This year again, local leaders gathered their neighbours, built connections, and restored nature in projects big and small. The movement continues to expand, and we're pleased to share just some of these impacts in our 2025 Impact Report.
As urban parks face growing demands amid climate change, inequality and shrinking resources, the people shaping their future need space to reconnect, share ideas and imagine new ways of working together.
This guide walks you through how to start and grow a park group in Toronto, from planning your first meeting to organizing activities, reaching new people, and navigating City permits, funding, and support.
Explore low-cost, high-impact supports that park-based organizations can provide to equity-deserving communities to help make nature spaces and programs more accessible and enjoyable.
Parc Jarry in Montreal, Toronto’s waterfront, CRAB Park in Vancouver… People are coming together to protect the places they love.
What could Toronto’s parks look like in the years ahead? Our 2026 Parks Platform brings together ideas from Torontonians and four priorities for a more resilient, joyful and connected city.
Hosted by Park People and World Urban Parks, this global gathering will bring together 450+ park leaders from Canada and around the world to share and explore practical and creative park and public space ideas, and seed new relationships, collaborations, and ways of working.
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
If you have been in the parks sector for a while, you may remember telling people what you did ten years ago and being met with a ‘huh.’
Urban parks felt pretty niche to most people. Here in Canada, a country whose self-image is built on wilderness vistas, your listener may even have tuned out when you hit the word ‘urban.’
But there are no skeptical ‘huhs’ anymore. There are understanding nods, and stories, and hopes and dreams for the green spaces we all realized we needed so deeply during the darkest years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That broader appreciation for our shared work has lasted – but the funding and political attention have not. Whether you are planning park capital projects, managing amenities and programming, or restoring urban nature, you know that the dollars in your budget are being asked to stretch further than ever before. As our cities get denser and more sprawling, hotter and more unequal, our parks and public spaces are being asked to do more and more.
At the same time, opportunities to work in new ways – to foster new partnerships, to challenge the status quo – go unrealized for want of time and resources. This is particularly true in the context of accelerating extreme weather, which is forcing us to direct more of our resources to response and recovery at the expense of prevention.
We are the people who understand that parks are central to a liveable urban future. We do good work every day against long odds. And we. are. tired.
It’s time to recharge and reconnect. It’s time to share practical, creative ideas from around the world and down the street. Let’s seed new relationships and ways of working. And let’s do it together in Montreal on May 30-June 2, 2027.
When it comes to sharing space and connecting across differences, there is nowhere better than Montreal.
Montreal is a meeting place between languages, worldviews, and ideas, where unlikely combinations yield results greater than the sum of their parts. Globally renowned and locally beloved, Montreal’s parks and public spaces are historic, contested, futuristic and just plain fun. One walk down the street will show you people lingering and enjoying public space in a way that is not typical in most North American cities.
Take the unbridled joy of a Claude Cormier design and see it animated with the passion of the activists who march under its rainbow canopies. Recall the futurist visions of Expo ‘67 and the ‘76 Olympics while exploring those spaces today, evolved and transformed for the next century.
Stand in the shade and quiet of Mont-Royal’s forest and look out at a dense, concrete city floating in the middle of Canada’s largest waterway, one that connects the Atlantic to the Great Lakes.
Experience an entire neighbourhood designed for the music that brings it to life and managed via a unique partnership model. Spend time in public spaces as memorable and transporting as the music and art that fills them.
Trace the path of a red fox from the mountain to the train tracks, skipping along biodiverse stepping stones of habitat restored by neighbours. Everything connects here and nothing is off-limits for reimagining, from vacant lots to laneways to parks in the sky. The park in the sky is unbuilt, but we hope that one day it will cross a spaghetti tangle of freeways, linking a hidden wilderness to an industrial neighbourhood in transformation.
Canada’s most ambitious blue-green infrastructure projects? Check. Our largest planned municipal park? Check. Urban stargazing in a park grown on a landfill, dotted by UFO-like pods? Check. Pedestrianized streets, parks designed to flood, public spaces that thrive at night or in the heart of winter? Check. A herd of charismatic sheep who love nothing more than to maintain the lawns of signature parks? Check.
It’s not easy or simple to make a city as great as Montreal – and Montreal is not great for everyone and everything that lives here. You will meet the Montrealers who are facing challenges of liveability, social cohesion, climate resilience and biodiversity loss head-on. Bring ideas from what works where you live, and your questions about what doesn’t.
Let’s take a breath together, plan and share. You’ll emerge stronger, with new energy and ideas to bring back home – tucked into your suitcase with a dozen bagels.
