Take the online survey to learn more and provide feedback on recommendations to improve access and circulation in Trinity Bellwoods Park. The survey closes on March 5.

Trinity Bellwoods Park is a popular destination for relaxing, exercising and socializing, as well as a central route for walkers and cyclists. The City is conducting a study to assess the park’s pathways and entrances and consider how to improve functionality, connectivity, accessibility and the overall experience of navigating the park.

Through site analysis and community and stakeholder engagement, the Study will explore short-, medium- and long-term recommendations to enhance access and circulation while protecting the park’s natural environment. These recommendations will guide future pathway and entrance improvement projects, which will be delivered in phases after the Study is completed.

  • Winter 2025: Hire a design team
  • Spring to Late 2025: Study development
  • Spring to Summer 2025: Community Engagement Phase 1
  • Fall 2025 to Winter 2026: Community Engagement Phase 2
  • Winter 2026: Community Engagement Phase 3, Access and Circulation Study Complete, Final Report Available

The timeline is subject to change.

Online Survey

February 2 to March 5, 2026

Take the survey to help shape new improvements to access and circulation in Trinity Bellwoods Park by sharing your thoughts on recommendations. The project team will use this community feedback to develop the final study. 

The survey results will be shared on this page. 

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Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as an Involve project based on the International Association for Public Participation Spectrum. This means the City works directly with the public, stakeholders and rightsholders throughout the process to ensure that ideas and aspirations are understood and considered in the study.

This project has a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) made up of both representatives from key stakeholder groups and residents that represent the demographics of the overall community. The CAC’s mandate is to provide a forum for feedback, guidance and advice to the project team at key decision points during the community engagement process. The CAC met approximately three times over the course of the project. The CAC is not a decision-making body and does not speak on behalf of the entire community.

The CAC is comprised of 21 members that worked with the project team to:

  • Gather information and identify issues, as well as suggestions for improvement
  • Review and provide direction on the study recommendations
  • Consider input from jurisdictional authorities, stakeholders and the wider public

Members of the CAC include representatives of the following organizations:

  • Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park
  • LOFT Community Services at John Gibson House
  • Toronto Downtown Fastpitch League
  • Trinity Bellwoods Farmer’s Market

 

Group photo of Trinity Bellwoods CAC team

CAC Members

C. Wong, 65 to 74 years old

Hi I’m Carolyn, a patron of the park for over 25 years and I have experienced much enjoyment and change in this time. My kid grew up in playground, I met longtime neighbourhood friends there and got involved with the Friends of TB Park. The latter led me to give back to the park as co-founder of the farmers’ market – 2026 in its 20th year! Being a stakeholder on CAC I can contribute towards sustaining the park in a meaningful way that I hope is effective. I love the park it is the jewel of city and truly needs to be treated as such.

Dave, 30 to 39 years old

Hi, I am Dave. I spend a lot of time chasing my kids through Trinity Bellwoods, whether on foot, scooter or bicycle. I joined the Community Advisory Committee because I care about keeping the neighbourhood fun, friendly, and safe.

Deborah, 56 to 64 years old

I’m Deborah and newly arrived in Toronto. I’m a psychotherapist and keenly aware that community engagement and nature are pillars of well being. I’m thrilled to work alongside neighbours to improve mobility in our beloved park.

Jeff VH, 40 to 55 years old

Park lover.

Khasir, 19 to 29 years old

Hi! I’m Khasir. I’ve lived in the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood for over four years. I regularly visit the park and I think it’s really important that our urban spaces reflect our needs. I’m glad that the CAC has given me the opportunity to help improve the park!

Mario G., 40 to 55 years old

I am a disabled person living in Toronto. I frequent Trinity Bellwods whenever possible. I am not mobile so this upgrade will be great for me as a citizen.

Mehek, 30 to 39 years old

I’m Mehek – I lead social behaviour change initiatives with a special interest in participatory community engagement practices. As a new immigrant (though previously a student and visitor for many years), I now live in the Queen West area with Trinity Bellwoods Park playing a key role in shaping my sense of a new home here in Toronto. I care deeply about spaces that connect people and I believe being a member of the CAC serves as an excellent way to demonstrate my civic responsibility to co-envisioning improvements to spaces and experiences we all share.

