HIGH PARK: Visitors Not Welcome!
The High Park Movement Study has announced "Curb Realignment" in High Park is starting in July. This means progress in the obliteration of parking spaces to allow for a high-speed racetrack for training cyclists, even though the matter has not yet been discussed with Park permit holders and user groups. The 7 day closure to vehicles issue still has to be voted on by the City Council, yet the High Park Movement Strategy “HPMS” relentlessly proceeds to remove much-needed parking spaces.
Has HPMS considered the impact of this on many of the park activities?
High Park hosts one of the largest Dog Parks in the City, which was serviced by the 90 parking spaces on Colborne Lodge Drive, that loss of parking has affected hundreds of Dog Walkers and created a shortage of parking spaces for the patrons of the Café and the many other varied users of the park If the City closes down High Park to vehicles, where will the dogwalkers unload their 6 dogs? The Dog Park is situated in the center of the park, 1km from Bloor where parking is $4.75 an hour and with disembarking dogs squashed between cars on one side and bike lane on the other, is hazardous…And during the COVID closure many dogs ran free through the park and damaged sensitive areas.
The Allotment Gardens, cultivated by many seniors;, cannot be accessed easily on weekends now to tend and water their plots, withdrawing access 7days as week could be disastrous!
The impact of the current lack of parking and vehicle access on the restaurant is evident. Loss of patrons, 80% on weekends and 60% overall. One wonders why the City would want to close down such a historic spot.
Since the weekend closure and removal of parking spaces many group picnics and volunteer events no longer occur, Sports Groups lack the support of Grandparents who are unable to access the park for games, and some Sports Teams have already moved out of the park. The Zoo animals feel the loss of visitors too! And how will The Dream fare this year?
One could ask where the funding for these changes is coming from? And how are they being accomplished? Where did the funding for the 2023 installation of ugly bollards and concrete barriers come from? And now the monies for the Curb Realignment?
The changes to various signs and the lack of signs clearly indicate that visitors are no longer welcome in High Park. All the City surveys have challenged the issue of closure, but the HPMS choses to ignore the negative responses and proceeds with closure….
WHY?
Write to the mayor_chow,@toronto.ca highparkmove@toronto.ca and YOUR COUNCILLOR and tell them what you think about these changes... Thank you
AND Check our OUR NEW WEBSITE at www.highparkaccess.ca