Natalie Brown
______________________
Park People and World Urban Parks Congress 2027 is Canada’s international event on urban parks and public space solutions for thriving and resilient cities. From May 30 to June 2, 2027, park leaders across Canada and beyond will come together in Montreal to explore practical and creative solutions, from around the world and right down the street, and seed new relationships, collaborations, and ways of working.
www.site.pheedloop.com/event/urbanparkscongress/home/
Picture three people at a picnic table.
A city councillor, representing about twice as many residents as councillors did before 2018, with the same hours in the day. Much of her time goes to addressing issues and complaints.
A City parks worker. They love their work. The best ideas for them are scattered across a dozen municipal strategies. Few of those guide the budget that decides what they can actually do. Urgent issues land on top of their planned work, and often come first.
A resident worried about the cost of living, his family’s wellbeing, and the health of the city he calls home. This past summer he kept his kids inside more, away from bad air, extreme heat, and ticks. He used to have a plot in the local community garden, and misses that chance to be outside with neighbours.
What would make things better for all three of them?
A connected network of vibrant and resilient parks and public spaces, and a city set up to properly steward, animate and enjoy them.
This year, hundreds of Torontonians shared their ideas for how to make this happen. From Scarborough to Etobicoke, North York to the waterfront, we heard from kids and adults who love their parks and want to see them get even better. Many of their suggestions are already happening somewhere in the city, but often at a small scale, scattered, and dependent on a few determined people.
To scale up, we need a common vision and resources to match.
It is not just Park People saying this. From Toronto’s tourism sector to the Globe and Mail editorial board to national climate advocates, there is unprecedented agreement that Toronto has an opportunity to make high-quality, resilient and beautiful parks and public spaces central to its identity and to the day-to-day experiences of its residents.
The triumph of Biidaasige Park has played no small part here. It has opened the door to a different future by demonstrating the level of ecological resilience, landscape design quality, cultural programming and Indigenous placekeeping that is possible. There is no going back.
Working together
It is not easy for the three people at the picnic table to work together. Despite the fact that we often agree on 80% of what we need to do, austerity, power imbalances, legacy processes and everyday interpersonal tensions keep us mired in the 20% where we don’t.
We believe that the only way to transcend these divisions and build something bigger together is to start with a common vision.
A common vision doesn’t let other governments off the hook. Toronto’s parks are largely municipally funded and managed. But they are not simply municipal amenities – they are essential health, climate, ecological and social infrastructure that must be funded by all orders of government. Municipalities do not have the revenue tools necessary to do this work at the scale and speed required by the crises we face. To add insult to injury, our three orders of government are not all pulling in the same direction right now. Read more about the province’s attacks on parks.
But limited tools are not the same as no tools. Toronto owns most of its public spaces: parks and ravines, but also the 25% of our city that is roads and rights of way, and the significant lands managed by Toronto Community Housing, the TTC, and other City agencies, boards and corporations. Following the New Deal with the province and some higher property tax increases, parks and green spaces have recently seen increased capital and operating budgets after many years of austerity.
Toronto City Council is best placed to push for an integrated vision for parks and public spaces – one that builds from what we have and invites other governments to the table to join us. While we agree that revenue tools should sit where the responsibilities and possibilities lie, until that day comes, let’s focus on describing a future so inviting that other governments can’t help but join us in making it real.
Our 2026 platform has four asks:
What Torontonians asked for. Parks linked to each other, to ravines, to schools, with safe ways to walk and ride between them. Laneways, hydro corridors and rail lands that are treated as part of the public space network. Clear wayfinding, friendly signage, accessible paths and other visual cues that say ‘you are welcome here.’
What we’re asking Council to do:
This cannot be another strategy document that sits alongside others.
This vision would inform the workplans and strategies of multiple City divisions and agencies, providing particular guidance to those parts of the City that could be more involved in parks and public spaces, but may not know how or where to begin. It would also provide a scaffolding for other orders of government, non-profits, philanthropic organizations, community groups, and local businesses to contribute to this bigger picture. It is an opportunity to rally the city together, celebrate what works, and build on it in a bold and motivating way.
Why now? People and other species experience parks and public spaces as one system, but they are planned and managed as several. The flexibility and openness of marginal spaces like laneways and hydro corridors has made them hotbeds of innovative design, governance and programming. But great standalone projects do not add up to an equitable, citywide approach to public spaces, with common standards and benchmarks for design, accessibility and operations.
We also rarely talk about how we get to the park, and what it means for park use when people face a lack of safe walking, cycling, or public transportation options. The City is ideally placed to work with other landowners and stakeholders to tackle this set of interconnected challenges.
Good things that are happening:
What Torontonians are asking for: More washrooms, open more of the time. Water fountains and bottle refill stations. Somewhere to sit. Shade. Paths that work with a walker, a stroller or a wheelchair. In winter, cleared paths, warm places to be together, and fun activities to warm up and connect with others.