Paul, 19 to 29 years old

Hi, my name is Paul. Trinity Bellwoods has always had a special place in my heart, from growing up going to the church at the SE corner to now spending time with my friends on a nice summer day. As someone who is also passionate about urban design I joined the CAC so that the future of the parks paths has some thought put into it and we can be proud of the changes made.

Sean, 40 to 55 years old

Hello, my name is Sean and I’ve lived around the Trinity Bellwoods community for the last 10 years. It is where I start and end my long walks around the city and is one of my favourite places to just unwind, listen to music and people watch after a long day. I wanted the opportunity to voice both my opinion, and those I know in the community, to help shape the future of the park so it can be enjoyed by a diverse group of people for years to come.

Steve, 40 to 55 years old

Hi my name is Steve. I have been part of the staff team at LOFT Community Services (JOHN Gibson House) for 29 years. I joined the Community Advisory Committee to support the 50 seniors plus staff that live or spend time in this park. I also enjoy my time at this park and look forward to assisting with accessibility and overall best practices of this wonderful community space for all.

Tara, 30 to 39 years old

I’m the Executive Director of the Toronto Downtown Fastpitch League (TDFL), which is a softball league for transgender, non-binary, and women fastpitch players. We play at Trinity Bellwoods every Tuesday night from May to September. I joined the CAC to help improve the shared use of TB park, to promote equitable design and use, and to connect with other members of the Trinity Bellwoods community.

Zaneta, 30 to 39 years old

I moved to the area a few years ago and Trinity Bellwoods fast became a staple part of my life in the neighborhood. I joined the Community Advisory Committee because I feel strongly that the park should remain a space that works for everyone and I was eager to get involved however I could with community-focused projects like this.

Zenon

My name is Zenon, I have lived in the Trinity Bellwoods Park neighbourhood and enjoyed the park all of my life. I have seen many changes and joined the Community Advisory Committee to contribute what I have learned to help improve the park as it continues to evolve.

In this phase, the City gathered feedback from community members, the Community Advisory Committee and stakeholders on their experiences with the park’s entrances and pathways, as well as suggestions for improvement.

This input, along with findings from a public life study and a detailed site analysis of the park, will inform draft recommendations for access and circulation improvements, which will be shared in Community Engagement Phase 2.

The community engagement activities anticipated in this phase include:

  • two Community Advisory Committee meetings
  • an interactive mapping activity
  • a public life study
  • a presentation to the City’s Community Disability Steering Committee

Public Life Study

May and July 2025

The City conducted a public life study to observe real patterns of activity and understand how people use the park’s pathway network. The study documented activity on both weekdays and weekends, providing observations on how busy different areas are and offering insights into improvements for pathways, entrances, and overall movement within the park. The final report is available through this website and includes study team reflections to inform draft recommendations on access and circulation.

Download the May/July 2025 Public Life Study report.

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

September 2025

Community Disability Steering Committee

On September 18, the project team presented to the City’s Parks and Recreation Community Disability Steering Committee to receive feedback on how to make the Trinity Bellwoods Park Access and Circulation Study more fair, equitable and accessible. Its members represent a range of disabilities, either through lived experience or through leadership and advocacy within the disability community, along with diverse cultural and racial identities.

July 2025

Community Advisory Committee Meeting 2

On July 17, the Community Advisory Committee met to learn about the project and share feedback on what is working, what is not working and areas for improvement to inform study recommendations.

June 2025

Community Advisory Committee Meeting 1

On June 18, the Community Advisory Committee met to learn more about the project, their role and the community engagement process for the study.

May 2025

Community Advisory Committee Application

From April 15 to May 9, community members could apply to join the Community Advisory Committee. The Committee will provide feedback, guidance and advice to the project team at key decision points during the community engagement process.

Interactive Mapping Activity

From April 15 to May 4, an interactive map on Social Pinpoint allowed participants to drop pins and leave comments on precise locations within the Study Area. The project team collected feedback about what is and is not working, areas of concern and suggestions for improvements. The map received 789 pins from 205 participants and 3,929 comment ratings.

Community feedback was grouped into six zones based on the locations where markers were placed, providing insights into how visitors interact with different areas of the park.

