Protecting Playgrounds and Parks: Ensuring Safety for Children and Families - by Councillor Brad Bradford, seconded by Councillor Jon Burnside

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The decision

2025-11-12 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on November 12 and 13, 2025, adopted the following: 1. City Council amend the City of Toronto Interdivisional Protocol for Encampments in Toronto, as adopted in 2024.EC13.8, to prioritize removing encampments located within 200 metres of a school, daycare or playground within 24 hours of being reported, with prioritization based on most significant impact beginning at 50 metres, update the local Councillor within one business day of initiation, and provide regular updates on the status of the location, with coordination between the Fire Chief and Deputy City Manager, Community and Emergency Services, to ensure safety and operational factors are fully considered.

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2. City Council further amend the Interdivisional Protocol for Encampments to include a maximum number of three offers of shelter to people living in encampments before proceeding to removals in the circumstances set out in Part 1 above.

The vote

Adopt Item as Amended · Carried, 16-3

For (16)Amber Morley, Anthony Perruzza, Brad Bradford, Dianne Saxe, Frances Nunziata, Jamaal Myers, Jon Burnside, Josh Matlow, Lily Cheng, Neethan Shan, Nick Mantas, Parthi Kandavel, Paula Fletcher, Rachel Chernos Lin, Stephen Holyday, Vincent Crisanti

Against (3)Chris Moise, Gord Perks, Paul Ainslie

Absent (7)Alejandra Bravo, Ausma Malik, James Pasternak, Michael Thompson, Mike Colle, Olivia Chow, Shelley Carroll

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As the city filed it

Toronto's Parks are among the City's most important Public spaces. They are places where families gather, kids play, and neighbours connect. When encampments take over playgrounds, set up next to daycares, and impact other community spaces, they become unsafe for the people they're meant to serve. The City of Toronto needs to ensure safe access to all parks, especially those near schools, daycares and playgrounds. That is why this motion calls for removing encampments in these locations within 48 hours of being reported.

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In Ward 19, an encampment was established at Stanley G. Grizzle Park, immediately adjacent to a daycare and on a route used by families and residents of all ages. Residents have endured unacceptable impacts from this encampment, including observing the use of crack pipes, littered needles, increased garbage, screaming at three o'clock in the morning, human waste left in residents' backyards, the illicit sale of drugs to minors, porch package theft, and assaults. Despite escalating this situation repeatedly to City officials, the encampment and its negative impacts have remained. Encampments are not a healthy or sustainable solution for the people living in them, and they are not healthy for our communities. Our public parks need to be for all of us.

Staff recommended

Councillor Brad Bradford, seconded by Councillor Jon Burnside, recommends that: 1. City Council amend the City of Toronto Interdivisional Protocol for Encampments in Toronto, as adopted in 2024.EC13.8, to prioritize removing encampments located within 200 metres of a school, daycare or playground within 48 hours of being reported.

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