8 Thursday, April 14, 2022brooklintowncrier.com Grass Park will undergo a makeover this summer as town staff have been planning some needed improvements. While these are not yet finalized, they will be great updates to this amazing downtown park. Proposed improvements include: Pathway accessibility Better grading and drainage Replace pathway pavers Gazebo restoration and maintenance Grass Park is widely used and has long served as a gathering spot for activities and events such as Music in the Park, Harvest Fest, and Christmas in the Village. With the return of events this summer and fall, Grass Park will once again become a great focal point for our community. In fact, a new bear bench will also make a triumphant. Roebuck pilot Also being looked at this summer is a pilot program for Roebuck Street, an idea I raised with staff as a possible consideration. The pilot will involve the closure of Roebuck in August and September, 2022, from Baldwin Street to the driveway access off the private parking lot on the north side of Roebuck. This would be to provide additional outdoor public space and allow for more activities, essentially an extension of Grass Park. This project may include elements such as the following to liven up the space: Colourful Adirondack chairs Accessible picnic tables Planters to provide softscape elements and décor Armour stones to block off the road A road mural that says "Brooklin" with each letter painted by a local artist Hopscotch Last summer, staff and members of the Brooklin Downtown Development Steering Committee (BDDSC, which I sit on as councillor), met in person with property owners and businesses along Roebuck Street to advise them of this proposal and obtain their feedback. There was general support for the project with some concerns related to traffic circulation. As part of the project scope, staff will ensure proper signage is provided on site, well in advance of the closure, to notify local businesses and residents. Furthermore, staff will undertake general traffic data counts and observations during the pilot project to understand any challenges with traffic circulation. Second meeting Last month, the group met again with business and property owners to notify them of the upcoming project and road closure for August and September and shared the planned placemaking initiatives. As part of the consultation, staff and BDDSC members will also administer surveys to those using the space, seeking feedback on what they like, what improvements could be made to the space and to get an understanding on whether people would like to see Roebuck Street be closed on a semi-permanent or permanent basis in the future. Call us at 905-655-6200 to book your appointment Sunglasses... Grass Park Getting a Makeover North Ward - Councillor Steve Lee