Guest Post - Catherine McKenna, GCA VP, on Parking at Mutchmor Field

When the Glebe Community Association found out in January that the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) wanted to turn a fifth of the of the Mutchmor Field into parking, our thoughts turned to Joni Mitchell.  In particular, lyrics from her song Big Yellow Taxi: “They paved paradise to put up a parking lot”.

The Mutchmor Field between Third and Fourth Avenues is like paradise to so many members of the Glebe community.  It is located in the heart of the Glebe and is the primary recreational space in the area.  Not only is the field used by many children, two schools, GNAG programs, soccer and hockey players, but many adults in the neighbourhood grew up playing on that field.

The OCDSB’s rationale was that Mutchmor Field was needed for additional staff parking for Mutchmor Public School once First Avenue Public School and Mutchmor P.S.’s programs, students, and staff are “switched” in 2014.

From the perspective of the Glebe community, not only was this proposal completely unexpected and made without any consultation, it was completely unacceptable. 

It was heartening to see the Glebe community – including the Glebe Community Association (GCA), the Glebe Neighbourhood Activity Group (GNAG), the First Avenue School Council, the Mutchmor School Council, the St. James Tennis Club and the Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club – work together to save this important green space from parking.  Not only did we rally against the proposed parking lot but we also worked to identify solutions that found a balance between the OCDSB’s parking needs and the best interests of the Glebe community.   Action included letters outlining community concerns to the OCDSB and to our trustee, meetings with key stakeholders including Councillor David Chernushenko and MPP Yasir Naqvi, a fact sheet about the issue made available online and in the Glebe Report, and an online petition.

In good news, the OCDSB staff reviewed their position in response to community concerns, and presented options to the OCDSB trustees that did not include parking in the Mutchmor Field. Instead they recommended leasing space in a local municipal garage as a short-term solution and looking at long-term solutions that do not involve parking on the Mutchmor Field.  Credit must also be given to Councillor Chernushenko and the City for offering to lease spaces in the parking garage to the OCDSB even though the City does not generally offer long-term parking spaces at its lots (as part of its policy to discourage vehicle commuting).

While this was clearly a welcome outcome, the GCA will be watching this issue closely as a final decision by OCDSB staff has been deferred to April 2014.  In a cautionary tale, a similar issue arose at Devonshire Public School when a decision by the OCDSB two years ago to pave the school yard for parking was delayed due to community pressure. However, the OCDSB is reconsidering the option of paving the school yard.

Perhaps, the most important lesson that can be taken from this issue can be summed up in this line from Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax:  “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” 

The good news is that that the Glebe community cares about building a better community, a whole awful lot!