Toronto mourning the loss of local go-kart track that was the longest in Canada

Residents of Toronto who had fond memories of the Mini Indy at Centennial Park have sadly been unable to save the attraction, which boasted the title of longest go kart track in Canada.

Sunday, October 22 was the 2.6 km-long speedway's last day in operation after more than two decades, as the City moves ahead with some major upgrades to the Etobicoke green space.

Among the changes are new trails, a skatepark, Indigenous art installations, building and lighting improvements, a larger and more modern playground and wading pool and much, much more in an effort to "balance between the natural environment and recreational facilities, addressing the existing fragmentation of the site," per the City's Master Plan.

The Mini Indy and the last set of batting cages at the park's Diamond Beach will go to make room for the revitalization, despite public pushback to the plan earlier this year, which included a Change.org petition that garnered more than a staggering 11,000 signatures.

Centennial Park Go Karts closes down FOREVER today. Go take one last ride
byu/Karlwithakay intoronto

As the petition noted, there was space to accommodate the Indy, batting cages and the baseball diamonds set to replace the amenities, which included a recently renovated clubhouse.

"We bring tens of thousands of people from all over southern Ontario into Centennial Park every year. We are relied upon by many groups, teams, families, companies, and tourists as an activity center, training facility, and overall wonderful outdoor experience. We are an essential part of the community and the community deserves a say in how their park is used!" the failed call read.

On socials over the weekend, residents reminded one another to pay one last visit to the features before they're gone for good, with some wondering how the next generation will fare without all of the fun we enjoyed as kids, with so many establishments closing in recent days.

"Growing up here is gonna suck for the next generation," one person stated, pointing to this news, along with the closure of Playdium, Scooter's Roller Palace and other old-fashioned (i.e., not on a screen) forms of fun.

Also potentially being lost to the sands of time is Centennial Park's ski hill, which is being "reimagined" due to declining patronage, deteriorating infrastructure and "the uncertainty of a changing climate."