Not everyone thinks change is good, particularly when it comes to old standbys, like the familiar signs in city parks.

We got an email from Randy Brown, who is aggrieved about “a series of ugly signs” in Riverdale Park West, which surrounds Riverdale Farm, near Carlton and Sumach Sts. in Cabbagetown.

As part of a pilot project, the city put up new signs last year at the park and also in Riverdale Park East and the Lower Don parklands. But Brown can’t stand them and says he is far from alone.

“They did this in September of 2017, without any warning or consultation with the local community,” said Brown, who identified himself as executive director of Friends of Riverdale Park West.

“As a community, we are quite used to the City proposing changes but this has always been preceded by a public meeting to find out how the locals feel.

“Our local Heritage Committee and my own Committee, Friends of Riverdale Park, are firmly opposed to these signs, as are most Cabbagetowners.

“But this is not just a local issue, these people intend to place their signs in many parks, so it is a city issue.”

We went to the park last week and found four of the signs, which are a bright green — almost fluorescent — with white lettering, mounted to a brown metal frame.

Some of the signs also had helpful information on them, including a map of the Don Valley park system, and icons that show what is and isn’t allowed in the park.

One sign included a summary of how Riverdale Farm started in the 1880s as a “menagerie.” It even has a photo of an elephant that once inhabited the farm, when it was more of a traditional zoo.

We spoke to several people who said the sign was inoffensive and provided practical information. One woman told us she loves the new signs, but added that she is not on any committees.

STATUS: Matthew Cutler, a spokesperson for the parks department, sent us a note saying the signs are part of the city’s “pedestrian wayfinding strategy,” and are intended to allow people to navigate more effectively and learn more about their surroundings as they go. The signage has “been developed over the past three years with stakeholder and public input. This stage of the pilot included installing test versions of the signs to see how they work in real life, if they are graffiti resistant, actually help the public, etc.” He also sent us accompanying information that makes it clear that this type of sign could eventually become the standard signage in city parks, if the pilot project is declared a success. It has us wondering what readers think of them. Let us know, and we’ll include the best of your comments in a column later this week, along with more information on the pilot project and the efforts the city has made at public consultation.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...