A wonderful thing has happened in Trefann.

Since the start of the City Workers strike, many neighbours and friends have come out and cleaned our little community. Walking up Sumach street, it is not unusual to see a few people out on the street, picking up litter, offering to drive their neighbours’ garbage to a transfer station, sweeping up sidewalks, laneways and driveways. Strolling along Shuter and Tracy Streets, you see the same thing happening. Neighbours helping each other and keeping Trefann clean and tidy.

Last evening, one resident went so far as to transport their ‘ride-upon’ lawn mower down from their cottage and mowed the entire grass area of Stinky’s Park. He did this so the rest of the community could continue enjoying our park.

His actions have motivated others to organize a small ‘clean-up’ party this weekend. We have transport to the transfer station. We have donated garbage bags. We have the will to see this strike through.

I know I’ll be there and hope to see you too.

A local “photo opportunity” Aug 22 for our city councillor Pam McConnell (and also for the new boss at Police 51 Division, Superintendent Kimberley Greenwood): the unveiling of an attractively landscaped pie-shaped piece of land immediately north of the crosswalk at Shuter + Sumach. The garden and grass area are approximately 1400 square feet and cost $35,000. Lots of police in attendance at this ribbon-cutting ceremony, including at least 2 constables equipped with Tasers (fortunately, the small crowd was well behaved).

More pictures …

Previously, a larger garden was built just north of here, in the spring of 2006: “a memorial flower garden for people killed in Regent Park. The garden was created and is tended by community leaders in Regent Park, with the involvement of youth who are at risk of becoming involved in crime and violence.”

Now, if only the city could be prodded to make similar landscaping improvements at other nearby TCHC properties, such as the fence and gardens surrounding Moss Park Apartments, those residents could similarly “take pride” in their neighbourhood.

For Community Cleanup Day, 14 Trefann residents spent 3 hours in Stinky’s Park on April 19, armed with rakes and numerous donated garden waste bags. Our thorough raking and gathering of over 100 bags of leaves (and a few bags of garbage), made a huge improvement to our park’s appearance. On Sunday, several residents of TC Douglas Co-op finished gathering leaves and garbage in the playground area of the park. The employees of local business Bousada also helped by going through the park on April 18, and picking up most of the garbage. The few surviving tulips and daffodils in the garden are no longer buried under last fall’s leaves, and so now have a chance to bloom. Keeping our park clean makes Trefann residents and visitors feel better about our neighbourhood.

The snow has finally melted, the grass is starting to poke out of the earth and the birds are chirping en masse. So…it is time for us to get out with friends and neighbours and clean our park.

TCRA is registered with the City of Toronto to help clean up Stinky’s Park on Saturday April 19th and/or Sunday April 20th.

For all of you interested in our yearly clean up, just join us at Stinky’s on Saturday and/or Sunday from 1pm on. Bring some rakes if you have them, cold drinks to share and most importantly: yourselves. This is the time we start our Pot-Luck Picnic planning so come on down to give us your ideas. If you cannot join in, you are always welcome to donate YARD WASTE bags.