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

It could have been handled better.

That's the message from Ottawa's parks chief Dan Chenier, the city official caught in the eye of an unexpected storm over an equally unexpected mega-playground planned for Mooney's Bay and announced 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's general 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," Chenier said.

The city has received more than 300 emails from residents questioning its $1-million deal with the TVO kids show Giver to build Canada's biggest playground. The partnership, which was made public in May, drew complaints over its secrecy and lack of public consultation.

No gag order

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

Chenier said there was an unwritten understanding between the city and Sinking Ship Entertainment, the production company behind Giver, to keep quiet 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 the show. That's the actual designs of the playground." 

The city built a web page devoted to the Mooney's Bay project following cries from the public over a lack of openness. The page contains information, 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 the city." 

The city councillor for the ward including Mooney's Bay, Riley Brockington, said even he couldn't get the documents some residents demanded.

"So as people approached me for documents, staff gave what I thought were some unfortunate answers about, 'Well, it's not yet ready for accessibility issues. It's not yet translated,'" said Brockington. "Normally you share all that documentation in advance."

Brockington said 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 conduct its own review.

Brockington said he'd like to see councillors given more authority over 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," said Lopez. 

"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.