Mooney's Bay playground roll-out misplayed, officials admit

It could have been handled better.

That's the message from Ottawa'sparks chief Dan Chenier, the city officialcaught in the eyeof an unexpected storm over an equally unexpectedmega-playgroundplanned forMooney's Bay andannounced after zero public consultation even though, it turns out, the TV producers behind the project never demanded the city keep quiet.

"I think a lesson learned is that we should perhaps have provided more details on the specifics of the project at the beginning when we first made the announcement," said Chenier, the city'sgeneral manager of parks, recreation and cultural services.

We should perhaps have provided more details on the specifics of the project at the beginning when we first made the announcement.- Dan Chenier, City of Ottawa

"It's been time-consuming to provide accurate information and dispel some of the rumours or imagined intentions of this project," Cheniersaid.

The city has receivedmore than 300 emailsfrom residents questioning its$1-million deal with the TVO kids show Giverto build Canada's biggest playground.The partnership, which was made public inMay,drew complaintsover its secrecy and lack ofpublic consultation.

No gag order

The project agreement, obtained by CBC News through an access to information request, confirms there was no clause muzzling city staffas some have claimed.The city has since posted thedocumentonlinein an attempt to be more transparent.

Chenier saidthere was an unwritten understanding between the city and Sinking Ship Entertainment, the production company behind Giver,to keepquiet about the details of the deal until all parties, including the National Capital Commission, "had a viable partnership."

"We never demanded secrecy," said Giver producer Rennata Lopez. "There was never a confidentiality agreement in place. There are certain things we wanted to keep a surprise for theshow. That's the actual designs of theplayground."

The city built a web pagedevoted to the Mooney's Bay project following cries from the public over a lack of openness.The page containsinformation, aerial photos and a few newly disclosed documents.

Too little, too late, opponents say

But opponents say it's too little, too late.

"They are still only releasing information they feel they want to release and that's not transparent at all,"said Karin Howard with the group Save Mooney's Bay.

"If they wanted to be transparent they could produce a report and give us all the information that normally accompanies any development of thecity."

The city councillorforthe ward including Mooney's Bay, Riley Brockington,saideven he couldn't getthe documents some residentsdemanded.

"So as people approached me for documents, staff gavewhat Ithought were someunfortunateanswers about, 'Well, it's not yet ready foraccessibilityissues. It's not yet translated,'" said Brockington. "Normally you share all that documentationin advance."

Brockingtonsaid when he did obtain information, he passed it on to local community associations.

• Tree inventory layout.
• Soil report.
• Soil management plan.
• Species at risk & migratory bird screening memo.
• Human health &ecological risk assessment.

CBC News also obtained Sinking Ship Entertainment's preliminary proposal to the City of Ottawa, which reveals more details about the city's 50-per-cent share of the project cost.

Integrity commissioner investigating

The city's integrity commissioner is investigating to find out if city staff broke any rules making the $1-million deal. The city's parks and recreation department plans to conductits own review.

Brockington said he'd like to see councillors given more authorityover projects in their wards. Currently city staff can move ahead on certain projects without seeking the approval of city council.

As for Sinking Ship Entertainment, the company said it's never encountered this level of controversy over a playground project.

I think we need to stop giving platform to these few loud people and start looking around and seeing there's a huge positive story around this project.- Rennata Lopez,

"It's never happened in our 33 playgrounds that we've built across Ontario," saidLopez.

"We're just making a playground.There's so much public support.I think we need to stop giving platform to these few loud people and start looking around and seeing there's a huge positive story around this project."

The production company takes over the site at Mooney's Bay after the Dragon Boat Festival wraps up on June 26, when the next phase of construction will commence.