Background
Valley Park Middle School serves approximately 1,200 students representing over 50 language groups from two multicultural communities in central Toronto: Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park. These communities are some of the most densely populated in Canada, where there is little green space and few recreational options for the youth.
The school is leading a community revitalization project, Valley Park Go Green, in partnership with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and the two neighbourhood settlement service agencies. The goal of the project is to provide an enriched and hands-on outdoor learning experience for students. The project brings the beauty of the neighbouring Don River Valley back into the school and adjacent newly leased Hydro lands and embraces the multicultural character of the local neighborhoods by creating an outdoor gathering place.
Taking action
Environmental improvements under the Go Green project include:
- Rainwater harvesting and reclaiming: collection and diversion of rainwater from the school rooftop through a bioswale (a biofilter designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water) and into a wetland and underground holding tank. The water is then used for irrigating a planned multi-use community cricket field, baseball diamond and soccer field. The system is inter-connected with moisture sensors on the field, bioswale and wetland communicating with the tank when top-ups are required.
- Growth and maintenance of vegetable and herb gardens, urban forest and wetland: Students and the community will learn about native plants and trees
Achieving results
The program is achieving positive results:
- Learning by doing: Through the environmental improvements, students are learning concepts and skills first-hand such as stormwater management and gardening
- Ecological benefits: The rainwater reuse reduces water consumption and overall energy use
- Cultural enrichment: An important aspect of the project is the celebration and appreciation of multiculturalism in the communities
- Recreational and health benefits: When the project is completed, community groups will have space for their recreational programs, such as cricket games and outdoor bazaars. This will lead to benefits in the health, recreation and safety of the youth in the neighborhood
Valley Park Middle School has created a vibrant and diverse green space in collaboration with engaged citizens, which can be replicated in other schools and their communities.