What we’re asking Council to do
Why now: Basic infrastructure like seating, washrooms, accessible paths, and lighting are an equity issue. Too many Torontonians are prevented from fully accessing and enjoying local parks because they are missing adequate seating for rest, or a washroom.
This issue is compounding as Toronto’s population ages. Research shows that placing seating every 100 metres, can drive significant increases in park use by seniors, one of the demographics that uses parks the least.
At the same time, our seasons are changing. As smoke and extreme heat play a bigger role in our summers, we risk spending even more time indoors (and online), losing connections to nature and each other in the process. Visiting parks all year round is part of how we positively adapt to our changing climate and stay connected to each other in the winter months. It is also great for stimulating the local economy by getting people out and about, and encouraging tourism outside of the high season of summer. Winter cities like Edmonton and Quebec show us the way. They point to the necessity of investing in infrastructure and programming to encourage winter use.
What Torontonians asked for: Food, music, markets, art. Playful spaces that encourage elders and adults to have fun as well as children. Somewhere to be together that doesn’t involve buying anything. Having a say in what goes on in their local park, and an opportunity to get involved. Knowing who to call to get started.
Why now: Municipal voter turnout is at record lows (29% in 2022!), volunteerism is down, and social isolation is growing. Research shows that we need a sense of belonging and social connection to be healthy. Community-led events and activities build it. Collaborating with community groups, non-profits and other partners extends the reach and diversity of park-based programming, welcoming more Torontonians into parks and green spaces.
Residents should be able to take an active role in caring for their parks. That means accessible permitting, funding opportunities, partnerships with local organizations, and open, transparent relationships with City staff. Supporting resident-led programming, reducing red tape, and investing in community capacity lets parks evolve to reflect local priorities and cultural practices, and builds a lasting sense of community ownership.
Shared leadership in parks and green spaces is not a substitute for strong public management or an excuse for governments to pull back. It is how we build the political constituency and public trust needed for further investment. A U.S. study found that people living near popular parks report greater community connection and greater satisfaction with local government. When people get involved, parks improve, people value them more, and they see government delivering in partnership with communities.
What Torontonians are asking for: More native plants, more trees, less mown grass. Birds and pollinators, supported by the habitat they need. Ravines they can access easily. More opportunities to see and connect to Indigenous ways of being and knowing in urban green spaces. Equitably distributed green and blue spaces that cool our city and make it more liveable. An opportunity to steward and care for nature in the city.
Why now?
The City of Toronto is currently developing a Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, planned for release in 2027. A sobering 2025 report on Toronto’s climate risks recommended that the City “strengthen existing Natural Asset Management Programs, treating green infrastructure, including Toronto’s ravines, parks, wetlands, and urban forest, as essential city infrastructure to match its critical role in climate resilience.”
Toronto’s ravines are one of the great urban landscapes in the world. They cover about 17% of the city, protect us from floods, cool neighbourhoods, and give people access to nature without leaving town.
But their many strengths can work against them when they encounter governments. Because the ravines serve so many purposes, their benefits land in many budgets: the City’s, the Province’s, Ottawa’s, and TRCA’s. None of them is fully accountable for the whole, and one of the agencies with the greatest expertise and deepest history, the TRCA, has seen its funding and authority steadily eroded by the province.
Toronto adopted its Ravine Strategy in 2017 and began funding it in 2020, with new money for cleanup, invasive species control, and priority restoration projects. The City also asked other governments to contribute. Six years later, the strategy remains far from fully funded.
Asking for funding project-by-project hasn’t gotten us where we need to go. We don’t believe it ever will.
Toronto already has two examples that show what’s possible:
Waterfront Toronto, with a board appointed by all three governments and a shared vision, has delivered some of the best parks in the country, from Corktown Common to Biidaasige. But its funding is negotiated project by project, and while three governments pay to build these parks, only one pays to look after them.
Rouge National Urban Park is a different model. When the City, TRCA, and the Province transferred their lands to Parks Canada, the federal government took on responsibility for running the park. Since then, Parks Canada and its partners have restored wetlands and forests and planted hundreds of thousands of native trees and shrubs.
Toronto’s ravines need elements of both: capital investment from all three governments, and a shared commitment to caring for them over the long term.
You made it to the end of this platform! We hope you came away inspired by your fellow Torontonians’ ideas and by the possibilities for our parks and public spaces.
Share these ideas with your local council candidates and ask them what they’ll do. Here are some specific questions you can use:
Torontonians are paying attention. We are asking the next Council and mayor to put time, money and care back into the places we share – and to do it at the scale the city needs. By investing in our parks and public spaces, our city will grow stronger and more connected. And it all starts at the park.
