Cricket Strategy

The new cricket facilities at Centennial Park are under construction.

Cricket is one of the fastest-growing sports in Toronto, with growing demand for places to play across the city. In response, the City is developing a Cricket Strategy to guide the future of cricket in parks and recreation spaces. At the same time, new and improved cricket facilities are being planned at parks across Toronto to support everything from casual play to tournaments.

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The City is developing a Cricket Strategy to help:

  • Better understand the needs of the cricket community, including types of facilities, field design, locations, informal play options and supporting amenities.
  • Build relationships with the cricket community and partners, and ensure community members are meaningfully involved in the process.
  • Support the growth of cricket across Toronto through new programs and partnerships.

As part of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan, City staff reviewed Toronto’s existing cricket facilities to determine if improvements or new facilities were needed to keep up with demand. The 2019 Plan recommended the following actions over the next 20 years:

  • Upgrading three existing cricket pitches, which will help existing fields support more cricket play
  • Improvements may include better field conditions and amenities
  • Build up to five new cricket pitches
    • New pitches may be shared with other sports and activities
    • To make space for new pitches, the City may need to explore land use partnerships, acquire new land or redesign existing parks

Timeline

  • 2020 to 2026: Background review, cricket needs assessment, partnership building and public and stakeholder engagement to inform the Cricket Strategy
  • 2026: Draft Cricket Strategy shared online for comment
  • 2027: Cricket Strategy brought to City Council for approval through the updated Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan

The timeline is subject to change.

Informing the Cricket Strategy

Since 2020, the City has been engaging communities and stakeholders across Toronto to inform the development of the Cricket Strategy. Engagement activities are ongoing and will continue through 2026.

To date, this has included:

  • Nine meetings with the Cricket Reference Group, a group of cricket community members and stakeholders,
  • A virtual public meeting and an online mapping tool to gather early input,
  • And a city-wide online survey in spring 2024, which received over 2,100 responses.
  • Feedback on cricket facilities collected through City-wide community engagements to inform updates to the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan, collect between 2024 and 2025. 
  • Site-specific engagements from 2024-2026 to design new cricket facilities at sites across the city (see accordions below for details)

Cricket Reference Group

Documents are listed from least recent to most recent.

City-Wide Community Engagements

Responding to direction from City Council, a City-School Boards Cricket Working Group was established. The City and School Board staff from all four public met 7 times from late 2024 through 2025. The Working Group provided a forum for the City of Toronto and School Boards to collaborate and develop partnerships to advance cricket facility location and programming.  

Outcomes include: 

Infrastructure
  • Information sharing about existing and planned cricket facilities and cricket facility design 
  • Established site selection criteria for potential co-located cricket facilities 
  • Established a list of properties to further explore the potential for new cricket facilities
Programs and Equipment
    • Information sharing about the current state of cricket programing, best practices, and existing partnerships with Cricket organizations 
    • Established relationships and new contacts for future cricket program coordination 

    Moving forward, the working group will meet annually to provide updates and coordinate. Meetings between individual School Boards and the City will take place as funding for new facilities and programming opportunities arise. 

    As part of the Cricket Strategy, the City is developing design standards for new cricket facilities. Draft standards have been created for three types of pitches. All designs include a concrete base with an artificial turf surface and white field markings

    Standard Pitch

    A standard cricket pitch is 51.7 metres long and includes two wickets.

    Standard cricket pitch technical drawing.
    Runups are 14.57 metres long and wickets are 2.44 metres long. The distance between the two wickets is 17.68 metres. The total pitch is 3.66 metres wide.

    Single-Direction Pitch with Backstop

    Installed in locations with local demand for cricket but limited space, single-direction pitches include a backstop and are a smaller alternative to a standard-size pitch. Single direction pitches are approximately 40.1 metres long and include one standard wicket, one painted wicket (by the bowler) and a fenced backstop.

    Single-direction cricket pitch technical drawing.
    A single runup is 14.57 metres long, and wickets are 2.44 metres long. The wicket near the outfield is painted on. The distance between the two wickets is 17.68 metres. The distance from the back wicket and the backstop is three metres. The total pitch is 40.13 metres long and 3.66 metres wide.

    Batting Cage

    Batting cages provide space for casual practice. A single batting cage lane is approximately 40.1 metres long, four metres wide, fenced and with overhead mesh. There is an exit/entrance at both ends. Multiple lanes of batting cages can be grouped together.