Zone A – Northwest Corner

This area received a total of 91 comments. Participants appreciated shared-use paths and recent upgrades, highlighting the new Bike Share station on Crawford Street as a welcome addition.

Challenges identified include:

  • Frequent cyclist and pedestrian conflicts near the northwest entrance at Shaw Street and Dundas Street West due to unclear signage, narrow paths and lack of separation
  • Safety concerns with vehicular traffic on and near Crawford Street
  • Congestion from the farmers’ market that increases conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians
  • Lack of crosswalk markings and stop signs at the Crawford Street crossing, leaving pedestrians and cyclists without clear priority

Suggested improvements include:

  • Widening shared paths or adding a separate bicycle path with clear markings
  • Introducing traffic-calming measures such as raised crosswalks and signage on Crawford Street
  • Exploring closure or partial closure of the roadway through the park to reconnect both sides
  • Improving foot traffic areas near the farmers’ market with mulch or natural surfacing
Zone B – North Entrance

This area received a total of 110 comments. Participants noted that the park entrance is welcoming, with a wide, well-paved path and pleasant views that enhance the experience. The natural, unstructured green space with mature trees is highly valued.

Challenges identified include:

  • Path intersections being too narrow and prone to washouts, creating muddy conditions
  • The path along the northwest side of the dog bowl being narrow, broken and poorly maintained, with uneven surfaces creating unsafe conditions
  • Soil erosion and vegetation damage from users avoiding deteriorating paths by walking or riding on adjacent green space

Suggested improvements include:

  • Widening and repaving existing narrow or eroded paths to improve safety, accessibility and flow
  • Shortening traffic light timing at Dundas Street West and Montrose Avenue for better pedestrian access
Zone C – Central Area

This area received a total of 116 comments. Participants emphasized the importance of the area’s natural and cultural features, noting the eastern hill of the dog bowl as a favourite spot for sledding and relaxing, the dog bowl as a valued off-leash area, John Gibson House as a cherished landmark, and the surrounding green space as essential.

Challenges identified include:

  • Cracked pavement, mud and ruts from service vehicles
  • Frequent conflicts between cyclists, pedestrians and dog walkers, worsened by fast-moving bicycles and low visibility at intersections
  • Widespread off-leash dog activity outside the designated area creating conflicts
  • Poor drainage leading to unsafe conditions

Suggested improvements include:

  • Separating pedestrian and cyclist traffic
  • Widening and improving the path between John Gibson House and the dog bowl
  • Adding additional entry points into the dog bowl
Zone D – West Area

This area received a total of 92 comments. Participants highlighted the value of active transportation and connectivity through the park, especially the cycling route from Lobb Avenue to Strachan Avenue, as essential features to preserve. Side entrances and smaller paths were also appreciated for improving access and offering alternatives to crowded areas.

Challenges identified include:

  • Shared paths being overcrowded, poorly marked and unsafe, with frequent conflicts among cyclists, pedestrians, strollers and dog walkers near the Trinity Community Recreation Centre and playground
  • Service vehicles damaging the park by driving on grass and creating ruts
  • Safety risks at the playground due to the lack of a full fence in a busy area
  • Frequent cyclist and pedestrian conflicts along the narrow diagonal path from Lobb Avenue to the southeast corner, particularly near the playground and during peak hours
  • Lobb Avenue and Crawford Street entrance acting as a pinch point with poor visibility and overlapping car, pedestrian and cyclist activity

Suggested improvements include:

  • Widening the main path near Crawford Street and Lobb Avenue to reflect its role as a key route
  • Installing a full perimeter fence around the playground to improve safety and reduce conflicts with adjacent pathways
Zone E – South Entrance and Southeast Area

This area received a total of 309 comments. Participants highlighted the main south entrance and historic gates as highly valued, with support for preserving them and enhancing surrounding greenery. Shared, multi-use paths were also appreciated. The eastern and southeastern edges of the park were noted as enjoyable walking areas.

