News Release
July 24, 2020

The City of Toronto remains in Stage 2 of reopening and continues to safely and gradually reopen amenities for people to enjoy this summer. Residents visiting community recreation centres and other reopened facilities should continue to follow Toronto Public Health’s advice to stay home when they are ill, wash hands often, practise physical distancing and wear a face covering or mask in all indoor public spaces.

 

As of July 7, masks or face coverings are required in all indoor public spaces, excluding those who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, children under the age of two, and other accommodations. More details here.

 

COVID-19 continues to circulate in Toronto and everyone is reminded of the public health guidelines designed to keep everyone safe.

 

Gardiner Expressway closure

The construction work zone on the Gardiner Expressway will now transition to renew the south half of the expressway for the final phase of Strategic Rehabilitation of the Gardiner Expressway project. From Saturday, July 25 to Monday, July 27, there will be traffic restrictions on the Gardiner Expressway from the DVP to Jarvis Street to safely transition the work zone.

 

These restrictions include:

 

  • From 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 there will be no westbound travel on the Gardiner Expressway from the DVP to Jarvis Street. Drivers traveling southbound on the DVP should exit at Richmond Street or Lake Shore Boulevard East to continue travelling westbound.
  • From 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, July 26 until 5 a.m. on Monday, July 27 there will be no eastbound travel on the Gardiner Expressway from Jarvis Street to the DVP and the eastbound on-ramps at Bay Street and Rees Street will also be closed. Drivers travelling eastbound should consider Lake Shore Boulevard East. If drivers are travelling to the DVP, they must access the DVP by the Don Roadway through Cherry Street and Villiers Street or Commissioners Street as vehicles will not be able to turn left onto the Don Roadway from Lake Shore Boulevard East.

 

Full details about this work are available in the City’s July 20th news release.

 

Restaurants not obeying provincial orders

Toronto restaurants and bars continue to be open for delivery, takeout and outdoor dining only. Customers can only be inside a restaurant or bar to access an outdoor dining area (i.e. walk through to a back patio), pick up food, pay or use the washroom; while within the enclosed public space, customers and employees must be wearing a mask as required by the establishment’s mask policy and the City’s Mask or Face Covering Bylaw.

 

The City has received many complaints regarding restaurants and bars not following physical distancing requirements, as well as illegally offering customers indoor dining. Enforcement officers from Municipal Licensing & Standards, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Police Service, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario have increased inspections of liquor-licensed establishments in the city to address businesses that, despite widespread efforts to educate them on public health requirements to keep their customers, employees and the public safe, continue to disobey provincial orders.

 

Restricted evening parking at beaches to address prohibited activities

The City has seen a significant increase in the number of people at Toronto beaches late into the evening who are not practising physical distancing, or who are setting up DJ equipment, lighting bonfires, setting off fireworks, drinking excessively and leaving large amounts of litter behind. As COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community, residents visiting a beach or park must practise physical distancing and avoid crowding.

 

Parking restrictions are in place at Toronto beaches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Parking restrictions will be in place at the following beaches starting at 7 p.m. on Friday:

  • Marie Curtis Park
  • Humber Bay West Park
  • Cherry Beach
  • Bluffer’s Park

 

Toronto Police will be present at all parking lot entrances. Vehicles leaving beach parking lots after 7 p.m. will be able to do so freely.

 

Bylaw officers, Toronto Police and Toronto Fire will have a highly visible presence at beaches and parking lots to ensure that crowds and bonfires and other prohibited activities do not occur or are dealt with quickly should they occur. Parking enforcement will also have a significant presence this weekend, with tagging and towing of illegally parked vehicles in the vicinity of beaches where parking is restricted.

 

Bonfires are not permitted on beaches. Likewise, organized parties, with excessive drinking, and DJs with amplification of sound, are also prohibited. Bylaw enforcement officers and Toronto Police will issue tickets related to bylaw infractions, including littering, and people are asked to take their garbage with them so it can be disposed of properly. Any overflowing bins or litter hot spots should be reported to 311.

