Enhancing Winter Accessibility to Toronto Island Park For All - by Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie

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The decision

2022-05-11 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on May 11 and 12, 2022, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation to convene a Winter Island Access Working Group, in consultation with the Ward 10 Councillor Office and including Technology Services and other appropriate divisions to provide recommendations for implementation prior to the 2022-2023 Island winter season including: a. improvements to communication for visitor experience in the off-season with respect to available amenities, shelter, and ferry service; b.

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improvements to alternative bus transport when ferry service is diverted, including coordination with the Toronto Transit Commission on provision of fully accessible service; and c. a review of winter conditions at Wards Island dock and planning of mitigation measures to address disruptions due to ice accumulation.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

Toronto Island Park is one our City's most treasured destinations, attracting 1.4 million visitors annually. Although it is most heavily used during the summer season, it is also increasingly being enjoyed during the wintertime. The opportunity to expand the use of this park during all seasons has been identified throughout the ongoing Toronto Island Master Plan process. A winter visit to the Island offers a special kind of experience for regular users and international tourists.

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Currently, there are challenges with supporting the best experience for users during the off-season, due to more limited amenities, and unpredictable changes to ferry schedules or complete diversions caused by winter conditions such as ice in the harbour. An alternative bus service operates during these times and is not currently serviced with fully accessible vehicles. While the Master Plan will provide direction on infrastructure improvements to enhance the winter experience, there is also an opportunity to review improvements in advance of this coming winter related to communications on winter services, service disruptions, the provision of accessible alternative bus service and the planning for winter mitigation measures at the Wards dock. A focused working group of stakeholders and City staff can provide recommendations for action in these areas, in order to enhance the visitor experience of all users for this coming winter season.

Staff recommended

Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, recommends that: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation to convene a Winter Island Access Working Group, in consultation with the Ward 10 Councillor Office and including Technology Services and other appropriate divisions to provide recommendations for implementation prior to the 2022-2023 Island winter season including: a.

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improvements to communication for visitor experience in the off-season with respect to available amenities, shelter, and ferry service; b. improvements to alternative bus transport when ferry service is diverted, including coordination with the Toronto Transit Commission on provision of fully accessible service; and c. a review of winter conditions at Wards Island dock and planning of mitigation measures to address disruptions due to ice accumulation.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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