Grassroots Activation of Public Space: A Toronto Neighbourhood Improvement Area Context

Through grassroots, public space activation, the City of Toronto can improve equity within its 31 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs). Toronto City Council created NIAs under the 2020 Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (The TSNS), identified as neighbourhoods that scored lowest when assessed using the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (Urban HEART). These NIAs often have more grassroots organizations than non-NIA designated neighbourhoods. Promoting citizenled activations of public spaces in Neighborhood Improvement Areas holds the potential to strengthen the Urban HEART domains. Therefore, the onus is on the City of Toronto to create, foster, and maintain relationships with grassroots organizations from NIAs to activate public spaces. This paper will aim to provide recommendations for the City of Toronto to improve the quality of grassroots public space activations in its NIAs.