Somali recreation centre planned for Toronto park faces opposition

Plans for a Somali community centre in a west-end city park are in jeopardy, after nearby residents and some Etobicoke politicians expressed concerns about building it on city parkland.

The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation (SCCR) has been a decades-long dream by Somali community leaders, who said in a statement last month that "building social purpose infrastructure for communities is a fundamental part of city building, civic engagement and economic development."

The non-profit group was elated when, on April 18, council voted nearly unanimously to move forward by asking the city's agency CreateTO to explore the viability of a short list of sites for a centre.

Zakaria Abdulle, chair of the SCCR, described council's move to CBC Toronto in April as "a historic moment," saying he was "excited to see what's next."

City staff moved quickly. In June, a city staff report recommended leasing a site within Buttonwood Park in Etobicoke to the organization to build the centre.

But the city moved too quickly for some residents, who felt it had erred in its choice to use a portion of a park for the project.

"We support a Somali Recreation and Culture Centre in Etobicoke Centre," said Tracie Napoli, co-chair of Friends of Silver Creek, a local community group. "But under no circumstances should parkland or any type of green space be sold for development. We're shocked that this is the direction the city is even considering."

She said residents are upset they weren't consulted and that the project seems to fly in the face of the city's strategy to protect and invest in parks. Current and future residents, including those expected to join the neighbourhood in nearby towers, need the park to have somewhere to walk and play, Napoli said.

Many residents began to organize, writing letters to the city, contacting politicians at different levels of government and having signs made opposing the project. They've gotten the attention of politicians who are questioning the choice of location, which could have consequences for the project moving forward as planned.

Premier, local councillor say alternative locations better

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has entered the fray, opposing the location, which is located outside his riding.

Grace Lee, a spokesperson for Ford, said he has been hearing from many Etobicoke residents who want to see the park remain intact, instead suggesting the centre could be built in his riding, which is north of the proposed site.

"We are working together with the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board, and the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation to find an alternative location in Rexdale for the new community centre," said Lee.

Etobicoke Centre Coun. Stephen Holyday said he has expressed concerns about the city's proposal to offer city park  land for the project from the beginning.

"One of the takeaway lessons to council is that parks are really sensitive spaces for really good reasons for members of a community," Holyday told CBC Toronto in an interview.

Holyday, who failed in his request to council to release the full short list publicly, said he does not understand why other sites, including those that involve renovating existing spaces, were not selected over a park.

Decision deferred to fall

At a meeting of the city's executive council beginning on Tuesday morning, Coun. Amber Morley presented an amended motion about the project. It passed unanimously, sending the project back to staff, deferring a council decision until at least October, allowing for more consultation with the community.

In a letter explaining her reasoning, Morley said, "I encourage all interested residents to get involved in the upcoming engagement opportunities, and to consider registering to depute at the October executive committee."

Holyday said "the community's opinion has not changed, if anything, it has grown even stronger, and firmer with respect to their concerns over the use of the park."

Abdulle said neither has the resolve of the Somali community, who have been fighting for this centre for decades despite facing years of "structural barriers" and "deep resistance."

He said the SCCR is committed to rising above any opposition and getting a centre built. Etobicoke residents "overwhelmingly support" the project, which will serve both the needs of the Somali community and surrounding neighbourhoods, Abdulle said.

In a deputation to council on Tuesday, Abdulle said that having more opportunity to engage with the community could be a good thing to help dispel any misconceptions that may exist about a project, which is intended to benefit the whole community. But the city must do its part to help facilitate healthy conversations, he said.