In the late 60s and early 70s the ARA was instrumental in the defeat of the infamous Spadina Expressway. More recently, when the flower beds in the Annex parks were discontinued due to City Parks budget cuts, the Annex Residents' Association members designed and planted the rose gardens in Sibelius Park and members contributed funds to install the low wrought iron fence hoops around the beds. The ARA, under the loving and capable eye of Board Member Paul Martel, has completely redesigned and rebuilt Ecology Park. The ARA fought at the Ontario Municipal Board to maintain the integrity of Taddle Creek Park when the owners of 50 Prince Arthur applied to build 9 townhouses in the north part of their property. Smaller parks on the subway lands were promoted by the ARA. The ARA hosts a rotating schedule of maintenance days at each of our local parks. One-way streets and traffic calming humps were proposed by the ARA in an effort to discourage the use of our streets as short cuts to somewhere else.