These Toronto residents have waited 8 years for a new park, but they’ll have to keep waiting

February 9, 2025 Canuck

Eight years after the plan to reinvigorate a north Toronto green space was launched, it’s back to square one for Baycrest Park — and that’s left locals frustrated and angry.

Where they’d been told by the city to expect a new playground, sports fields, fountains, lighting, walking trails and modern new washrooms, all residents see today is a neglected construction site.

Broken fencing, mounds of earth, construction debris and half-finished structures dot the nine-hectare site in the Allen Road and Highway 401 area.

The city blames the delays on a dispute with the contractor.

Weeds, construction debris and mounds of earth, are all that was left when construction was halted on the park revitalization about 18 months ago. — Weeds, construction debris and mounds of earth are all that was left when construction was halted on the park revitalization about 18 months ago. (Mike Smee/CBC)

“It’s extremely irritating and frustrating,” longtime resident Avi Levinson said this week, “especially when they’re raising our taxes and all we have to show for it is a pile of dirt.”

The design process was launched in 2017, with public consultations following the next year. A proposed vision for a new, improved Baycrest Park was presented to residents, who have been using the space for decades to go for walks and relax, as well as a shortcut to nearby Yorkdale subway station and Baycrest Arena.

According to the city’s website, that vision includes new walking trails, lighting for the baseball diamond, a splashpad, washrooms, a shaded seating area for reading, flower gardens — even a fire pit.

By early 2023, Baycrest Park was closed to the public and work began on the $8-million project, with construction expected to take just over a year.

Then, things began to go sideways.

Leslie Speers, who's lived next to the park for more than 40 years, says the partially completed park 'looks like Siberia,' now that trees have been removed. — Leslie Speers, who’s lived next to the park for more than 40 years, says the partially completed park ‘looks like Siberia,’ now that trees have been removed. (Mike Smee/CBC)

The contractor, LocPave Construction, ran into unexpected stormwater runoff, according to the city’s website, and problems building a new path from the park to Yorkdale Station.

Work stopped completely in fall 2023 — with trees cut down, construction materials strewn about, and mounds of excavated earth left on the grounds.

By December 2024, the city had “terminated the contract with the vendor due to a work stoppage and lack of progress,” said Prapan Dave, director of capital projects for the city, in an email to CBC Toronto on Wednesday.

LocPave has not yet responded to requests for a response to the city’s statement.

Lighting poles lie in the snow at the baseball field in Baycrest Park. City staff say they expect to have the diamond open by spring and the pathway to Yorkdale subway by the fall. — Lighting poles lie in the snow at the baseball field in Baycrest Park. City staff say they expect to have the diamond open by spring and the pathway to Yorkdale subway station open by the fall. (Mike Smee/CBC)

The city expects things to be back on track within a couple of weeks, when staff award a new construction contract for the project, Dave said. He also says two smaller contracts have already been awarded, which should allow the baseball diamond to open this spring, and the path to Yorkdale Station by fall.

For now, the park remains in disarray, fenced off from the public.

Park ‘a colossal mess’: resident

Leslie Speers, who’s lived beside the park for more than 40 years, says she’s fed up with the delays.

“It’s unusable,” she said. “Sometimes you look out there and it looks like Siberia. It’s atrocious … It’s been a colossal mess from the beginning.”

Levinson says he misses the evening strolls he and his family used to take, as well as the easy access to the subway. The walk through the park used to take five minutes from his house, he says, but now, it’s more like 20.

Mike Colle, the city councillor for the neighbourhood, said his office has been fielding calls from angry residents for months.

City Coun. Mike Colle, who represents the neighbourhood, says his hands are tied hen it comes to speeding up the park's completion, but he predicted it could open by the end of the year. — Coun. Mike Colle, who represents the neighbourhood, says his hands are tied when it comes to speeding up the park’s completion, but he predicted it could open by the end of the year. (Sue Goodspeed/CBC)

“We need that park,” Colle told CBC Toronto. “I’m proud of the plan but damned frustrated that we haven’t been able to complete the plan.”

Colle says his hands are tied.

“I’m as frustrated as the residents,” he said. “It’s something that’s going to be of benefit to the community for years to come.”

Colle said he expects the park to be finished by the end of this year, but city staff were making no promises earlier this week.

“Once a vendor is selected, and work begins, the City will be in a position to provide a project completion date,” Dave said in his email.

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Canada News

These Toronto residents have waited 8 years for a new park, but they’ll have to keep waiting

Park ‘a colossal mess’: resident

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