Media advisory: more donors step forward & schedule is announced to rebuild High Park playground

TORONTO, March 24, 2012 /CNW/ - The list of those rebuilding the High Park playground continues to grow with 20 organizations now taking part. the High Park playground, the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground, destroyed by fire last weeked.

The coalition of businesses are all members of Landscape Ontario and were taking park in Canada Blooms this week and will donate materials used in their presentation gardens for the new park. The Canadian Wildlife Federation will donate to help support the project development. The value of the collaborative donations of in-kind contributions, materials and funds from all of the organizations involved is estimated at $300,000.

Over the next 10 days there will be two community meetings to determine the design of the playground. The damaged playground will also be removed next week. The construction of the new playground will take place following the community meetings and it's expected that there will be a community build day by mid-April to complete and open the new playground.

The High Parks Resident Association has stated their support for this donation and will join the group in to determine the details of the design and build this spring.

Donors for the Re-build of the Playground at High Park

Bienenstock Design and Consulting
Contact: Adam Bienenstock
1.800.306.3319
[email protected]

Bienenstock engage communities to re-imagine and rebuild their green space through better designs, partnerships, and programs that connect their children and adults to nature. The parks and playgrounds we create reflect the natural heritage of the site and the needs of the community through a collaborative and inclusive design process, a skilled team of installers and well-orchestrated community builds.   Rolling hills, winding pathways, giant logs, boulders and large native trees and shrubs define spaces filled with art, music and nature. These are CSA, ASTM and ANSI compliant playgrounds for all abilities, where the only barrier is the limit of your imagination. This is the place in our community where generations will form their critical bond with nature and each other. Bienenstock green space can be found in public parks, at child care centres, Conservation authorities, Teachers' Colleges and Universities, preschools, elementary schools, private schools, zoos, hospitals, nature centres, and cities, across Canada and the United States.

Canadian Wildlife Federation
Pamela Logan
[email protected]
www.canadianwildlifefederation.ca

This year the Canadian Wildlife Federation is celebrating its 50th Anniversary.  Formed in 1962, CWF's unique combination of action, engagement and trusted environmental education has been at the forefront of Canadian conservation ever since. Today, with more than 300,000 members, CWF is Canada's largest conservation organization with activities, research and education projects having taken place in virtually every community in Canada.

CWF is dedicated to fostering awareness and enjoyment of our natural world. Through education and awareness, advocacy, and funding, CWF promotes the sustainable use of our planet's resources.  Our well established conservation education programs have been a first choice of Canadian educators for decades. Programs such as Habitat 2020 support creative and critical hands-on learning through outdoor, habitat and wildlife related projects.

We support research and recovery programs that aim to remove animals from the endangered species list and we represent the voices of countless concerned Canadians on government advisory committees that create legislation to better the lives of wildlife and humans. We encourage an understanding of the impact of human activities on the environment; promote the sustainable use of our natural resources; conduct and sponsor research; and cooperate with organizations and government agencies with similar objectives.

The Federation is a champion of the environment and wildlife on a national and international scale. Through extensive education, conservation and information programs, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians may live in harmony with the natural order.

Sweetpea's
Sara Jameson
i[email protected]
416-537-3700
www.sweetpeablooms.ca

Sweetpea's has combined it's love of gardening and the Roncesvalles/High Park community since first starting business in 2009.Sara Jameson, Sweetpea's owner, played a key role in the creation of the Sorauren Park Off-Leash Dog Park.   The project was a labour of love which took over two years.

Last summer, Sweetpea's donated substantial amounts of organic soil and mulch, along with a wide selection of plants to the Sorauren Park Field House to start their garden program.  During Roncesvalles Spring festival in 2011, Sweetpea's donated hundreds of pots and plants to the children's paint and pot program; encouraging children's involvement with art and gardening.  Sweetpea's played an important role in the care and watering of Roncesvalles new tree planting; increasing the survival rate of this new tree canopy to over 98%.  Sweetpea's worked with the Roncesvalles BIA to amend and add supplement plantings to all the new planters on Roncy's renovated streetscape.   Sweetpea's has donated hundreds of packages of seeds to local community programs including the West End Flower Fairies for use in the Grafton community garden, along with Fern Public School for their outdoor garden program.    Sweetpea's is made up of avid guerilla gardeners, working under the cover of darkness to start and maintain gardens in neglected urban areas.  We are proud of our commitment to community garden programs.   Our focus is encouraging the next generation of gardeners, a respect for the environment and our role in its preservation and beautification.   Sweetpea's is an award-winning design studio, with an eco-friendly focus, located in the heart of the Roncesvalles Village.   Our floral and garden designs have been featured in the New York Times, Weddingbells magazine, BlogTO, Toronto Life magazine, as well as numerous television and radio interviews. Most recently, in their first ever Feature Garden at this year's Canada Blooms, Sweetpea's was recently awarded "Best Overall Use of Plant Material" and "Best use of annuals or perennials".

Genoscape Inc.
Joseph T. Genovese
Cell: 416-896-4233
[email protected]

Genoscape Inc. is an award winning Landscape design/build firm who specializes in the installation of water features and rainwater harvesting systems.  Genoscape's owner Joe Genovese is easily the best water feature builder in the Greater Toronto Area and arguably one of the best in Canada. Joe has been involved with major water feature builds all across North America.

