Connected Communities: Advancing Year-Round Trails between Earl Bales Park and York Mills Station

Where year-round trail connections do not exist in Toronto, such as between Earl Bales Park and York Mills Station, it is incumbent upon the City to explore the ways they can be created to achieve these benefits. In 2022, City Council passed IE27.6 - Review of City of Toronto Golf Courses and directed staff to advance the implementation of strategies that would improve ravine access and trail connections. With the conclusion of the Negotiated Request for Proposal Process for the management of City-owned golf courses (GG7.17), it is the appropriate time to explore how year-round trail access can be created around the Don Valley Golf Course, connecting Earl Bales Park to Yonge Street and providing access to and from adjacent residential communities without impacting regular golf operations. Today, the only formal trails that connect these areas pass through the middle of the golf course and are closed to the community between April and November. Access to greenspace is also an important equity consideration, particularly where there are opportunities to improve mobility. With many purpose-built affordable apartment buildings along Sheppard and close to this ravine, a connection could materially benefit many individuals and families into the foreseeable future. With capital plans for some 10,000 trees and shrubs to be planted in 2025 in this section of the Don Valley ravine, now is the time to advance a plan that improves accessibility, while complementing golf course operations and supporting ravine habitat and conservation efforts.

Improve safety through formalizing existing improvised trails that may be substandard d. Minimize impact on important habitat and hydrogeological features of the ravine 2. Direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to explore opportunities for community access outside of regular business hours through this section of the Don Valley on an interim basis, while long-term trail designs are being evaluated and implemented. 3. Direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to report back with a recommended approach to advancing both interim and long-term year-round trail connections resulting from recommendations 1 and 2 above, as well as a preliminary operating cost, to the Committee by the first quarter of 2024.