The dream of two new parks on Manor near Mt. Pleasant Rd. is coming true. Residents met in recent days to agree on the use of the spaces at 196 Manor (the former Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club) and the newly-created space at the corner of Manor and Forman Ave. The latter property is beside Manor Road United Church, 240 Manor. A meeting December 6 with Josh Matlow (Ward 22) suggests a growing consensus to make the westerly park at 196 Manor into a place for seniors and adults. The larger space to the east would be built for children at play. Councilor Matlow has said he will have details on funding of the cost of landscaping and equipment this month.
UNHAPPY HISTORY
The flashback story in the interactive gallery below from 2014 tells of the end of Glebe Manor Lawn Club. For many people, the irregular action taken to sell the property to a developer has not yet been satisfactorily settled. In the end, it was necessary for the City to purchase a large percentage of the land at market value to save it for park land. Many believe the property belonged to the City by right. The land was a gift to the club in 1923 by Glebe Presbyterian Church. It is gone now, having merged with Leaside United. In 2014, a former president of the club, Wally Rayner said that the terms of the club’s incorporation required that if the land were not used for lawn bowling that it must be returned either to the church or to the City for a nominal sum.
