This paper was delivered at the Ontario Bar
Association's 2015 Annual Institute Program – Municipal
and Planning Law (Changing Landscapes in Municipal and Planning
Law)
A. Introduction
In the modern urban environment, parks and public recreational
facilities are things that can be both greatly appreciated and
taken for granted. We might all agree that parks are inherently a
'good thing' for ensuring the health, well-being and
vibrancy of our communities and the people who live and work there;
however, where there is often widespread disagreement and
controversy is on the more concrete issues of how and where we plan
for parks, and who pays for them.
These issues are of increasing importance in an economic and
policy environment of scarce public resources and high costs for
land and services in the modern land use planning and development
context. It therefore comes as no surprise that in the post-Growth
Plan era, parkland dedication has become a focal point
