Ward 27 volunteers clean up Garden District, Allan Gardens

Dennis Hanagan —

Maryka Omatsu of the Garden District took part in the Ward 27 cleanup.

It’s surprising what you don’t see until you look for it. Garden District residents learned that in late November when they joined their Ward 27 cleanup.

People thought local streets and Allan Gardens Park looked just fine—that is, until they peered down and had a closer look at the ground.

“People mentioned how surprised they were,” said Henry Hong with the Garden District Residents’ Association (GDRA) that hosted the cleanup called the Litter and Glitter Cleanup.

Litter pickers’ eyes were opened after they grabbed up garbage bags at CDRA’s cleanup headquarters at the Ramada Plaza hotel on Jarvis St. and hit the streets.

“Walking around with garbage bags and filling about three or more per person really opened their eyes,” said Hong. “The number of used syringes in Allan Gardens was quite upsetting for some.”

One woman in the cleanup noted she found new and used condoms and crack pipes. “Those who didn’t know what crack pipes looked like now know them really well,” said Hong.

“It’s unfortunate that the social organizations that provide these do not take ownership … and request these used items be returned in exchange for new ones,” said Hong.

Then there were food containers that well-intentioned charity groups use to give meals to the homeless. Hong would like the groups to clean up the debris that gets left behind, although he notes they’re “overwhelmed” with the amount of containers “blowing throughout the neighbourhood.”

More than 30 residents took part in this year’s cleanup bounded by Wellesley, Sherbourne, Queen and Church. It’s the second year as a pilot project and eventually, said Hong, it’ll involve all of Toronto’s 44 wards.

Garden District resident Maryka Omatsu combed through the bushes outside Allan Garden’s conservatory for litter.

“As someone who lives around the park I’m very aware when I walk through it how messy it looks sometimes.” With a tinge of exasperation she added “I feel like I’ll come by tomorrow and there’ll be garbage all over again.”

Hong said GDRA members donate “hundreds of dollars” to hire people in supportive living programs to help them build confidence and pride in their neighbourhoods by collecting litter and maintaining gardens.

At a thank-you lunch afterward four participants individually won pairs of tickets to: the One of a Kind Show, to Blades on Stage and a flight with Porter Airlines. All received Pizza Pizza giftcards.