As Principal in Charge at O2 Planning and Design, Chris Hardwicke led the Toronto Parkland Strategy: a 20-year plan guiding parkland supply, policy development, asset management, investment planning, and development review for one of Canada's fastest-growing cities.

A central component was the development of an enhanced spatial-analytical GIS methodology that moved beyond traditional per-capita measures toward a walkability-first, catchment-based approach to assessing parkland supply and distribution. The tool identified under-supplied locations, areas of high demand, and additional land requirements over a 20-year horizon. This technical foundation informed a multi-faceted stakeholder and community engagement program designed to surface needs across a highly diverse population, with an equity lens applied throughout to foreground the voices of under-served communities.

The strategy was delivered in two phases: Phase 1 completed 2017 to 2019, and Phase 2 completed 2021 to 2022, in association with Gladki Planning Associates and Hemson Consulting.

The Toronto Parkland Strategy demonstrates Chris's ability to lead complex, multi-year planning processes at significant scale. The catchment-based GIS methodology, multi-phase structure, integration of demographic and growth data, development of service level targets, and alignment of recommendations with capital planning processes are all transferable to comparable municipal contexts. Toronto's scale and complexity demonstrates that these proven methodologies can be right-sized for mid-sized cities without sacrificing rigour or innovation.