News Release
May 22, 2020

The City of Toronto is safely and gradually opening a number of services and amenities for residents to enjoy this weekend, following the Province of Ontario’s orders and guidance from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health.

Residents are encouraged to head outside in their local neighbourhood for fresh air and exercise to support physical and mental well-being, but are reminded to adhere to public health advice to practise physical distancing or wear a face covering or non-medical mask to protect others when in settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Below is a guide to which City services and amenities are open and which remain closed this weekend:

Parks and amenities

City park amenities open this weekend include:
• picnic shelters
• soccer and multi-use outdoor fields, including running tracks
• baseball diamonds and basketball courts
• some tennis courts and pickleball courts
• off-leash dog parks
• BMX locations and skateboard parks
• City-run golf courses and disc golf locations
• ravine green spaces, beaches, trails and boardwalks for walking, running or biking
• fishing with a licence, boating, kayaking and canoeing

If a resident arrives at an amenity that is crowded, they are advised to wait until there is enough space to physically distance or return at another time.

Park amenities that remain closed include lawn bowling facilities, outdoor bocce, playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment, swimming pools, fixed barbecues and splash pads. Farmer’s markets, greenhouses, nurseries and conservatories, High Park Zoo and Riverdale Farm also remain closed.

Permits for soccer, multi-use fields and baseball diamonds continue to be cancelled until June 29. Individuals are not permitted to play team sports, such as soccer or baseball, even on fields intended for this purpose unless they are members of the same household.

There is no public ferry access to Toronto Island Park. New federal regulations limit the number of individuals on a ferry in order to reduce crowding and limit the potential for virus transmission. The ferry will continue running for Island residents only.

Public washroom facilities

Park washrooms remain closed at this time. Staff are working with Toronto Public Health on guidelines for the safe opening of washrooms and other amenities.

The City has opened a number of facilities with showers, washrooms, and drinking water for all individuals in need of these services. For locations and operating hours visit toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-latest-city-of-toronto-news/affected-city-services/?accordion=washroom-and-sanitation-services.

Park parking lots

Most parking lots in City parks are open this weekend. Transportation Services staff will be managing access to Ashbridges Bay parking through the ActiveTO program.

Some park parking lots do remain closed:
• High Park is closed to vehicles on Saturdays and Sundays to allow for physical distancing on busy weekends.
• Sunnyside and Sir Casimir Gzowski Parks parking lots remain closed due to the ActiveTO Lake Shore Boulevard closure this weekend; these will open next week.

Some park parking lots have concrete barriers in place that require special equipment for removal. Barriers may be removed next week, after staff evaluate ability to practise physical distancing this weekend. Parking lots where barriers remain in place are:
• North York: Leaside Park
• South: Underpass Park, Kiwanis Pool at Stan Wadlow Park, Haldon Avenue parking lot for Taylor Creek Park, Riverdale East Park (north entrance to pool/rink)
• East: Malvern C.C., Burrows Hall C.C., Major Ali Abbas Park/Scott Westney House
• Waterfront: Cherry Beach, Woodbine Beach

ActiveTO and Quiet Streets

The City is expanding its ActiveTO major road closures footprint this weekend to provide residents with more space to physically distance while outdoors and getting exercise. The closures are adjacent to City trails to make space for people, alleviate weekend crowding, and ensure there is room to be physically active and support physical distancing.

Three major road closures are planned this weekend from Saturday, May 23 at 6 a.m. until Sunday, May 24 at 11 p.m.:
• Lake Shore Boulevard West (eastbound lanes only) from Windermere Avenue to Stadium Road. The eastbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp to Lake Shore Boulevard West (exit #146) will also be closed
• Lake Shore Boulevard East (eastbound lanes only) from Coxwell Avenue to just south of Woodbine Avenue (Kew Beach Avenue)
• Bayview Avenue from Mill Street to Rosedale Valley Road, and River Street from Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue.

Along with the major road closures, ActiveTO includes a plan for 57 kilometres of Quiet Streets across the city. Quiet Streets are neighbourhood streets where traffic calming measures, such as signage and temporary barricades, are placed at intersections to encourage slow, local vehicle access only so that the roadway can be a shared space that also welcomes people who walk, run and bike. Parking and drop off areas are not impacted, and City services, such as waste collection and emergency access, continue as normal.

TTC subway closure

This Saturday, May 23, there will be no subway service on the portion of Line 1 between Eglinton and King stations due to installation and testing of the ATC signalling system. On Sunday, May 24, there will be no subway service on the portion of Line 1 between Bloor-Yonge and St Andrew stations also due to installation and testing of the ATC signalling system. Replacement shuttle buses will run, stopping at each station along the route. Visit ttc.ca for more information on service alerts.

For more information on impacts to City services, visit toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-latest-city-of-toronto-news/affected-city-services.

The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports and economic recovery measures. Check toronto.ca/covid-19 for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.

Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CityofToronto, on Instagram at instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at facebook.com/cityofto.

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