We now have a draft Western Waterfront Master Plan.  The Planning Alliance has done a great job, and I imagine almost no-one will find much to criticize.  At a super high level, the plan greatly improves the public space on the Western Waterfront (from the Humber to Dufferin, and North to the Queensway.)  Access is improved, parking is concentrated away from the shore, and the great sprawling mess of roads is tidied leaving more green space.  The costs are estimated to be $215 million dollars.  Sounds like a lot until you consider this is the waterfront for ward 13 and ward 14 (about 100,000 people) or about $100 per person per year.  You might spend this much a year on paper towel, or gum.

The sad part of the plan is the schedule.  The plan suggests the improvements be implemented over 20 years (and beyond.)  I think most of us would like to see this accelerated.  At a time when the government is planning large fiscal stimulus packages, it would be nice to see some of our tax dollars return and go to work improving the quality of life in Toronto in real, tangible ways.

The only part of the plan that directly impacts Roncesvalles is a recommendation to improve the pedestrian overpass that connects Ronces with the lake.  And, this is included in Phase 3 (20 years and beyond.)  The Environmental Assessment has just completed part 2 of 5 and has been underway for 30 months.  At this point the plan doesn't say much about when specific parts of the plan will be implemented.  The overall schedule for the plan was set by Toronto Council not Planning Alliance so I suppose we, the people are really to blame for the geologic pace of the plan.

Don't think of this as improvement so much as righting a past wrong.  Our shoreline was severed from our neighbourhood to make space for 13 lanes of traffic an 4 sets of train tracks.  The shoreline was considered a margin of the city rather than a meaningful natural place.  Most waterfront cities make the most of their shorelines.

In the "short term" (years 1 to 5, and I don't think the clock has started yet) we can expect to see the beach at sunnyside re-established and a "beach curtain" pilot project to separate swimming water from polluted water, and splashpads near Dowling and Ellis.

Take some time to read the plan for yourself:

Draft Western Waterfront Master Plan