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Miles Road End Parkette

The MRA does not take credit for this project and this documentation is shared here with permission of Berta Pavlov, who prepared it. This is an excellent sample of community involvement, and the MRA offered to host this documentation here so that it can be found online and serve as inspiration.

A_SUMMARY_MILES_ROAD_END_PARKETTE_1994-2026Download

Summary of Miles Road Community Involvement documented by years

Prepared by Berta Pavlov

  • 1994 — Right side guardrail opened access by city upon request by Berta for wheelchair accessibility for young boy and his caregiver.
  • 2005 — Berta & Larry request the city repair broken bench. City Parks repairs single board of bench. Larry replaces all bench boards and stained new bench with all new boards.
  • 2006 — Joanna & Berta attend Mayor David Miller’s talk at the Exhibition grounds (summer) on the importance of community involvement and creating safe and beautiful spaces. We were introduced to Brian Green from City of Toronto Parks.
  • 2006 — October 21, 2006 Brian Green took on our project and helped on his off days along with his assistant and Miles Road community (Joanna Nakeff, Debbie Selley, Betty Hicks, Bernadette Slingerland, Chris Rutledge, Rebecca & Hope, Natalie Palmateer, Ernie Alves, Romy Prevedello, Bian Ross, Marie-France LeFort, Joan Ratcliff, Peter Shepherd, Salina Szechtman, Judy Rutledge, Martin Gerwin, Larry, John & Berta Pavlov).
  • 2006 — Betty Hicks informs us that there was a land encroachment with a chain link fence added by homeowners of 8 Miles Rd. in 1975–76.
  • 2007 — Larry requests city add some type of safety railing on sewer outfall opening, opening of guard rail and proper garbage and recycling containers for parkette.
  • 2008 spring — Winter damage from snow clearance crushes the guardrail & dead end sign. City contacted for repairs request by Berta.
  • 2008 fall — City of Toronto removes guardrail and replaces sign. Proper garbage & recycling containers added to parkette entrance. Railing added to sewer outfall and new cement pad and benches added to the Miles Road End Parkette. Also of note, based on Larry’s request, City of Toronto added the same railing all throughout the lakefront sewer outfalls.
  • 2012 — CCFEW (Citizens Concerned about the Future of Etobicoke Waterfront) takes on our cause (Barbara Keaveney, Brian Bailey) to reclaim the encroachment land belonging to the Miles Road End Parkette.
  • 2012 June 18 — Miles group along with CCFEW present a deputation at City of Toronto, Planning & Growth Management Committee. Peter Shepherd spoke on behalf of Miles Road End Parkette and the importance of “Windows to the Lake” as well as Terry Smith from 4th Street. Also in attendance were Salina Szechtman, Judith Rutledge, Martin Gerwin, Larry & Berta Pavlov.
  • 2015 — Chainlink fence removed on the east side of the parkette. Special thanks to Judith Rutledge and Chris Rutledge.
  • 2017 spring — In May, Miles Road End Parkette sustains severe shoreline erosion damage from a spring rainstorm. Multiple emails sent to City of Toronto Parks requesting shoreline repair.
  • 2018 July 19 — Meeting in the parkette with group from TRCA
  • TRCA staff (Jill Attwood and Andrew Jules). In attendance from our Miles Road group were Joan Ratcliff, Peter Shepherd, Salina Szechtman, Judy Rutledge, Martin Gerwin, & Berta Pavlov. Result of this meeting: overview and recommendations sent to Councillor Mark Grimes’ office and we were placed on list for a new shoreline.
  • 2018 — On November 1, the waterfront team (led by Jill Attwood) with employee volunteers from SigNature Communities, with gardening supplies donated from the City of Toronto, gave a section of Miles Rd End Parkette in Etobicoke a mini makeover. The group removed any debris and weeds from a section of the parkette that was overgrown and then 15 cubic yards of topsoil was spread.
  • 2020 — Jason Keller M.C., C.Psych takes on the land encroachment, emailing to City of Toronto Real Estate and Parks along with Barbara Keaveney and Berta.
  • 2021 — Multiple surveys of the Miles Road End Parkette (4 Miles Road) plot lines start by City of Toronto Real Estate, TRCA.
  • 2022 Fall — Shoreline and land reclaimed by City of Toronto on the west side of parkette. Installation of the chain link fence to establish clear division of property lines.
  • 2023 — TRCA begins in March rebuilding of the Miles Road End Parkette shoreline project Phase 1 and completed June 2023.
  • 2025 — Heritage Toronto committee approved the A.W. Miles plaque in recognition of his significant contributions to the Mimico community. We are working with Chris Bateman from Heritage Toronto — https://www.heritagetoronto.org.
  • 2025 — Ashley Galego, Construction Coordinator, Capital Projects Design & Delivery, starts design consultation. Bernadette Slingerland assisted with input on the wheelchair accessibility design (April 2023). Community asked to give feedback on proposed design via an online survey set up by Ashley and her team (September 2025).
  • 2026 — Barbara & Berta attend meeting with the Etobicoke Historical Society regarding the A.W. Miles Heritage plaque. Mireille Macia, President of Etobicoke Historical Society — https://www.etobicokehistorical.com — has agreed to support project and $2,000 pledge. Wording to be provided for review with acknowledgement of EHS. (Salina will be assisting Berta with the wording as well and final submission to EHS.)
  • 2026 — CCFEW — https://ccfew.org — will also be supporting the A.W. Miles heritage plaque with a $1,000 pledge.
  • 2026 — City of Toronto Parks starts Phase 2 of the parkette, August 16 – September 22, 2026. Installation of the games table, Muskoka chairs and two memorial benches in memory of Helmut & Nancy and the other in memory of Wilf, who used to live in 42 Miles Road.
  • 2026 — September 12, Etobicoke Historical Society held one of their Historical Walks (led by Louise Mahood) down Miles Road to bring awareness of A.W. Miles’ historical contribution to the Mimico community. Mimico Residents Association is also assisting with fundraising for the Historical plaque, which will be installed inside the parkette. Michael Schwanzer, president of MRA — https://mimicoresidents.ca — has posted the fundraising information, as has CCFEW on their respective sites.
  • 2026 — Toronto Parks supervisor Michael Bromley will be working with community to bring triple-mix topsoil and mulch for the garden. Patricia Landry, Parks Program Officer, will assist with getting additional plants for the garden (Spring 2027).
  • 2006–2026 — Annual Spring Cleanups have taken place every year unless a parkette closure. These cleanups are registered with the City of Toronto as part of the city’s main spring cleanup — https://www.toronto.ca/clean-toronto-together.

The current Miles Road team: David Handley, Dr. Gordon Wong, Tosh Tipler, Joan Ratcliff, Peter Shepherd, Salina Szechtman, Judy Rutledge, Martin Gerwin, Andrew Buntain, Li Sun, Elaine Vallevand & Steve, Linda Szeto & Bill, Scott & Janice Christie, Rowan Christie, Berta & Larry Pavlov.

Many additional neighbours of Miles Road have always supported the ongoing Miles Road End Parkette project but due to conflicts of schedule and life commitments have not been able to participate — know that your support is appreciated.