3701221), for the purpose of revitalizing Wellesley Magill Park; and

b. create a new capital sub-project known as the James Canning Park Dog Off Leash Area Project in the Park Development project, with a project cost and cash flow of $500,000.00 gross and $0 debt in 2026, fully funded by Section 37 community benefits obtained from the development at 59 Richmond Street East and 144 and 130 Church Street secured for outdoor public realm and parkland improvements (Source Account: XR3026-3701221), for the purpose of installing a new Dog Off Leash Area at James Canning Park.

Participatory Budgeting is a system of direct democracy where residents imagine how their neighbourhood could be improved, suggest potential ideas and then vote on how funds are spent to improve their community through capital projects.

Between April 1 and November 1, 2025, my office hosted online and in-person engagements with local residents and business improvement areas to crowdsource ideas. These ideas were then vetted for cost and feasibility with City staff and presented to the local community to vote on which projects they would like to see funded.

In the Bay Cloverhill, Bloor East, Church Wellesley and Upper Jarvis Neighbourhoods, two projects supported by the local community fit within the allocated budget of $750,000:

a. Wellesley-Magill Park Revitalization; and

b. James Canning Park Small Dogs Off Leash Area.

The release of funds for these projects will allow for locally supported capital projects to move forward in a timely manner.