Halloween Carnival

For the friends of Ritchie Parkette

When: Saturday October 25th 

What Time: 2 pm

What if it rains: Rain date Sunday October 26th at 2pm

Where: Ritchie Parkette

Slap those costumes on your kids and come join us for a fun and spooky afternoon at Ritchie Parkette.

This Halloween Carnival will be filled with:

Games!

Prizes!

Food!

Spooky paper plate ghost craft!
Halloween Ink! (temp tattoos)

Fortune Teller!

Want to help?

Please bring food (peanut and nut free please) for all to enjoy – sweet, savory, drinks, chips, that fancy water with lemon slices

We also need some parents or older kids to run the games

We need a few parents to come early to help set up

Got an idea for a game? Fantastic-come a bit early to set it up. We can give you a bucket of prizes.

Hope to see you all there!

Got a question? Email us at
mina.basarke@sympatico.ca
or

Lillian.canini@gmail.com

Noise wall art mural coming this spring to Ritchie Avenue green space.

The City of Toronto's and Metrolinx are holding an open public art competition to create an outdoor art mural project along the green space at the foot of Ritchie Ave. It looks like the budget for the Ritchie Wall is $12,000 (30K for the railpath wall mural). If you are or know an artist interested please spread the work around. The deadline is Oct. 24.

More info here.

Application package here.

You will be missed, Frank

Sadly, on Tuesday we lost a long time Ritchie Avenue resident, business owner and generally great guy. Frank Scala was an example of a classy guy who always had time for a chat, smile or to lend a chivalrous hand to a neighbour in need. An obvious hard worker as evidenced by his legendary snow clearing he will be missed by all that knew him.

Click here for all the details about Funeral and Visitation

Obituary 

Passed away peacefully at St. Michael’s Hospital, on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at the age of 77. Beloved husband of the late Theresa Agnes. Loving father of John, Nick and Frank Jr. He will be fondly remembered by his extended family and friends. Friends may call at Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor Street West (at Windermere) on Friday, May 9, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Funeral Mass to be held at St. Joan of Arc Church, 1701 Bloor St. W., Toronto, on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at 10 AM, followed by interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Egg Hunt At Ritchie Park Postponed Until Saturday April 19th

Egg Hunt Postponed Due to Rain

It seems Friday is threatening to have 'light showers' all day. So please join us on Saturday April 19th at 2pm for the egg hunt. Come on out to enjoy the egg hunt, and the sunshine!

If some parents can come at 1:45 to help me hide the eggs that would be great.

Easter Egg Hunt

At Ritchie Park!

Come join us on

Friday April 18th at 2 pm (Good Friday)

(rain date Saturday April 19^th at 2 pm)

They can hunt for peanut free chocolate treats stuffed inside plastic eggs.

I also have an Easter Egg piñata just looking for a bashing!

And they can decorate and wear bunny masks!

Fun! Fun! Fun!

We’ll have a separate egg hunt section for the 3 and under crowd so no worries about your little one getting trampled by overzealous chocolate hunters.

What Can I Contribute?

Feel free to bring any treats or drinks on the day of the event. 

How Can I Help?

Any parent who can help me set up, please meet at the park by 1:45. I need a few parents to hide the eggs.

I Have A Question.

contact Lillian at

lillian.canini@gmail.com

Learn how to flood a rink.

At the Fieldhouse in Sorauren Park this Thursday there will be a clinic on how to best maintain a park rink. Hopefully someone from Friends of Ritchie Parkette can attend to garner some tips and tricks in the zen of ice rink maintenance. Also, if you are interested in helping maintain the rink this winter (flooding and shoveling) reach out to us at friendsofritchieparkette@gmail.com

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The Sorauren Hosers volunteer rink flooding crew has joined with Park People to co-host an interactive panel and discussion on natural ice rinks.

The event will feature ice rink volunteers from across the city sharing ideas and best practices.

Registration is free and Park People will serve hot chocolate. Please come!

Thursday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sorauren Park Fieldhouse, 50 Wabash Avenue

Register here:

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/park-talk-bring-a-natural-ice-rink-to-your-park-tickets-9537885071

Great fun at the Halloween party and the rain stayed away!!

Halloween Carnival  

POSTPONED due to Rain

Come Join us on

Sunday October 27th at 2 pm

Please come by at 1 pm if you are setting up a game or are helping out!

Don't forget some spare change for our 50/50 draw.

Peanut/nut free treats are most welcome!

Halloween Carnival

For the friends of Ritchie Parkette

When: Saturday October 26th 

What Time: 2 pm

What if it rains: Rain date Sunday October 27th at 2pm

Where: Ritchie Parkette

Slap those costumes on your kids and come join us for a fun and spooky afternoon at Ritchie Parkette.

This Halloween Carnival will be filled with:

Games!

Prizes!

Food!

50/50 Draw!

Spooky paper plate ghost craft!
Halloween Ink! (temp tattoos)

Fresh new grass!

An influx of mosquitoes!

Want to help?

Please bring food (peanut and nut free please) for all to enjoy – sweet, savory, drinks, chips, that fancy water with lemon slices

We also need some parents or older kids to run the games

We need a few parents to come early to help set up

Bring some cash to participate in the wild and exciting 50/50 draw. $2 per ticket or 3 for $5! Proceeds go to a local shelter.

Got an idea for a game? Fantastic-come a bit early to set it up. I can give you a bucket of prizes.

Got a way to prevent rain? Fantastic! Please get to work on that immediately.

Hope to see you all there!

A special thank you to Mina (Evan's mom) for purchasing a lot of the trinket prizes.

Got a question? Email me at

Lillian.canini@gmail.com

Weston Grant Application Successful!

It was announced yesterday that the W. Garfield Weston Foundation will support improvements to Ritchie Parkette with a $25,000 grant provided through the Weston Family Parks Challenge.

The Rotary Club of Toronto, the Friends of Ritchie Parkette and the Toronto Department of Parks, Forestry & Recreation will use the grant to rehabilitate the parkette’s natural environment, introduce wildlife education and programming.

Although the drop zone ride and giant velcro wall were rejected it turns out that we are approved for the following:

1. Native species will be planted at the front of the park and some interpretive signage that identifies the plants and describes healthy natural habitats.
2. A chalk board wildlife and bird sighting display and some signage about birds in the area will be erected with links for posting bird, insect and mammal sightings to this blog.
3. Access to a water tap for all seasons. This means sandcastles, rivers through sand tunnels and water for the ice rink in the winter.

Thanks to all involved for their time in helping us win this generous grant.

NEW GRASS installed, PLEASE keep off for time being

The title says it all. Our new sod was put down today and we'd like to give it every opportunity to take root. This means that for at least the next week, please try to keep the kids, toys and sand off the grass. If you see other people on there, please say something.

The new fountain is also up and operational and it would be great if we could keep it sand-free so everyone can enjoy it for years to come.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Renovation work set for September 3

The final stage of improvements to the park are scheduled to begin September 3rd and last 2 weeks contingent on the weather. The park will be closed during this time.

There is also great news. We will be getting the frost-free water box which will allow expansion and improvement of the ice rink in the future and also allow for wet and wild summer games. We will also be getting a shed to store rink supplies and any other equipment requiring shelter.

Both these items were originally beyond the budget alloted for the reno, so getting them is a boon for the park and its visitors. It has been a long road getting to this point, I am very excited for what the future holds and would like to thank the city staff for coming through with these bonuses for us.