Toronto residents fight to save over 800 trees from being cut down at local park

A plan to clear-cut a portion of Toronto's Smythe Park has local residents up in arms.

If there's one thing Toronto residents are fiercely passionate about — that is, besides waiting in hour-long lines for brunch — it's protecting their green spaces.

Neighbours are banding together to 'save' Smythe Park from a flood mitigation project that has already begun to cut down a large number of trees and uproot wildlife habitat for more cement. 

A petition to save Smythe Park, launched earlier this month, has already gathered over 2,000 signatures from neighbours who fear the park is being turned into a lifeless construction zone.

While locals are rallying to stop the construction, City officials say the work is necessary to address chronic flooding in the Rockcliffe-Smythe neighbourhood.

According to the City, the project will upgrade aging sewage pipes to carry more stormwater away from local businesses and homes. The plan will also widen Black Creek and replace both the Jane Street and Scarlett Road bridges to lower the risk of flooding in the area.

But residents remain protective of the 15.3-hectare park along the Black Creek ravine between Jane St. and Scarlett Rd., which includes a swimming pool, baseball diamonds, a kids' playground, and plenty of green places in between for people to gather.

Despite the City announcing it has moved forward with the project, residents, including petition organizer Anna-Louise Richardson, continue to demand the City pause the project, conduct an independent review, and prioritize nature-based flood solutions so as to not displace any wildlife from the habitats they depend on.

"We support effective flood protection — but not at the cost of destroying such a vast amount of valuable green space," the petition states.

This petition follows recent news of other parks being cleared. Last month, more than 300 trees were removed from ET Seton Park to make room for a new Ontario Line station.

Toronto residents are also pushing for more green space beyond traditional parks. A petition to double the size of the historic Allan Gardens Conservatory recently garnered almost 5,000 signatures.