Broken benches, overflowing trash: Residents in these Toronto neighbourhoods calling for change

Jane and Finch resident Caitlin Arizalawatchedapublic bench in Grandravine Park slowly deteriorate over five years.

As a long-timemember of the community, she says she's gotten used to this, along with nostreet lights, torn fences and overflowing garbage in local green space even though other neighbourhoods don't seem to struggle with the same problem.

"It's normalized that I have to use a green space that's just not taken care of and not seen as important," Arizala told CBC's Metro Morning.

"It's an inequitable experience, and it's very frustrating."

Arizala is one of 18 participants from North St. James Town and Jane and Finch that documented their experiences using neighbourhood green spaces for a York University community research projectreleased Tuesday.

Residents outlined barriers to accessing, using and navigating nearby parks thatresearchers identified as underserved, not well-maintained, and unclean.

"People use parks differently, and experience them differently, based on their race, their age, their gender and other identities," said Nadha Hassen,a PhDcandidate atYorkUniversity's faculty of environmental and urban change, andthe research lead for the project.

The report statesmore than 65 per centof people in both neighbourhoods identify as visible minoritiesand over 50 per centare immigrants,but thatthese experiences are common inother marginalizedneighbourhoods across the city.

Jane and Finch is one of 31Neighbourhood Improvement Areas a designation from the city that gives targeted investment to places that rank low ineconomic opportunities and social development compared to other neighbourhoods. Despite similarities in neighbourhood equity, the report also highlights North St. James Town is not given the same designation.

"If we think about a neighbourhood like in St. James Town, which has the lowest amount of green space per person across all of Toronto, we have to ask why this is the case in such a dense community with such high need," Hassen said.

The research group worked with neighbourhood residents and community groupsGreenchange, Jane/Finch Centre and the St. James Town Community Co-operative over the course of 11 months last year, collecting over200 photos and videos of resident experiences.

The finalized report calls on the city to:

• prioritize equitable access to high-quality green spaces in racialized neighbourhoods.
• ensure the inclusion and maintenance of amenities that racialized residents are asking for.
• direct resources equitably.
• ensure accountability by evaluate and tracking green space changes.
• winterize outdoor public green spaces and create more free indoor community spaces for the cold seasons.
• improving safety, particularly for racialized women.

The City of Toronto said it'sreviewing the report and recommendations.

"The city welcomes the opportunity to address community and resident concerns in these areas once this review is complete,"policy and project advisorVanessa Enskaitis said in an email.

Enskaitis pointed tothe 20-year Parkland Strategy approved by council in 2019, which guidesplanning for new parks, park expansion and improved access to existing parks in the city. Enskaitis highlightedinclusion and the removal ofbarriers to parksits one of the strategy's four guiding principles.

"As the city grows, it's vital that equitable access to high quality parks and natural areas for all Torontonians is prioritized," said Enskaitis.

Hassenhopes to build on the recommendations with the city.

"I think that there needs to be more dialogue between the city, actually hearing community residents,and moving forward together meaningfully."