    Batting cage technical drawing.
    A single runup is 14.57 metres long, and wickets are 2.44 metres long. The wicket near the bowler is painted on. The distance between the two wickets is 17.68 metres. The distance from the back wicket to the backstop is three metres. The total pitch is 40.13 metres long and 3.66 metres wide. The side fencing is 3.65 metres tall with overhead mesh.

    The City has 30 cricket pitches (some of which are shared with other activities) and 23 practice pitches (batting cages).

    There are 6 additional new cricket facilities set to open in 2026 at Corvette Park, Byng Park, and Centennial Park. There are three facilities planned for construction in later years, including at Centennial Park (another new pitch) (2027), Glamorgan Park (2027) and L’Amoreaux Hydro (2028-2030).  

    Map of existing and planned cricket facilities in Toronto.

     

    Location Name Address Number of Pitches Classification of Pitch (for booking)
    Ashtonbee Reservoir Park 10 Ashtonbee Rd. 2 C
    Caledonia Park 1141 Caledonia Rd. 2 C
    Cedarvale Park 443 Arlington Ave. 1 C
    Centennial Park - Etobicoke 256 Centennial Park Rd. 2 C
    Dentonia Park 80 Thyra Ave. 1 C
    Ellesmere Reservoir Park 2950 Ellesmere Rd. 2 C
    Fergy Brown Park 3700 Eglinton Ave. W. 2 Premier
    Farquharson Park 250 Pitfield Rd. 1 C (Single-Direction)
    Flemingdon Park 150 Grenoble Dr. 1 C
    G. Ross Lord Park 4801 Dufferin St. 2 Premier
    Humber Arboretum 205 Humber College Blvd. 1 B
    Keele Reservoir 4995 Keele St. 2 C
    Littles Road Park 30 Littles Rd. 1 C
    L'amoreaux Hydro 1785 McNicoll Ave. 1 B
    Parma Park 99 Parma Crt. 1 C
    Remberto Navia 65 Norfinch Dr. 1 C
    Summerlea Park 2 Arcot Blvd. 1 C
    Sunnybrook Park 1132 Leslie St. 3 Premier
    Terry Fox Park 300 Bamburgh Cir. 1 C
    Thackeray Park 2955 Kipling Ave. 1 C
    Wexford Hydro  55 Elm Bank Rd. 1 C

    There are two new cricket fields planned for Centennial Park, as part of the new Cricket Hub. The Centennial Park Master Plan Update included the creation of an expanded cricket hub to meet the demands of the growing sport in the city. The Master Plan Update identified the park’s hydro corridor as a location to create a centralized area of cricket play, with two new cricket pitches being added to the existing two, as well as a new field house with a year-round washroom building. 

    Both new fields will be the first lit City cricket pitches.  

    Project Timeline

    • Summer 2023: Hire a design team 
    • Winter 2023/2024: Community engagement and design development 
    • Fall 2025: Construction begins  
    • Late Summer/Fall 2026: Construction of the new south field complete 
    • Fall 2027: Construction of the new north field complete 

            The timeline is subject to change. 

            The new single-direction pitch at Parma Park opened in spring 2026. Learn more about how to permit sports fields.

            The Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and the developing Cricket Strategy both identified a city-wide need for more cricket facilities. Parma Park was selected because:

            • There is demonstrated local demand for cricket.
            • The existing ball diamond is underused.
            • The park includes support amenities such as parking, washrooms (at O’Connor Community Recreation Centre) and drinking fountains.
            • The nearby recreation centre creates opportunities for youth cricket programming and camps.

              Photo of new single-direction cricket pitch with backstop at Parma Park.

                  The new pitches at Corvette Park opened in fall 2026. Learn more about how to permit sports fields.

                  The Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and the developing Cricket Strategy both identified a city-wide need for more cricket facilities. Corvette Park was selected because:

                  • There is a high demand for cricket in Scarborough
                  • Corvette Park is already used for casual cricket games, cricket permits and cricket tournaments.
                  • The park offers a large, flat area – an uncommon opportunity for a large cricket field.
                  • The park already includes support amenities such as washrooms.
                  • The nearby school creates opportunities for youth programming.

                  Corvette Park map showing the layout of the new cricket facilities. One central standard cricket pitch overlaps with two single-direction cricket pitches. Numbered areas on the map are described in the list following the image.

