Fairbank Memorial Park

Fairbank Memorial Park is a park located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Description

The park's official address is 2213 Dufferin Street. It is bordered on the west by Dufferin Street, on the north by Keywest Avenue, and on the south by Gibson Street. It consists of convert|9.1|acre|m2 of ground," [http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/fairbank.htm City of Toronto: Parks and Recreation - Fairbank Park] ", Toronto.ca, accessed July 5, 2006.] which contain the Fairbank Memorial Community Recreation Centre. It is also home to Fairbank Outdoor Pool, a playground, an open athletic field for sports like rugby or soccer, and athletic courts for baseball, basketball, and bocce.

Development scandal

In the late 1980s, Fairbank Park became embroiled in a major political scandal. Several politicians, including City of York deputy mayor Tony Mandarano, became involved in a secret deal with land developer Lou Charles. Mandarano received more than $100,000 in bribes, and York Council member Jim Fera received $341,000; in exchange, they agreed to speak in favor of Charles's development plans during council meetings, the most prominent of which involved tearing down Fairbank Park and selling the land to Charles so that he could construct condominiums on the site. Councilwoman Frances Nunziata was instrumental in exposing the scandal, which resulted in six of the eight council members losing their seats in the 1991 election. Mandarano received a sentence of 15 months in prison in a plea bargain, while Fera accepted an 18-month sentence in a similar deal. [" [http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_03.11.93/NEWS/cit0311.php HOW BOB RAE HELPED NAIL TWO CORRUPT POLS] ", Paul Palango, Eye Weekly, published March 11, 1993, accessed July 5, 2004.]

The decision to sell part of the park before redesignating the land for residential development was illegal, as it did not follow the City of York's Official Plan. In addition, the public input on the proposed project was limited and the public's support of the new condominiums was debatable. [" [http://192.75.172.22/web/house-proceedings/house_detail.do?locale=en&Date=1990-12-17&Parl=35&Sess=1&detailPage=/house-proceedings/transcripts/files_html/1990-12-17_l071_90.htm Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Debates and Proceedings] ", Hansard Transcripts, Legislative Assembly of Ontario, published December 17, 1990, accessed October 1, 2008. ]

References