 

ActiveTO road closures, cycling network and Quiet Streets

Due to the Gardiner Expressway work, the ActiveTO major road closures on Lake Shore Boulevard East from Leslie Street to just south of Woodbine Avenue and Bayview Avenue from Front Street East to Rosedale Valley Road will be cancelled this weekend, July 25 and 26.

 

The following ActiveTO major road closure will be in place this weekend, from Saturday, July 25 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, July 26 at 11 p.m.:

 

  • Eastbound Lake Shore Boulevard West from Windermere Avenue to Stadium Road

 

Residents planning to use these roads should access them by bike or as a pedestrian as nearby parking is limited and there is no onsite parking available. Parking lots at Sunnyside Park, Budapest Park and Sir Casimir Gzowski Park will be closed all weekend during ActiveTO closures. Overnight parking is not permitted in these lots and any vehicles should be moved before midnight on Friday.

 

More than 60 kilometres of Quiet Streets are available to local residents throughout the city this weekend. More information, including an online map of all locations, can be found on the ActiveTO web page.

 

Curb lane closures will be in place this weekend to accommodate new cafés/patios for CaféTO locations throughout the city.

 

City pools and splash pads

Torontonians can cool off at all of the City’s 140 splash pads and 56 outdoor swimming pools that are now open, with the exception of Earlscourt Park/Giovanni Caboto Pool which is undergoing repairs. The City’s 100 wading pools continue to open on a location-by-location basis. In order to allow for physical distancing, the capacity at outdoor pools will be significantly reduced to 25 per cent. Swimmers will be limited to 45-minute sessions to allow for cleaning. Full details here.

 

Beaches

Toronto beaches are open, including the four Toronto Island Park beaches. Lifeguards supervise swim areas from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Rouge Valley Beach remains closed. More information on the beaches is available online.

 

It can be unsafe to swim even at designated swimming beaches, for 48 hours after a rainfall due to the possible presence of high levels of bacteria that could pose a risk to human health. Learn more.

 

Toronto Public Health posts water quality reports for local beaches online.

 

City parks

Most amenities in City parks are now open. Playgrounds and outdoor exercise equipment remain closed. As COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community, residents visiting a beach or park must practise physical distancing and avoid crowding. More details here.

 

The City’s outdoor sport and multi-use fields are now open for training and permits are being issued to organizations for the remainder of the 2020 summer season. More details here.

 

Toronto Island Park public ferry and beaches

The public ferry service recently resumed operations at 50 per cent capacity with COVID-19 guidelines and procedures in place to protect passengers and staff. Tickets are limited to 5,000 per day. Visitors must purchase tickets online in advance. Passengers are required to wear masks or face coverings. To reduce crowding, visitors are encouraged to travel outside of peak times of 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (from the ferry terminal to the island), and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. for the return trip.

 

Lifeguards supervise the four Toronto Island Park swimming beaches. Services and amenities that are open at Toronto Island Park include washrooms, a splash pad, a first aid station, William Meany Maze, some food and beverage outlets and disc golf. Other Toronto Island Park public and commercial amenities, including Centreville, park playgrounds and boat rentals, remain closed under the current Province of Ontario emergency orders.

 

Public washroom facilities

Park washrooms are open to the public. In addition, the City has opened a number of facilities with showers, washrooms and drinking water for all individuals in need of these services. More details including health guidelines for washrooms are available on the City Services webpage. Residents using public washrooms should maintain a distance of two metres or six feet from others at all times while waiting in line and wash hands or use hand sanitizer. More details here.

 

St. Lawrence Market

The St. Lawrence Market continues to operate with enhanced precautions under the advisement of Toronto Public Health.  The South Market is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Saturday Farmers’ Market indoor and outdoor areas are open weekly from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Sunday Antique Market remains closed until further notice.

 

The use of a face mask or face covering is required at the St. Lawrence Market Complex and entrance screenings are conducted for customers and all personnel entering the market. Please remember to bring your face covering for your trip and wear it at all times at the St. Lawrence Market Complex. Customers are reminded that even when wearing a mask or face covering, keeping physical distance from others and washing your hands often are the best ways to help stop the spread of COVID-19. More information on the website.

 

COVID-19 updates

The City’s COVID-19 web page is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports and economic recovery measures. Visit regularly 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 the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.