Premier Doug Ford is not on the ballot, but his government is shaping the present and future of Toronto’s city parks in fundamental ways.
Right now our parks and public spaces are facing a steady series of attacks. There is the unilateral redevelopment of the iconic Ontario Place landscape. and the unnecessary shutting of the Ontario Science Centre, as well as broad, sweeping changes to municipal planning authority through bills like More Homes Built Faster (Bill 231) and Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure (Bill 98).
Through these bills, rules that ensure new residents have adequate parks and greenspace are being weakened in the name of housing affordability and speed of construction. Parkland requirements have been cut in half. For the first time, landowners can compel municipalities to accept encumbered or partial interests in land – including privately-owned publicly-accessible open spaces (POPs) – to satisfy their parkland dedication obligations. If a municipality like the City of Toronto refuses to accept the landowner’s proposal, the landowner can now appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
These changes ignore the detailed, evidence-based parkland planning work done by municipal staff, and are unconnected to the needs of current and future residents. They will negatively impact access to high-quality, ecologically resilient greenspaces for residents in future years. This is a particular risk in the dense transit-oriented communities that are being built along the Ontario Line.
Recent provincial decisions to eliminate speed cameras and remove bike lanes are also impacting park access and safety. Parkside Drive next to High Park is a powerful example of how a dangerous road can make it more difficult, both practically and psychologically, for people of all ages and abilities to visit a park. The planned removal of bike lanes on major streets including Bloor and University will remove safe active transportation options for visiting multiple local and destination parks.
We are counting on our new Council to strategize, advocate, and partner with other municipalities to convince the Province to reverse these damaging decisions. Under the Transit Oriented Communities Act (2020) and Bill 23, encumbered land — including land over transit infrastructure — can count toward parkland dedication requirements. Bill 98 (2026) proposes capping this credit at 70% of land area.
This past August, over 1000 Montrealers marched for the future of Parc Jarry, wielding signs that shouted their love for the park. They were protesting the construction of a new 15,000 seat stadium by Tennis Canada, an organization that hosts professional tennis tournaments and currently occupies about 25% of Parc Jarry’s land. If built, the new stadium would take over more green space, including a public baseball diamond.
The local neighbourhoods of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension mobilized in full force. The park is critical to wellbeing in Parc-Extension in particular, which features high levels of income insecurity, low green space access, and vulnerability to heat waves due to an overabundance of pavement.
The Parc Jarry march came only two weeks after the federal government announced that they were not moving forward with the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport on Toronto’s waterfront. The airport expansion plan, driven by the Ontario government, had run into formidable public opposition, with the impact of the plan on the Toronto Islands and Little Norway Park a particular flashpoint. A planned protest led by NoJetsTO that weekend turned into a celebration.
“Both the island airport victory and [Biidaasige] Park represent acts of summoned collective imagination — on the one hand, the shared conviction that engaging government is still worth the effort, even in a cynical age; and on the other, that a sustained and fierce determination by ordinary residents to build a better city can yield absolutely transformative results.”
This is John Lorinc writing about Toronto, but the words apply equally well to Montreal. Le Front Commun pour la protection du Parc Jarry*, the umbrella body formed by many different advocates, is not only fighting against what they don’t want, but also dreaming big about what could be possible instead. Their demands include asking the City of Montreal to create a public council of Jarry Park users – one with real decision-making powers. If planned and implemented well, this could be an innovative governance structure that moves beyond point-in-time community engagement exercises and towards something that looks more like long-term collaborative decision-making between municipality and community.
What can we take away from the passion that Torontonians and Montrealers alike are showing for their parks this summer?
Patrick Corrigan for the Toronto Star:
It is not sufficient to say ‘trust us.’ If governments want public support for a project with major impacts on a cityscape, they need to make the case transparently. Alluding to secret feasibility studies, whether for a tennis stadium or an airport, is just not going to cut it. And the more this happens, the more we risk disillusioning people about the health of our democracy. Luckily…
There has been research showing that large-scale protest movements, like Egypt’s 2011 Tahrir Square movement, are not as effective at driving change as they used to be. Social media allows organizers to reach very high turnout numbers without the need to build the organizing infrastructure – of relationships, meetings, fundraisers, etc. – that used to be necessary. The ties that bind the protesters are weak as a result.
But when you are fighting for a local place, especially one you visit all the time, your activism is IRL by default. It is tied to local relationships and gathering spots. You can see it from your window. Visually compelling interventions like the Front Commun’s light projections and balcony banners take advantage of this direct connection to place, encouraging even more people to feel that they are part of a movement.
