Two years in... and THREE or more to go.

Hello all,

I hope your summer has been going well.

It's been almost two years of park disruption...

Today the TRCA has announced an upcoming information session to share the current details of their planning for Phase Two of the shoreline maintenance project in Colonel Samuel Smith Park:

Date: August 20, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Building C, Room 109, Humber College Lakeshore Campus

I asked the TRCA today (twice)  to confirm that the scheduling of Phase Two means that the fencing and park closures will be with us til at least 2029. (and this is before remediation/restoration efforts). They did not want to say so... but I'm convinced now that this will be the takeaway from the upcoming Information Session.

Another 3+ years of this... Lucky us.  Back in 2024, the TRCA was only speaking about 3 years... but they also teased  Phase Two, so this extension of closure was expected by those of us who were paying attention. I guess it was deemed impolitic to tell us straight-up back in 2024 that it would be a 5+ year disruption.

I will close the petition shortly. Thanks again to everyone who endorsed the petition. It didn't move the needle unfortunately, but it was still important to speak up about such a decision being made without meaningful public involvement and input. 

The shoreline work is necessary and seems to be going well. The disruptive construction route continues to irritate, but alternate paths in and through the park have been found or made,  and the construction route openings after 4pm and on weekends are enjoyed by many. We adapt when we have to...

Enjoy the rest of summer, thanks again, and see you in the park.

Ken