The fate of a $140,000 grant from the Jays Care Foundation hangs in the balance as a city councillor holds up the approval, citing concerns over a sponsor logo on signs at the proposed High Park ball diamond upgrade.
Gord Perks, the councillor for Parkdale-High Park ward, says the grant does not conform to city policies, despite the city accepting a similar grant from the foundation earlier this month to improve a park in East York.
Perks argues that a donor cannot demand concessions, and that council policy and the public service should follow the rules, not individual councillors intervening.
The Annette Baseball Association, which applied for the grant, is frustrated that Perks does not have a motion to accept the grant at this week's council meeting, the last of his career as a councillor.
Perks maintains that some councillors bend and break rules to favor certain groups, and that he prefers a uniform set of fair and transparent rules. He also notes that Councillor Brad Bradford, who accepted the grant for East York, is responsible for his own actions.
The proposed upgrade would modernize the lighting at the Jack Wilson field in High Park, including removing two old light poles from foul territory.
Dan Condie, vice-president of the Annette association, calls the current state of the field "terrible" and notes that the proposed upgrade would also address issues with parking and equipment storage for visiting teams.
A Jays Care Foundation spokesman says there is "absolutely no risk" of the grant being revoked, but Condie is worried that the grant will go unclaimed if a motion is not passed this week.
It remains unclear whether rejecting the grant would mean the work won't happen at all, or if it would still go ahead with city taxpayers footing the bill.
Bradford, who accepted the grant for East York, says he is "happy" to have partners who want to benefit the kids who play in the park, and notes that city hall should look for ways to say yes to partnerships like this.
Condie fears that the next councillor for Parkdale-High Park may not bring in a similar motion, leaving the grant unclaimed despite the needs of the community.
The issue highlights the tension between community needs and the rules and regulations of the city.
