Rethinking Public Green Spaces and Streets in Flood-Vulnerable Neighbourhoods: A Conceptual Planning and Design Study of Rockcliffe-Smythe, Toronto

This report demonstrates how green stormwater infrastructure in public streets and green spaces can increase urban capacity to adapt to severe rainfall events and minimize flood risk. A concept plan based on current green stormwater management best practices is included that, if implemented, would transform Rockcliffe-Smythe from being Toronto’s most flood-vulnerable neighbourhood (Plato, 2019) into a more flood-resilient community. The flood mitigation approach proposed in the concept plan focuses on restoring the natural hydrological cycle of the urban landscape by allocating more area for stormwater capture and infiltration. Flood mitigation measures employed include street retrofits and the revitalization of green spaces. This report concludes that neighbourhood-scale retrofit projects can significantly improve stormwater management and build urban resilience to the effects of flooding.