High Park should be accessible to all!

Advocates of a vehicle-free High Park SAY:

“People with disabilities are provided more space and are free to move beyond the cramped and obstructed sidewalks. Park users of all ages and abilities can move about comfortably. The road is re-purposed for people walking, jogging, rolling, scooting and biking. Everyone enjoying the safety, freedom and peace that la car-free High Park provides. A joyous environment that is safe, quiet, and inspires community.”

The City’s directive to close these roadways to private vehicles, while continuing to allow service and operational vehicles, is flawed. The ban does not eliminate vehicles from the park. Roadways remain in daily use by maintenance and service vehicles, including forestry trucks, Toronto Hydro, TRCA (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority), garbage and delivery trucks, cycle maintenance vans, staff vehicles, police, ambulances, fire engines, golf carts, greenhouse service vehicles supplying City parks, Wheel-Trans, and the proposed TTC buses and Shuttle.

As a result, the roads are not truly “vehicle-free.” They continue to function as active roadways, yet pedestrians are encouraged to use them as though they are fully closed. This creates confusion and potential safety concerns, particularly when people — especially children — do not expect vehicles to be present.

So, who is excluded by this directive? Families with young children who require proximity parking, seniors or anyone with mobility challenges, sports teams transporting equipment, individuals attending lessons or events, caregivers, and those who cannot easily access the park by transit or bicycle.

High Park’s 399 acres are home to gardens, woodlands, trails, Grenadier Pond, and numerous amenities: Adventure and Accessible Playgrounds, Allotment Gardens, Children’s Garden, Dogs Off-Leash Area, Dream in the Park, Fishing areas, Greenhouses, Labyrinth, Museum, Nature Centre, Sport Fields, Splash Pad, Swimming Pool, Tennis and Pickleball Courts, Zoo, Black Oak Café, All Star BBQ, and the Grenadier Café — facilities intended for all  to enjoy.

High Park’s roadways were originally designed by John Howard to provide access for all citizens. Even their names — “Carriage Drive” and “Park Drive” — reflected that purpose. Today known as West Road, Colborne Lodge Drive, and Centre Road, these routes have served the public for over 150 years.

High Park certainly requires traffic calming measures and improvements—speed bumps, upgraded sidewalks and adequate parking among them, Implementing these, rather than continuing with the current directive, can improve safety while keeping the roads open to all.  

Sign the petition: “High Park Access For All” www.change.org/equalaccess-highpark

Write to mayor_chow@toronto.ca and your City Councillor. Share…

Join the Rally – Saturday, April 11, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Bloor Street Gate.

High Park should remain accessible to all! Please Share….