Toronto, ON September 17, 2012 – A riverbank themed new urban space officially opens to the public today at Evergreen Brick Works. Two Humber College students, Gloria Perez and Jessica Gafic, are the winners of the inaugural OTS Student Design Challenge for their conceptualization of “On the Riverbank”. The site, which mimics the curves and colours of Mud Creek, a tributary of the Don River running beneath, is constructed with recycled tire products.

Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) along with the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects launched the OTS Student Design Challenge in September 2011, offering design students the opportunity to showcase creative, sustainable outdoor design with the chance of winning a total of $6,000. The competition was open to all post-secondary students in Ontario.

“We’re delighted and very proud to bring alive the innovative, creative thinking of our winners by developing a site that will be enjoyed by thousands,” said Andrew Horsman, Executive Director, Ontario Tire Stewardship. “Ourhope is that this competition has inspired the next generation of designers, architects and urban planners to incorporate sustainable options for landscape design into their future work to create more sustainable community spaces and a greener Ontario.”

More than 90 per cent of all tires contain reusable and recyclable non-biodegradable materials such as synthetic and natural rubber, oil, polyester and steel.  A recent survey (April 2012) by OTS revealed that 89 per cent of Ontario respondents feel their communities would benefit environmentally and economically by incorporating green alternatives, such as tire-derived products within more community projects. Ninety-six per cent of respondents feel municipalities could do more to ensure shared community spaces such as parks and recreation centres incorporate environmentally friendly products.

The wide path of “On the Riverbank” is paved with blue SofSURFACES tiles, and recalls the river bend on which the site is situated. Dips in the mulched areas will be used by patrons of the Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market. Play pods mimic the shape of rocks and are covered in Shercom green pour-in-place rubber to provide an interesting visual element. They are also a place for children to climb and play. Heffco mulch covers most open spaces and will be walked on freely by visitors.  Red maple trees have been planted on slightly elevated mounds to add depth and the planting beds are filled with perennials.

“Kudos to our winners and to all the competitors for exhibiting such incredible creativity,” said Heidi Campbell, Senior Landscape Design Consultant, Evergreen Brick Works. “We’re extremely fortunate to have such a beautiful design on our premises, showcasing the latest thinking in sustainable design. It’s a vivid example of how we can reuse tires with ecological purpose.”

For the challenge, students’ designs were developed in response to a strict set of real life design parameters such as site dimensions, available tire-derived products and budget restrictions. Finalists presented their proposals to a panel of judges in a “Dragons’ Den” format at a Gala hosted at the Evergreen Brick Works on January 9, 2012. Members of the judging panel were comprised of real-world landscape design experts and celebrities including:

·         Frank Ferragine, CityLine, Garden and Landscape Expert

·         Denise Devlin-Li, Dean of School of Applied Arts, Humber College

·         Heidi Campbell, Senior Landscape Design Consultant, Evergreen Brick Works

·         Henry Kortekaas, Principal Landscape Architect, Henry Kortekaas & Associates

·         Sean Kelly, Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture, School of Environment and Rural Development, University of Guelph

Watch for more details and information about The Second Annual Ontario Tire Stewardship Design Competition Challenge on www.otsdesignchallenge.com.

About Ontario Tire Stewardship

Established in 2009, Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) is an Industry Funding Organization (IFO) incorporated under Ontario’s Waste Diversion Act, to implement and operate the Used Tires Program.

At OTS, we are transforming the relationship Ontarians have with the lifecycle of their tires, through a comprehensive approach that takes into account our environment, our economy and our quality of life.  Through the Used Tires program, 100% of Ontario tires get efficiently and responsibly recycled into new products, leading to more livable communities and a growing green economy in this province.

For more information, please visit www.GreenMyTires.ca or follow us @GreenMyTires.

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For more information, please contact:

Teresa Pagnutti
416-969-2721
tpagnutti@environicspr.com

Yuri Park
416-969-3311
ypark@environicspr.com