Introduction

This portion of Investing in the Landscape presents recommendations and strategies for achieving the vision and Primary Objectives outlined in the previous section. These strategies provide guidance for the University as it embarks upon a new program of landscape design, revitalization and maintenance. The strategies can be divided into two scales: those at the level of the City and those at the level of the campus.

Many elements of the campus, including the landscape and landmarks, are an integral part of the larger context of the City of Toronto. Issues such as the role of the campus within the city, the reconnection of major open spaces in the district, the role of city streets in defining the edges of the campus, and entrances to the campus are best viewed at the scale of the City of Toronto. These are well suited to partnerships between the University and its neighbours: the Royal Ontario Museum, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Provincial Legislature, the Taddle Creek Millennium Project, adjacent Business Improvement Areas, neighbourhood associations, the Toronto Transit Commission and the City of Toronto are possible partnership candidates.

Campus-scale strategies outline the tools that can be used within the Revitalization Armature to improve and enhance the open spaces of the campus. These tools include the creation of a Pedestrian Priority Zone; improvements to the streets of the West Campus; the creation of playing fields and running paths; outdoor lighting; the use of consistent plant material, paving material, and signage; seasonal issues; and public art and monuments on campus. A review of the University's Development Sites highlights opportunities for these projects to enhance the campus open spaces and help achieve the vision and objectives of this Plan.

The strategies emphasize the importance of an ongoing open space planning and design function at the University, in the form of an Open Space Revitalization Office to coordinate projects and maintain the priority of campus landscape improvements.

Table of Contents

Strategies at the Scale of the City

• The Campus in the City
• Reconnection of Major Open Spaces
• Major Edge Streets
• Entrances to the Campus

Strategies at the Scale of the Campus

• Pedestrian Priority Zone
• The Streets of the West Campus
• Playing Fields and Active Recreation
• Campus Outdoor Lighting
• Urban Forestry on the Campus
• Materials
• Seasonal Issues
• Art on Campus
• Monuments
• Development Sites

Strategies for Ongoing Planning and Design at the University

• Introduction
• Open Space Revitalization Office
• Undertaking Open Space Design
• Open Space Revitalization Opportunities Related to Ongoing Projects
• Protecting the Open Space Investment

Implementing the Open Space Master Plan

• Initial Actions
• Demonstration Site Preconditions