Toronto gives up on new park and quietly replaces grass with fake turf

A Toronto park that was just rebuilt six years ago is already getting a facelift after numerous complaints.

College Park recently completed a three-year rebuild in 2019, which included the debut of the popular annual Barbara Ann Scott skate trail. However, its summer appearance had drawn harsh criticism over the years.

With pathways designed for aesthetics over practical desire lines, the 0.75-hectare public space's grass was frequently worn down to bare soil, and the park's sorry state was even compared to a First World War battlefield in 2024.

The park's 2016-2019 revitalization required $3 million of community benefits from an adjacent condo development, and it seemed that this public space constructed atop a private parking garage had finally been given the love it deserved.

However, after just a few seasons and mounting issues with the park's fledgling turf, it had become clear that the funds were already squandered. The City of Toronto recently admitted defeat in the matter and has quietly begun yet another revitalization of College Park.

The northwest portion of College Park was shuttered to the public on Sept. 8 and will remain closed through late November as crews replace the park's battered grass with artificial turf.

According to the City, the work involves "replacing the grass at the north entrance of College Park with artificial turf and adding new plantings and seating, along with a pathway connecting the north entrance to the skate trail."

The City aims to improve the park's offerings and "reduce muddy conditions caused by worn-down grass and create a defined pedestrian pathway," which will actually follow the shortest distances from surrounding streets to the park's interior.

Considering all the fanfare that accompanied the three-year revitalization which came before, the City has barely made a peep about its current project at College Park — which may be viewed as a downgrade by parkgoers.