The High Park Off-Leash Area (OLA) is 8.5 acres of open area and designated trails, both natural and paved, under the canopy of mature trees. It is located adjacent to Environmentally Significant Areas and while an enjoyable place to visit, its natural areas, including rare Black Oak Savannah, are sensitive to recreational impacts and degradation.
The existing fencing does not meet current specifications for OLA fencing. Dogs and people are able to scale the low fences and access sensitive natural areas through several gates throughout the OLA, resulting in informal trails that are exacerbating erosion and the loss of rare vegetation cover. Difficulty navigating the OLA sometimes leads to unleashed dogs leaving the OLA and wandering into unfenced on-leash areas of the park, creating public safety issues with other park users.
To address these key issues, the OLA improvement plan will include fencing installation and repair, gate removal and installation, and improved signage. Following the OLA infrastructure enhancements, ecosystem restoration will occur to enhance rare black oak savannah and oak deciduous ecosystems.
The project will be carried out in phases. Phase 1 was completed in 2024, and Phase 2 will be completed in summer/fall 2025. With each phase, restoration efforts will coincide, which will include invasive species management, planting and prescribed burns in savannah sites.
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One of the main goals of improvements is to reduce the impacts of the OLA on the surrounding natural area, which include rare oak savannah habitat. As such the project will include invasive species management and extensive restoration plantings over many years. In degraded savannah sites, prescribed burn management will also be explored to expand into these areas.
Restoration efforts will be supported by the High Park Nature Centre, the High Park Stewards and other interested community groups active in the park allowing for ongoing community involvement.
Please email nrm@toronto.ca for upcoming restoration events.
Large invasive tree removal and woody invasive species management will be occurring as part of this project. Watch for large tree removal notices and pesticide warning signs. Do not enter these areas while pesticide signs are posted and large tree work is being carried out.