                  1. One new standard cricket pitch (51.7 by 3.66 metres), oriented to allow for the flattest playing surface. The playing field (identified in yellow) measures 110 by 90 metres.
                  2. Two new, single-direction cricket pitches (40.1 by 3.66 metres) with backstops.
                  3. Existing ball diamond removed, with only a portion of the backstop remaining. Bleachers will be maintained and repositioned.
                  4. Existing ball diamond removed, with backstop and bleachers maintained.
                  5. New bottle filler and drinking fountain.
                  6. Existing ball diamond maintained.
                  7. Area remaining open for potential future construction of a pedestrian bridge over the rail line to the north.

                  The new pitch and batting cage at Byng Park opened in fall 2026. Learn more about how to permit sports fields.

                  The Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and the developing Cricket Strategy both identified a city-wide need for more cricket facilities. Byng Park has been selected as the site for a new single-direction cricket pitch and batting cage because:

                  • There is a high demand for cricket in Scarborough.
                  • The existing mini-soccer fields are underused.
                  • The park already includes support amenities such as parking and drinking fountains, with washrooms nearby.
                  • The nearby community recreation centre creates opportunities for youth programming and camps.

                  Byng Park map showing the layout of the new cricket facilities. A single-direction cricket with backstop will be added where the existing mini-soccer fields are, with a batting cage to its east. Numbered areas on the map are described in the list following the image.

                  1. New single-direction cricket pitch (40.1 by 3.66 metres) with backstop.
                  2. New cricket batting cage (40.1 by 3.66 metres, with 3.7 metre fencing)
                  3. Single north-west mini-soccer net maintained for casual play.
                  4. Existing three mini-soccer nets removed.

                  The new pitch at Littles Road Park opened in spring 2026. Learn more about how to permit sports fields.

                  The Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and the developing Cricket Strategy both identified a city-wide need for more cricket. Littles Road Park was selected because: 

                  • There is high demand for cricket in Scarborough and local interest at this location. 
                  • The existing ball diamond is underused. 
                  • The park already includes support amenities such as a portable toilet and drinking fountain.
                  • The nearby school creates opportunities for youth programming.

                  Littles Road Park proposed cricket facilities. A standard cricket pitch is shown in the park, The existing ball diamond will be removed. Numbered areas on the map are described in the list following the image.

                  1. New cricket pitch (51.7 by 3.66 metres)
                  2. Replace clay and chainlink backstop with sod
                  3. Maintain existing bleachers

                  The new pitch at Farquharson Park opened in spring 2026. Learn more about how to permit sports fields.

                  The Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and the developing Cricket Strategy both identified a city-wide need for more cricket facilities. Farquharson Park was selected because:

                  • There is high demand for cricket in Scarborough and local interest at this location.
                  • The existing ball diamond is underused.
                  • The nearby school creates opportunities for youth programming.

                  Map of Farquharson Park's proposed new single-direction cricket pitch. The existing backstop will remain. Numbered areas on the map are described in the list following the image.

                  1. Chain link fence backstop (existing)
                  2. Artificial turf cricket pitch (40.1 by 3.66 metres) for single-direction play (new)
                  3. Grass field (clay removed)

                  To meet local demand for cricket, the City is installing a single-direction cricket pitch with backstop and fence at Glamorgan Park. Glamorgan Park was selected because: 

                  • There is demonstrated local demand for cricket 
                  • The park includes support amenities such as washrooms and other sports facilities, such as basketball courts and a baseball diamond 
                  • Nearby schools create opportunities for youth programming 

                        Project Timeline

                        This cricket amenity is being constructed as part of the Glamorgan Park Improvements project.  

                        • Fall 2026:  Design development 
                        • Winter 2027: Final design 
                        • Spring 2027: Construction 
                        • Summer 2027: Pitch opens 

                              The timeline is subject to change. 

                              Aerial photo of Glamorgan Park with planned new and existing facilities labeled.

                              1. New single-direction cricket pitch (40m x 3.6m) with artificial turf surface
                              2. New 6.0m height chain link backstop and fence
                              3. Open lawn area for informal playing field
                              4. Existing trees to be removed to accommodate new cricket pitch
                              5. Existing basketball court (to remain)
                              6. New 3.0m height chain link fence added along north side of basketball court
                              7. New accessible park pathways (construction planned for fall 2026)
                              8. Existing shade shelter (to remain)
                              9. Existing washroom building
                                              Date modified: October 8, 2026