Challenges identified include:

  • Poor drainage and flooding near entrances and around Trinity Circle, creating muddy, inaccessible areas and damaging grass and infrastructure
  • Southeast corner entrance being unsafe and inaccessible, with steep grades and poor connections to sidewalks and bicycle lanes
  • Frequent pedestrian and cyclist conflicts in high-traffic areas such as the south and southeast entrances, where bottlenecks, unclear right-of-way and lack of signage create unsafe conditions
  • South entrance being especially problematic due to uneven surfaces like cobblestones and grates, poor accessibility for mobility devices and strollers, and unsafe cyclist access from Queen Street
  • Lack of benches across the park and the unpaved desire line near the eastern field becoming muddy and impassable after rain

Suggested improvements include:

  • Adding more benches along Trinity Circle, major paths and under the cherry blossom trees
  • Improving visibility, safety and accessibility with small path lights and emergency phones in key areas
  • Creating safe, dedicated bicycle entry and exit points at the south entrance
  • Installing additional City bicycle stations at strategic locations (e.g., near the tennis courts and Queen Street West/Strachan Avenue)
  • Reconfiguring traffic signal timing at Queen Street West and Strachan Avenue to better accommodate cyclists
  • Widening and resurfacing key paths, especially near Trinity Circle and the south entrance, to support growing use and repair degraded edges
Zone F – East and Northeast Area

This area received a total of 71 comments. Participants appreciated the northeast section of the park as a quiet corner offering peaceful retreats and a sense of escape within the city. The northeast entrance is valued for being calm and less crowded.

Challenges identified include:

  • Multiple underused or redundant paved paths near the rink and ice maintenance garage reducing valuable green space
  • Accessibility issues at the northeast Gore Vale Avenue entrance due to lack of proper ramps and sidewalk connections, limiting access for strollers, wheelchairs and bicycles
  • Conflicting uses between pedestrians, ball diamond users and dog owners in the open green space near the ball diamond
  • Concerns about paths near the washroom and rink

Suggested improvements include:

  • Balancing pathway accessibility with the park’s natural character
  • Improving bike access at the northeast entrance with a curb cut
  • Adding a City bike station near the northeast entrance
Community Advisory Committee Application

From April 15 to May 9, community members could apply to join the Community Advisory Committee. The Committee will provide feedback, guidance and advice to the project team at key decision points during the community engagement process.

In this phase, the City will build on the outcomes of Community Engagement Phase 1 by sharing draft recommendations for park access and circulation improvements with the community, Community Advisory Committee and stakeholders for feedback.

This input, along with technical and feasibility considerations, will help refine the recommendations, which will be shared in Community Engagement Phase 3 in the final report.

The community engagement activities anticipated in this phase include:

  • a Community Advisory Committee meeting
  • an online survey
  • an open house

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

December 2025

Community Advisory Committee Meeting 3

On December 10, the Community Advisory Committee met to review and provide feedback on the draft recommendations for access and circulation improvements.  

Download the December 2025 Community Advisory Committee meeting summary.

In this phase, the City will share the refined recommendations for park access and circulation improvements in a final report on this page and through the project mailing list. These recommendations will guide future pathway and entrance improvement projects, which will be implemented in phases based on priority and available funding after the Study is completed.

The study area is Trinity Bellwoods Park, bounded by Dundas Street West to the north, Queen Street West to the south, Gore Vale Avenue to the east and Crawford Street to the west. In the northwest section of the park, the boundary extends further west to Shaw Street.

A map of Trinity Bellwoods with the boundaries of the study, described immediately before the image.

The study area boundaries may be subject to change as City staff obtain input through the community engagement process.

Trinity Bellwoods Park is one of Toronto’s most well-used and recognizable parks. With open lawns, mature trees, recreational amenities and vibrant community events like the farmers’ market, it attracts visitors from nearby neighbourhoods and across the city. The park is also well-connected to major transit and cycling routes.

As the number of visitors and activities has grown, concerns about access and movement within the park have become more noticeable. During a community safety walk and public meeting in 2024, residents raised issues with the existing pathway network and called for improvements.

In response, the City launched a study to assess current challenges and develop a long-term plan to improve access and circulation, while protecting the park’s natural and heritage features. Funding was approved in the 2025 City budget, and a design team has been hired to lead the work. The study will also explore opportunities to improve wayfinding and signage, address maintenance and operations challenges, and balance the needs of the park’s many users and events.

Public and stakeholder feedback, along with technical analysis, will guide the development of recommendations and an implementation strategy that considers cost, feasibility and long-term sustainability.