A Toronto councillor wants the federal government to hand over control of Downsview Park to the city, saying Ottawa's management of the greenspace is guided by "dollar signs."

Coun. Marie Augimeri says she is concerned about the fate of the park after she learned that Canada Lands -- the Crown Corporation which runs the park -- is considering selling off more of the urban area for further development.

Currently, up to 10,000 housing units can be built on the park, according to a 2012 agreement between city council and the federal government. If more of Downsview Park is sold, Augimeri says it's possible additional units will be built on the land.

“Downsview Park deserves a vision not the misdirection, indecision and secret shames we have learned from the federal government,” Augimeri said in a statement on Monday. “Stop selling our park land.”

Augimeri said the plans, which she says were leaked to her, indicate that Ottawa's ideas for the North York space are misguided.

"We see huge potential here, but all the federal government sees is dollar signs," she said. "It is time to set Downsview free from the federal government and its provincial enablers. Give it to Toronto."

In a press conference on Monday, Augimeri described Ottawa's plans for Downsview Park as one "shrouded in secrecy." She said residents in the area are “totally opposed to building on their land."

In response to Augimeri's comments, a spokesperson for Public Works and Government Services Canada told CTV Toronto in a statement that "there is no secrecy."

The spokesperson added that the government "is seeking the community’s views on various topics of interest including connecting and integrating the park into the surrounding community."

Meanwhile, concerned residents have started an online petition, asking for the urban greenspace to be handed over to the City of Toronto in order to prevent further development.

"If they do increase (development), it would be overwhelming," Rita Del Casale-Cimini of the Downsview Lands Community Voice Association told CTV Toronto. "We're already concerned about the infrastructure, and the kind of damage it could do to the environment and our community."

A public meeting on the future of Downsview Park will be held April 23 at 6:30 p.m.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson