I was so delighted last fall when Public Works Director Beatrice Newman and Foreman for Horticulture, Public Spaces & Parks Joane Warren invited me for a walk through Isadore Goldberg Park.
For years Ms. Newman and I have been brainstorming on ways to make this park more accessible. We had talked about moving the park to the vacant green space on Marc Chagall Avenue, which has been used as a parking lot for the workers at the Equinoxe construction project. Thank goodness work will end there in November and the land must be returned to its original form.
To Ms. Newman's credit, she thought outside of the box. Why build a brand new park when we could improve the existing one?
So last fall all the dead bushes at Isadore Goldberg were removed and a road was created from Marc Chagall leading to the park. It is gravel right now, but we hope to pave it with cement down the line. I am glad I was able to tell former Councillor Goldberg myself of our plans for the park in his name. He was really excited. Our goal was to rededicate the park in the spring and even move the sign, which currently sits on Kildare Road. Sadly, Isadore passed away last winter and then COVID-19 hit.
This summer the Public Works team removed all the old equipment, urban furniture and dirty sand.. Fresh sand, new equipment and some tables have been installed. The gravel road is a wonderful addition to the park. Public Works and Public Security vehicles can now properly access the park and so can residents of Marc Chagall.
Still to come are a change of lights, the installation of benches and tables,the trimming of the trees, the removal of one tree and finally the gardens will be revamped.