Genoscape's feature garden at 2012 Canada Blooms aptly named Aqua Terra, has won the Most Outstanding Use of Water Award.  Many of the same elements used in the display garden at Canada Blooms will be used in the water feature at the High Park restoration effort.  Genoscape's goal for the High Park restoration effort is to create a safe, beautiful and sustainable pondless waterfall that the areas residences and kids can interact with.

Genoscape's material suppliers have offered to donate product to the effort.  Aquascape Inc. of Brampton has agreed to provide all of the water feature components for the project and Farmer Jack's of Stouffville is providing all of the rocks that will be used in the waterfall.

Genoscape Inc. Contact:  Joe Genovese - 416-896-4233

Aden Earthworks
120 Toro Road
Toronto ON M3J 2A9
www.adenearthworks.com
Ben Zlotnick, Owner, [email protected]
Cell: 416-731-4000
[email protected]

For 10 years, Aden Earthworks has provided safe, quiet and green services to residential, commercial and industrial clients. Our team of experienced design, construction and maintenance staff provide excellent service in a professional, courteous and efficient manner. Over the past decade, we have honed our skills and practices to ensure that each property receives detail-orientated care and attention. From the beginning of our inception, we have been devoted to organic practices utilizing native plant material which has developed into site-specific implementations, reducing inputs and encouraging long-term sustainability. Even in our seasonal designs and displays, in-depth consideration

is given to exposure and orientation of the location as well as local cultural and environmental requirements to ensure longevity of our plantings.

Our roster of services extends from complete landscape design and construction including efficient excavation, soil amendment, planting, stone masonry, carpentry and installations of decks an fences; to full, year-round grounds maintenance including holiday lighting, seasonal clean-ups, regular horticultural and lawn maintenance, snow removal, and permanent four-season above-ground gardening. We have done large commercial construction projects for many iconic Toronto conglomerates and corporations. Projects that include the installation of trellises and decks, city pavers, heavy duty pavers, green roof, concrete, landscaping, irrigation and water features, fire bowls, gabion baskets, Aden Earthworks represents the combined experience and ability of Aesthetic Earthworks and Aden Landscape and Design.

Reliable Reporting
Scott Belair
416-580-5437
www.reliablereporting.ca

When you choose Reliable Reporting you can rest assured that your business is in knowledgeable and experienced hands.

Scott Belair is the owner and founder of Reliable Reporting. He has over 10 years of experience in manufacturing, installation and inspection of playground equipment for compliance with governing safety standards.

Scott is a certified playground inspector in both Canada and the USA. Scott is also an active member of the play industry serving on several playground related technical committees in both Canada and the USA.

VRS Masonry
Reid Snow 905-599-8663
www.vrsmasonry.com
[email protected]

Reid Snow has been building dry stone walls and related designs for the past 10 yrs.  He currently holds a Level II Certification with the Drystone Walling Association of Great Britain, DSWA GB - The highest designation held in Canada.

Reid's business, VRS Masonry, specializes in dry stone walls and features as well as historic style fireplaces and other natural stone installations. He takes great pride in his craft and is consistently developing his skills to ensure quality and beauty is of the utmost and will stand the test of time - 25 years+!

Allstone Quarry Products Inc.
Joe Melo 905-939-8491
www.allstonequarry.com

Landscapes By Lucin
Arvils Lukss
416-816-9609

www.lucin.net Landscapes by Lucin is a design build firm specializing in the residential market in Toronto.  Our most memorable community project was building a garden for the Starlight children's Foundation on behalf of sick kids

Upper Canada Stone Company Ltd.
Rob Redden
www.uppercanadastone.com
Toll-Free: [phone]
[email protected]

P Day Management Services Ltd.
Paul Day
647-330-0222
[email protected]

Wellington Systems Inc.
Lynn Gordon
519-240-7267

Techo-Bloc Inc.
www.tech-bloc.com
1-800-463-0450
[email protected]
[email protected]

Kelron Logistics
Kelly Winters
905-795-9136
www.kelron.com
[email protected]

Stronco Group
Ralph Strachan
416-936-1822
http://www.stronco.com/
[email protected]

Connon Nurseries
Rick Vanderkruk
905 628-0112
http://www.connonnurseries.com/

Sheridan Nurseries
Valerie Stensson
416 798-7970
http://www.sheridannurseries.com/

Labours' International Union of North America Local 506 Peter Glaze
416-885-9245
http://www.liuna.org

ABF Freight Ltd.
Mark Romanowicz
416-931-8062
www.abfs.com
[email protected]

Landscape Ontario
Tony DiGiovanni
1-800-265-5656
http://landscapeontario.com/
[email protected]

Aquascape Inc. 
Brampton, Ontario
Contact: Perry Molema
905-796-8358

Farmer Jack's landscape supply
Stouffville, Ontario
Contact: Scott Burrows
905-642-5380

Media Contact: Bruce Sudds, Marketing and Communications Director, Snap Design, 416.931.3643, [email protected]