The Parkland Strategy is a 20-year plan that guides long-term planning for new parks and expansion and improved access to existing parks. It aids in the decision-making and prioritization of investment in parkland across the city.
A city builds a park so that people can build community. We are globally known for our parks and natural environment. So as Toronto grows, our parks system must grow along with it.
However, there are gaps in the system; areas in the city where more must be done. And we must reinvest and re-invigorate our existing green space.
Toronto’s parks system is much more than official city parks; it includes open spaces, conservation lands, ravines, hydro corridors, schools and other privately owned, publicly accessible lands. We need to work together to ensure a liveable Toronto for today, and for future generations.
While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this site. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings, or any other content, please contact Danielle DeMarsh at 416-392-7895.
Sign up for or unsubscribe from updates related to the Parkland Strategy.
Four principles support the Parkland Strategy vision by steering the work of City staff, Council members and other stakeholders as they implement the Strategy. These principles guide the policies and recommendations in the Parkland Strategy.
Expand the park system by creating new parks to support growth and address gaps to ensure a flexible, adaptable park system that will support the needs of a livable, diverse city.
Improve the function of existing parks to promote community cohesion, ecological sustainability, and health and wellbeing through active living, access to nature, and the provision of spaces for rest, relaxation and leisure.
Connect parks and other open spaces, physically and visually, and leverage opportunities so that people, communities and wildlife have abundant access to parks and can seamlessly navigate to and through the parks and open space system.
Include everyone by removing barriers so that parks and other open spaces are inclusive places and equitably accessible for people of all ages, cultures, genders, abilities and incomes.
The Ontario Planning Act establishes the authority for municipalities to require a “dedication” of lands to be used as publically accessible parkland as a condition of development or redevelopment of land under Sections 42 (development), 51.1 (subdivision) and 53 (consent).
Instead of land dedication, the City can accept “cash in lieu” of land (CIL). CIL can be used for the acquisition of parkland and the development of park and recreation facilities. In addition, the City has a policy which distributes CIL funds between district-specific and city-wide priorities.
Transferring parkland can occur when City-owned property must be transferred to allow for the implementation of a Council-approved direction (such as road widening or location of a special facility); or when a property is no longer required by an Agency, Board, Commission or City division.