Both Parc Jarry and the Toronto waterfront are not out of the woods yet. But the tide seems to be turning on both files. Envisioning the day when advocates celebrate a battle won, what might come next?
Many park advocacy movements spark or renew community-led involvement and programming that continues for years after. Some of my favourite examples are CRAB Park in Vancouver, where a fight for public access to the water led to the creation of a unique park within the Port of Vancouver. CRAB stands for Create a Real Available Beach, and it was the rallying cry for the activists who fought for the creation of the park. Despite being named Portside Park when it was opened in 1987, by 2004 the Vancouver Park Board acknowledged that it was, now and forever, CRAB Park, and changed the name back.
A 1969 mock funeral for the Don River in Toronto is credited with sparking the citizen advocacy that led to the Task Force to Bring Back the Don and eventually to visionary re-naturalization projects like Biidaasige Park. Although many would probably still say no to a glass of Don River water, people and animals are rebuilding their connection to the water today in ways that are sparking tremendous joy across Toronto, thanks to the inventive advocacy of those original student protestors and many others.
In our work at Park People, we often witness groups experience an evolution from green space activism to stewardship. The new role is grounded in the learning and relationships from their advocacy, but also calls on them to develop new skills and ideas. Freed to move beyond a common opponent to organize around, park groups are challenged and liberated to advance a radically positive vision for the space, translating their love for it into a long-term commitment to keep it safe and to help others enjoy it.
“In short, one can understand this strange moment as an epic clash between an envisioned future and a present made real by thousands of individual acts of imagination.”
John Lorinc again. A present made real by thousands of individual acts of imagination sounds like a revitalized civic sphere, rooted in possibility instead of fear. And it all starts at the park.
The One Good Thing checklist suggests low-cost, high-impact supports that park-based organizations can provide to equity-deserving communities to help make nature spaces and nature-based programs more accessible and enjoyable.
The goal is not to check everything off the list; rather, to plan for how you can sustainably introduce new Good Things into your park and/or programs over time, with the ongoing input of local equity-deserving communities and advisors.
☐ An advance schedule of events – when they start, how long they’ll last, what they involve
☐ A rain date for the event, or an alternate plan in case of inclement weather
☐ A map of the park – including locations of washrooms, water fountains, rest spaces, transit stops and/or parking, First Aid, paved paths and accessibility features, etc.
☐ A link to Google Maps and Google Street View – This can give a better sense of the park’s location relative to transit and of the terrain within the park
☐ A list of what will be provided – e.g. tools, gardening gloves (of various sizes), chairs, snacks and drinks, accessible washrooms, etc.
☐ Organized private transportation, subsidized public transportation, and/or carpools to the park
☐ Programs for various ages and levels of expertise – e.g. youth, seniors, beginners, etc.
☐ Advance weather updates – especially during periods of extreme heat or cold
☐ Advance hazard updates – e.g. animal sightings, poisonous plants, recent flooding, etc.
☐ Advance registration
☐ A link to your Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy so that your organization’s values and goals are explicit
☐ Free or pay-what-you-can (PWYC) admission
☐ A publicly posted “Code of Kindness” – what behaviour is expected vs. unacceptable
☐ A publicly posted notice if participants will be filmed or photographed – with a way for participants to opt out
☐ A translator and/or interpreter for participants with different speaking and hearing abilities
☐ Visible signs of welcome for specific communities – e.g. a Progress Pride flag, or pronouns on name tags for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
☐ A round of introductions for program leaders and participants – including pronouns
☐ Free meals, snacks, and/or beverages for program participants that cater to a variety of dietary restrictions – e.g. gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, etc.
☐ Free childcare and/or family friendly activities for program participants with children
☐ Ways to include children in group activities – e.g. provide small gardening gloves, children’s tools, etc.
☐ Accessible tools and/or supplies for participants with a range of abilities
☐ Rest spaces with seating and shade
☐ Private spaces – e.g. for prayer and/or breastfeeding
☐ Sunsafe and cooling items – e.g. sunscreen, drinking water, ice packs, paper fans, etc.
☐ Warming items – e.g. extra hats and mittens, reusable hand warmers, blankets, etc.
☐ Co-leads to enable breaking into smaller groups, providing more opportunities for social connection and support for those with different physical abilities
☐ An invitation to provide feedback – e.g. a survey, open form, or organization contact
☐ An event debrief with organizers – what went well, what could be improved next time
Community mapping helps us better understand how people experience and interact with their local parks. In this resource, we offer practical tips for conducting community mapping projects focused on local parks, designed to collect qualitative and quantitative data from residents to better understand park usage, community strengths, and feelings of nature connection and well-being.
