Say no to garbage at Sunnyside Park

Below is a news release sent out today by Green 13. To help us organize opposition to a dump at Sunnyside please contact Chris Holcroft at green13group@gmail.com. Thank you!

Green 13

Community Green Group Says No to Garbage at Sunnyside Park !

TORONTO, June 25, 2009 – Green 13, a volunteer community organization, is asking the City to not use one of our great public spaces as a dumping ground for private garbage.

While respecting the difficult choices facing the City as it prepares for a potential garbage crisis, designating a public park - on our waterfront no less – should absolutely not be one of them.

“At a time of great economic uncertainty, with many city services currently unavailable, we need our great public parks more than ever”, said Christopher Holcroft, Chair of Green 13. “Particularly at Sunnyside, enjoyed by so many Torontonians every day coming to cool off by the lake, marvel at the tremendous view or take a stroll or bike ride along the boardwalk, the presence of a garbage dump is unimaginable.”

Creating a garbage dump - even temporarily - where families picnic, children play, cyclists ride and tourists visit creates more than aesthetic problems, it poses unknown environmental risks to the surrounding parkland and lake and it undermines the very idea of shared public spaces.

While empathizing with the City's predicament, there are better choices: encouraging citizens to create less waste and recommending the use of home composters, setting up smaller dumping stations in city owned parking lots and negotiating a settlement with its employees, among them.

We are encouraging local residents to write our Councillor (councillor_saundercook@toronto.ca) and ask him to actively oppose this plan. We also ask the people of Toronto to avoid using what is collectively our own backyard – our waterfront park – as a dumping ground for garbage.

Great communities need great parks. We cannot allow this to happen.

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About Green 13
Green 13 is a volunteer community environmental group active in the Ward 13 area of Toronto ( High Park ). Green 13’s goals are to educate and advocate for positive changes to ensure the protection of our environment. www.green13toronto.blogspot.com

For more information please contact Christopher Holcroft at 416-760-8557 / 416-996-0767 (C) or chris_holcroft@yahoo.com.