Flemingdon Park Needs a Clean Ravine!

I grew up next to a ravine in North York and it was frequently a place that I could be found, either with my father or friends, meandering along routes that led to various parks and golf courses in the city. When I was approached by Louis Fliss, a concerned citizen from Flemingdon Park, and asked to sit in on his community event to discuss the poor state of the ravine, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I can honestly say it broke my heart to see some of Toronto's natural areas in such poor condition.

A number of community members were upset with the state of their ravine. They were upset with the lack of attention that they have received from the two major political parties, and they were upset that Flemingdon Park seems to be on the bottom of everyone's list of priorities. They were right to be upset. Coming into Louis' event, I didn't quite know what to expect. How bad was the pollution? How much work might need to be done? But over the course of the presentation, it was made clear just how badly neglected the ravine has been. Furthermore, danger presented itself everywhere with discarded junk, open manholes and exposed sewers, and the half-hearted efforts to fix or cordon off these areas were disrespectful to the community and only reinforced the feeling of neglect for Flemingdon Park.

What the residents want is not unreasonable. But it would take years to do. It requires more than just money: it requires a committed representative that will work with the community and within government to help start a real change within the ravine. For all the diversity within the area, it was clear that the focus was the same, and opening up a natural area for the community and cleaning it up would be a great step towards helping a general urban revival.

What the community wants and needs is the kind of representation in public office that views Flemingdon Park as more than a series of statistics. Last night, it was made clear to me that this diverse community has the will and desire to see their green spaces, their streets, their public areas rejuvenated to reflect their strong spirit. It's not just about money. It's about representation. Toronto is known for its ravines, it's a feature that turns what would otherwise be dull urban landscape into a vibrant green city. It defines us. To see one of these green spaces in such poor condition is a stinging indictment of how governments ignore some communities. It's not who we are; it is a failing of multiple governments that this should have been allowed to happen. I have pledged to return to the Flemingdon Park ravine, and encourage all of you to join me for a tour of the area.

If you would like to know more, Louis -- the organizer and community champion behind the Greenbelt Gateway campaign -- would be happy to tell you about all it. He can be contacted at lfliss@gmail.com