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Excavation started Monday, Aug. 25 on a project spearheaded by the Dundas West Business Improvement Area (BIA) that will turn a piece of land owned by Toronto Community Housing into a public parkette on Dundas Street West just west of Dufferin.

The 125 feet by 12 feet grassy area wasn't being used by residents, but was well-maintained so BIA Chair Sylvia Draper-Fernandez seized the opportunity to create badly needed community green space. She brokered a deal with the Toronto Community Housing building's district manager and secured grants from the Evergreen Foundation and the city's Clean and Beautiful program. Draper-Fernandez also enlisted the help of a landscape architect.

By the end of September, the space will be transformed with its planter boxes, shrubs, trellises, park benches and interlocking pavement stones.

"The little parkette will serve as a showcase for native plants," Draper-Fernandez said. "We're trying to revitalize the whole area."

The Dundas West neighbourhood is a densely populated one, but one with little greenery. The Dundas West BIA is working to make the street more attractive in an effort to encourage walking traffic and instill ownership and pride in the neighbourhood among local residents and business owners. The area is scheduled for sidewalk and boulevard repairs which have been delayed by the city from this year until next. The BIA is in the midst of submitting initial drawings to the city for major streetscape improvements to be carried out as part of this construction.

Upon completion, the park will be christened 'Teresa's Place' in memory of Teresa Melo, manager of the local Scotiabank and BIA member, who died in February within two months of being diagnosed with liver cancer.

Essential to the board of the BIA, Melo, who was 41, was an "incredible" person, her fellow BIA member said.

"She was so lively, upbeat. She was very supportive of this initiative," Draper-Fernandez said.

The total cost of the project is $60,000, but $20,000 is donated.

"We'll have to come up with the rest," Draper-Fernandez said.

Toronto Community Housing tenants will be invited to help with plant selection and maintenance, while local contractors will be sought for the work that cannot be done by volunteers. Anyone looking to help out is asked to call 416 534-7567 ext. 24 or e-mail dundaswestbia@gmail.com