Community mapping is a collaborative process in which local residents come together to create a shared understanding of their neighbourhood by collecting fine-grained information about services, amenities, strengths, and opportunities. The practice collects information and stories that provide insight into how space is used and what gives a place meaning, relying on the lived experiences of everyday citizens to paint a picture of the neighbourhood.
The direct and deep nature of this engagement process has the potential to promote stewardship and encourage community members to become advocates for their communities.
Objectives of community mapping for local parks:
This toolkit covers three approaches to community mapping: historical and demographic analysis to contextualize the local area over time, in-person community mapping activities, such as mapping key features in the park and sentiment analysis, to engage residents directly, and a nature connection survey (conducted online or in-person) to gather detailed usage data and sociodemographic insights.
Prior to conducting surveys and engagement activities in the park, it’s important to learn who lives in the community and how these demographics have changed over time. Reflect on the history of the community and park to understand how the physical park space has come to be, who has been included and who has been excluded from accessing the park’s benefits.
Create a map of the neighbourhoods surrounding the park.
Create tables/charts of demographic changes over time.
Tip: For demographic mapping and tracking demographic changes, consider partnering with a research institution to complete these analyses, i.e. Purpose Analytics or a local university.
Dig into the history of the neighbourhood and park.
Build a timeline with milestones and impactful events for the park/neighbourhood to yield insights into past, existing and future community needs and challenges.
Tip: To create a timeline, consider partnering with local heritage organizations. Try searching online for “[your municipality] heritage organization.”
Outcomes:
This section outlines a series of in-person engagement activities designed to better understand the local community, park preferences and challenges, feelings of nature connection and well-being connected to the park. The activities also serve as a method of building community involvement and interest.
Create a list of potential partners who are active in the community.
Connect with the community to create a map of key features within the park.
Learn how connected community members feel to nature and how the park contributes to their well-being.
Note: these activities mirror questions asked in the nature connection survey and will allow for some comparability and integration.
To engage with hard-to-reach groups, a specific set of people/organizations, or if an in-person gathering is not feasible, the activities can be completed online.
Read more:
This survey asks park visitors (or those who recently visited the park) which park spaces they used on their most recent visit, how connected to nature they feel, which spaces allow them to feel most connected to nature, and more. The survey could be used as both a baseline data collection method and as an annual survey to track changes in the park over time.
This survey template is a suggestion of the types of questions you can ask about how people use and feel about a park. Please customize the survey to your park context. When administering a survey, you must think of how it is shared, how the information will be analyzed and how the information will be shared. It is important not to ask for any information that allows you to identify individuals. Generally, asking for a postal code is enough information about an individual for the purpose of a park survey.
In the introduction, provide survey respondents with some information about your survey:
Click here to access the list of questions.
There are many online tools for distributing a survey (for example, SurveyMonkey or Google Forms). The survey can be shared out through newsletters, social media and other relevant channels (i.e. other organizations active in the park)
Using the same survey as the online one, volunteer and/or staff teams will ask park visitors to complete it while they’re in the park. This can be done through tablets or printed paper surveys (someone will need to manually upload responses to your online survey tool for analysis). Steps:
1) Set target for number of surveys completed (i.e. 200)
2) Determine how many volunteers or staff will be required
3) Set up a schedule for in-person surveys that includes weekday morning, afternoon and evenings; weekend morning, afternoon and evenings
4) Host a training session for volunteers and staff
5) Host a debriefing session after surveys are collected
Ready to bring people together and make a difference in your local park? This guide walks you through how to start and grow a park group in Toronto – from planning your first meeting and organizing activities to reaching new people and navigating City permits, funding, and support.
You don’t need a big budget or prior experience to get started. All you need are people who care about a shared goal and want to make their park a better place. Use this guide to bring neighbours together, get your group started, and find ways to make a difference in your local park.
Start and grow a park group in Toronto.
In 2026, 34 organizations across the country are receiving the Park People Nature Connect Fund. Through nature-based activities, hands-on ecological stewardship and restoration and other forms of landcare, they help people and nature thrive together.
The Fund includes two streams: the emerging stream (up to $5,000) and the scaling stream (up to $20,000).
