Recalling High Park!
Looking back a few decades, some may recall a short project in the mid-eighties when High Park was closed to vehicles on Sundays with only vehicles displaying Disability Stickers allowed access.
Many regular park visitors had Disability Stickers and were admitted, so along with the major safety factor that vehicles in the park mean” eyes in the park”, which can be especially scary at night with the little lighting allowed on the roadway, the project was disbanded, and High Park re-opened to all vehicles 7 days a week.
The City does not learn from experience…Now currently closed on weekends to vehicles, the City plans to close vehicle access 7 days a week with no allowance for Disability Stickers or transport for those who are unable to walk distances.
Currently there is no Daily Shuttle or TTC Service into the park and 300 parking spaces have already been removed. Closest Subways are High Park and Keele, High Park Subway means almost a 2k walk to the centre of the park and over 3k to Colborne Lodge, leaving no access to many venues and natural areas for those who cannot walk the distance.
Absence of visitors, including many family and seniors to the park is already evident on no vehicle weekends.
Over 18,500 have signed the Petition “High Park Access For All”, with over 10,000 signing on paper within the Park, a total of 28,500 voted to date against lack of access!
The City Council does not respond to this issue! Next City Election is Fall 2026, ask your Councillor questions now….and take care how you vote….