City of Toronto officially opens Parkway Forest Community Centre and youth space

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ward 33 Don Valley East) and City of Toronto staff joined local youth and community members today to celebrate the grand opening of Parkway Forest Community Centre and its youth space. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, entertainment and activities to highlight the different spaces in the community centre and programming offered.   

"Facilities like Parkway Forest Community Centre are invaluable, as they provide the local community and youth with opportunities to realize the many benefits of recreation," said Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 10 York Centre), Chair of the Community Development and Recreation Committee.

"It's exciting to celebrate the grand opening of this facility, which will provide the community and its youth with a place to come and learn, be active and connect with one another for years to come," said Councillor Carroll.

The new community centre is a fully accessible, 4,650-square-metre (50,000-square-foot) building featuring a full-size gymnasium, youth space, preschool room, teaching kitchen, teaching garden and green roof, weight room, fitness/dance studio, walking track, YMCA Child Care Centre and more.

The model for the enhanced youth spaces was approved in 2014 and focuses on three components: dedicated space for youth, consistent staff, and programming tailored to youth interests. The youth space at Parkway Forest Community Centre is one of several to officially launch this year.

Parkway Forest Community Centre was designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and is part of the master-planned community Emerald City. The facility was developed by Elad Canada as part of a Section 37 agreement with the City of Toronto.

The community centre offers a wide range of registered and drop-in programs for a variety of ages. Fall 2015/winter 2016 drop-in and registered programs are listed in the North York District Fun Guide that is available in community centres and civic centres, and online at http://toronto.ca/torontofun.

Parkway Forest Community Centre is located at 55 Forest Manor Rd., a short walk from the Don Mills Subway Station. More information is available at http://bit.ly/ParkwayForestCC.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

SOURCE City of Toronto

Media contact: Tamara Staranchuk, Strategic Communications, 416-397-4062, 416-999-6367 (cell), [email protected]