Open letter to Mayor Chow:

Sunday November 17th. 12.30Pm Grenadier Café

Dropping into the Grenadier Café at 12.30 pm on Sunday, Nov. 17th was a sad affair! Prior to the weekend closure of High Park to vehicles five years ago, there would have been line ups for brunch/lunch/coffee and  time with friends and family. The restaurant would have been busy and bursting with happy visitors enjoying company and refreshments at their leisure  but currently only three tables were occupied !!!! 

Sitting in an empty Café  with a window view onto West Road, in a period of 15 minutes only 6 joggers/walkers, and 17 cyclists went by, and some of those cyclists were doing speed laps

High Park these days is unvisited! Could the City explain why they have made High Park inaccessible? Why does the City  want to discourage people visiting what was once one of the most utilized parks in the City.

High Park has a great safety record, with no serious vehicle incidents in 40 years.  Family friendly High Park is not an appropriate place for a speed cycle racetrack- yet since this change one has been created in High Park by the so-called improvements and to date 5 children, that we are aware of, have been reported being hit and hurt by speeding cyclists. Maybe an alternative place could be found for a speed cycling racetrack, possibly Exhibition Place, as has been used in the past, or Woodbine Racetrack…

No credible explanation has been given for High Park to be closed to vehicles and excluding thousands.

Mayor Chow, you claim that Premier Ford is not listening to the people of Ontario….Why are you  not listening to the residents of Toronto and Ontario….Why do you not acknowledge letters of displeasure on this matter?

OUR Petition “High Park-Access For All”  

High Park, Deeded by The Howards to the City in 1873

"It must be for the free use, benefit and enjoyment of all citizens"

And requests by “ACCESS FOR ALL” … which has been signed by 23,000 !

So again, we write to you to ask you to discuss this matter with the residents of the City and right this wrong now. Please let us know when you could be available for a discussion and a visit …. 

HIGH PARK ACCESS FOR ALL-Diane Buckell