Scaling stream
Decolonizing and restoring a 1.5-hectare site (The Listen Garden in Fish Creek Provincial Park) by healing soil, reintroducing native plants, creating diverse habitat gardens, and amplifying Indigenous voices via education workshops, audio site tours, interpretive signage, and more.
www.friendsoffishcreek.org
Emerging stream
Connecting residents through hands-on restoration and stewardship education and community care of local native plant habitat and gardens in North Glenora, Edmonton.
www.northglenora.org
Root for Trees – Ongoing forest restoration, more than doubling the size of their initial forest restoration project, plus the formal designation of a 100 km stretch of the river valley as a Bird Friendly Corridor alongside the Edmonton Valley Zoo.
www.ervcc.com
Hike the Greenbelt – A public recreation, environmental education and stewardship engagement series across vital green spaces and parks in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
www.ecologyaction.ca
Green Labs Environmental Education – Guiding participants through an exploration of Earth’s biomes, local biodiversity, and waste reduction strategies, including hands-on activities like vermicomposting and environmental field trips.
www.hopeblooms.ca
Hosting youth engagement events with Friends of Parc Jarry to engage high school age students in environmental learning and stewardship.
Community garden and urban farm community engagement and gardening education events.
www.facebook.com/fermettepointesaintcharles
Pollinator Week and Monarch Butterfly BioBlitz – An interactive awareness booth and community observation activity on pollinators, and a citizen science “census” of butterflies.
www.vertcite.ca/en
Rehabilitation of a degraded wetland through community-led invasive species removal and planting natives to improve water filtration and support local wildlife.
www.ecopap.ca
Completion of an ecological corridor in Montreal through garden beds, edible planters and activation through tours, seed collection events.
www.instagram.com/ruelle_esperanza_verde
Controlling invasive species and planting native trees and shrubs via multiple volunteer programs; plus citizen science initiatives (including The Great Backyard Bird Count, Global Big Day spring bird count, Mission Monarch butterfly survey, Project FeederWatch bird count, and others).
www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/en
Scaling community stewardship in the eco corridor at the base of Mount Royal via volunteer land stewardship, interpretive signs on local biodiversity, guided walks, and planting of native trees, shrubs, perennials, and wildflowers across multiple sites (schoolyard and community gardens, food forests, and “adoptable” boulevard planters).
www.corridorecologiquedarlington.org/en
Supporting the creation of a Miyawaki-style Miniforest. This project includes community involvement and education, soil preparation and planting.
www.urbanature.org
Scaling Meewasin’s targeted grazing and community stewardship program across three new urban/peri-urban conservation sites, representing a significant expansion of their reintroduction of grazing to natural grasslands in over 20 years.
www.meewasin.com
Emerging Stream
A stewardship circle for 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth to cultivate native perennials and pollinator plants along the Humber River watershed while strengthening connections to community, culture, and land.
Engaging the community through weekly stewardship sessions focused on building raised beds, managing invasive species, cultivating native perennials, and supporting seasonal seedling and seed swaps.
A series of workshops and guided walks with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers focused on water stewardship, wetland protection, and strengthening relationships with local ecosystems.
Enhancing local biodiversity through invasive species removal, native and pollinator plantings, and the creation of an Indigenous Three Sisters garden, alongside educational walks and workshops on composting and watershed conservation.
www.gnntoronto.ca/groups/prairie-drive-park-group
Expanding community stewardship through a native plant giveaway and educational event that helps residents create and support pollinator-friendly habitats across Toronto.
www.friendsofguildpark.com
Restoring park ecosystems through tree planting, native garden creation, and guided nature walks that provide multilingual environmental education in English, Tagalog, and Farsi.
Scaling Stream
Expanding turtle conservation efforts into three additional Toronto parks while applying Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk) to support urban biodiversity and strengthen community stewardship.
www.turtleprotectors.com
Strengthening ecological and community resilience across multiple park sites through invasive species removal, Indigenous plant restoration, and expanded opportunities for residents to participate in stewardship activities.
www.torontonaturestewards.org
Expanding inclusive nature education, stewardship, and community science programs that protect High Park’s rare ecosystems while engaging nearly 1,000 volunteers in hands-on restoration activities.
www.highparknaturecentre.com
Connecting participants with the environment and fostering community leadership through youth-led activities like nature walks and collaborative stewardship projects.
www.ctsyouthsociety.com
Supporting youth to plan and implement small-scale ecological restoration projects and document outcomes to ensure replicability and scalability for the future.
www.unya.bc.ca
Restoration of the Champlain Heights Trail system in an equity-deserving neighbourhood through free educational workshops, hands-on invasive species removal events, 2 mass planting days, and 6 youth education and planting days, among other activities.
www.freethefern.ca
A community planting event to invite new stewards and create a new ephemeral wetland along Still Creek, helping reduce flooding, replenish groundwater, and increase biodiversity.
www.stillmoonarts.ca
A series of guided walks with Indigenous Elders at Stanley Park, bringing diverse community members together to learn, connect, and strengthen relationships with the land and with one another.
www.southvan.org
A one-day BioBlitz bringing together experts and the public to catalogue local biodiversity and identify at-risk or invasive species.
