The City of Toronto continues to safely and gradually open services and amenities for residents to enjoy this weekend, following guidance from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health.
With nice weather approaching, residents are encouraged to head outside in their local neighbourhood for fresh air and exercise, but are reminded to follow 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:
ActiveTO
To help stop the spread of COVID-19 while allowing for residents to be outside and get exercise, vehicle access on parts of some major roads will be closed this Saturday and Sunday, in total making more than 10 kilometres of roadway available for walking, running and biking as part of ActiveTO.
The following three major road closures are planned this weekend from Saturday, June 6 at 6 a.m. until Sunday, June 7 at 11 p.m.:
An online map is available to residents with locations that have been installed as part of CurbTO for businesses (pickup zones and pedestrian zones) and ActiveTO locations for residents (Quiet Streets and Major Weekend Road Closures only). Residents can view the map of CurbTO locations.
First ActiveTO bikeway is now ready
The City of Toronto has already delivered the first new cycling route as part of the ActiveTO cycling network report that was approved by City Council last week. Dundas Street East, from Sackville Street to Broadview Avenue, now has a temporary, separated cycle track that spans one kilometre and supports a more connected cycling network in Toronto as well as Toronto’s Vision Zero safety priorities. This new section along Dundas Street East provides a connected cycling route into the downtown core, via the existing River Street and Shuter Street bike lanes, the only protected, accessible and connected cycling route over the Don Valley Parkway (south of Bloor Street and north of the waterfront), and connects people on bikes to essential services.
City parks and amenities
City park amenities open this weekend include:
If a resident arrives at a park that is crowded, they are advised to visit a different park or return at a later time when there are fewer people.
Park amenities that remain closed include some public washrooms, playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment, swimming pools, fixed barbecues, wading pools and splash pads. Farmers’ 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. Individuals are not permitted to play team sports, such as soccer, basketball or baseball, even on fields or courts 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.
Physical distancing circles at Trinity Bellwoods Park
The City added painted physical distancing circles on the grass in Trinity Bellwoods Park as a pilot project to encourage people to practise physical distancing. When visiting the park, people can expect to see grids of painted circles roughly 8 feet in diameter and 10 feet apart. Each circle is large enough for two adults from the same household laying down or three adults from the same household sitting cross-legged.
If the park is crowded when people arrive and if no circles are available, people should visit a different park or come back later. Parks near Trinity Bellwoods Park include Stanley Park and Alexandra Park. Bickford Park, Art Eggleton Park, Christie Pits Park and Dufferin Grove Park are also close.
City beaches
Toronto beaches remain open. Beaches are not closed under Province of Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While Toronto beaches are open, there are no lifeguards on duty. Swimming without a lifeguard is not recommended.
Just like in other public spaces, when at the beach please practice proper physical distancing by staying two metres or six feet from others and gathering with no more than five people from your household.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, City staff are working with public health officials on how the supervised swim program (lifeguards) could operate at Toronto beaches. More information when it becomes available.
Public washroom facilities
The City of Toronto is starting to open park washrooms following the Province of Ontario’s amendments to an order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Approximately 50 washroom sites will be open by tomorrow, June 6, with the remaining locations open by mid-June Staff have worked with Toronto Public Health on guidelines for the safe opening of washrooms and other amenities.
In addition, the City has opened a number of facilities with showers, washrooms, and drinking water for all individuals in need of these services. A list of locations and 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 should wash hands or use hand sanitizer. It is also recommended that cloth face coverings are worn, especially when physical distancing is difficult.
Park parking lots
Most Toronto Parks’ parking lots in City parks are open this weekend. Three lots will remain closed: Sir Casimir Gzowski, Sunnyside and Woodbine. The parking lot at High Park continues to be closed on weekends.
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.
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