Congrats To Comrade Miller BUT

...let's not forget the contribution of Queens Park and Ottawa and the fact that there is only one taxpayer and this particular taxpayer is concerned about the increasing deterioration of existing community centers and base on the city's lack of management skills these new projects will face similar problems in the future.

Keep Miller’s program

July 19, 2010

An election promise made in Toronto’s 2006 mayoral race has blossomed into a successful community-building effort, bringing new recreation facilities to disadvantaged parts of the city. But Mayor David Miller’s Partnership Opportunities Legacy (POL) program, splitting $13 million among Toronto’s 13 most under-serviced neighbourhoods, has almost run its course.
It would be a shame if this worthwhile initiative weren’t extended beyond Miller’s term in office, which ends this year.
Young people living in areas blighted by a long-standing and unfair “underinvestment” in public infrastructure have been the program’s primary target. Some 26 projects were launched with POL funding in 2007, including: installation of new playground equipment; soccer, cricket and basketball facilities; a new gymnasium; creative “hubs” for artists and young people; and various community centre renovations.
As part of that effort, a new multi-sports complex, featuring basketball courts and a soccer pitch, is to be officially opened Wednesday at L’Amoreaux Park in Scarborough. Area residents are set to celebrate.
The POL program also brought Torontonians good value for their tax dollar, as the city used its $13 million contribution to leverage money out of Ottawa and Queen’s Park. Overall, some $40 million was dedicated to bringing improvements to Toronto neighbourhoods most in need of help.
The last POL project is set for completion next year. But that shouldn’t be the end of the program. Candidates to succeed Miller as mayor should commit to providing fresh funding to keep this program alive.