This week, City Council will consider the results of a public consultation on Toronto’s five City-operated golf course parklands and vote on next steps. During the consultation, communities shared important perspectives and ideas on how these parklands can best serve local community priorities, such as Indigenous placekeeping, equitable greenspace access, natural area restoration, food growing and more. 

Tell City Council to take this opportunity to maximize benefits to communities and the environment, and share these lands in a way that is equitable, responsive to community priorities and ecologically responsible. There are opportunities to expand alternative community uses at all of the courses and continue to engage local people in decision-making about the lands. 

In the face of the pandemic, a climate emergency, growing inequity in our city, we have to reimagine public spaces to better serve community needs and priorities. This review of five City-operated golf courses is an opportunity to do that. We are calling on City Council to broaden the vision for these parklands beyond just golf operations and ensure that this significant public resource is serving the public good. 

Together, we pushed City Council to launch this public consultation process. Now, we can continue to advocate to ensure public space benefits the public good.