www.entsocbc.ca
Collaborative restoration with community partners and Indigenous groups focused on removing at least 2,000 pounds of waste and invasive species from urban forests, wetlands, and shorelines across Metro Vancouver.
www.weboflifesociety.ca
Volunteer Park Naturalist program offering interpretation on intertidal ecology, wetland ecosystems, and heron colonies, alongside monthly stewardship sessions including invasive species removal, native planting, mapping, and habitat maintenance across multiple sites.
www.stanleyparkecology.ca
Ongoing community-based restoration through invasive species removal and planting events, accessible nature and species-specific walks, Indigenous “Reconciliation Through Restoration” workshops, and Green Guardians training.
www.ecpcstewards.ca
Development of a replicable model for Indigenous-led land conservation through co-created curriculum, a teach-the-teacher program, an Adopt-A-Patch initiative for lightly supervised restoration, and ongoing stewardship meetups.
www.swanlake.bc.ca
Engaging youth to cultivate and distribute native plants and seedlings to transform landscapes around Grant Park High School and other Winnipeg schools.
www.winnipegtrails.ca
At Park People, we often say that big change starts small.
It starts with a connection between neighbours at the splashpad. A shared moment of awe when a cardinal crosses your path. A conversation about what you would like to see change in your neighbourhood.
More often than not, these moments start at the park. With the right support in place, they become the origin story of the community groups and local leaders who bring our cities to life. And what starts at the park carries outward, influencing how people engage in civic life. Local leadership, connected to place and to nature, is the scaffold we use to rebuild our social connections and reclaim our political voices at a moment of great instability and uncertainty.
This year again, local leaders gathered their neighbours, built connections, and restored nature in projects big and small. The movement continues to expand, and we’re pleased to share just some of these impacts in our 2025 Impact Report.
Park People’s future is rooted in connection. We’ll continue to support the people and ideas that help public spaces thrive.
Learn how you can host free, community-led park activities in Toronto this summer — no booking fee required!
The No-Fee Community Activations Booking makes it easier for individuals, community groups, and not-for-profit organizations to book free space in parks to host fun activities and community programming, such as guided ravine walks, family fun days with games and story time, or wellness days featuring yoga, meditation or tai chi.
The system was built in direct response to barriers communities had flagged — including removing booking fees, reducing insurance requirements, removing trustee requirements, and more.
The result is a free way with reduced barriers to bring people together in parks.
Alexandra Park (Park) – Toronto-East YorkAmos Waites Park (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkAshbridges Bay Park (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontBaird Park (Park) – Etobicoke-YorkBeaches Park (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontBellbury Park (Park) – North YorkBroadacres Park (Park) – Etobicoke-YorkBudapest Park (Park) – WaterfrontCedarbrook Park (Park) – ScarboroughCherry Beach Park (Park) – WaterfrontChristie Pits (Picnic Site Only) – Toronto-East YorkCliff Lumsdon Park (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkClydesdale Park (Park) – North YorkColonel Samuel Smith Park *excluding southern headlands due to construction work (Park) – Etobicoke-YorkConfederation Park (Park) – ScarboroughCoronation Park (Park) – WaterfrontDells Park (Picnic Site Only) – North YorkDentonia Park (Picnic Site Only) – Toronto-East YorkDovercourt Park (Park) – Toronto-East YorkDufferin Grove (Park) – Toronto-East YorkDunlop Park (Park) – ScarboroughEarl Bales Park (Picnic Site Only) – North YorkEarlscourt Park (Park) – Toronto-East YorkEast Toronto Athletic Field (Park) – Toronto-East YorkEdithvale Park (Park) – North YorkET Seton Park (Picnic Site Only) – North YorkEtobicoke Valley Park (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkG. Ross Lord Park (Picnic Site Only) – North YorkGlen Long Park (Park) – North YorkGord & Irene Risk Park (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkGrand Avenue Park (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkGrandravine Park (Park) – North YorkGreenwood Park (Park) – Toronto-East YorkHarbour Square (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontHavenbrook Park (Park) – North YorkHome Smith Park (Park) – Etobicoke-YorkHTO East & West (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontHumber Bay Park East (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkHumber Bay Park West (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkHumberline Park (Park) – Etobicoke-YorkInukshuk Park (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontJonathan Ashbridges Park (Park) – WaterfrontKew Gardens (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontLa Rose Park (Park) – Etobicoke-YorkLakeshore Parklands (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontLeaside Park (Picnic Site Only) – North YorkLittle Norway Park (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontLove Park (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontMaple Leaf Forever Park (Park) – WaterfrontMarie Curtis Park (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkMarilyn Bell Park (Park) – WaterfrontMilliken Park (Park) – ScarboroughNeilson Park (Park) – ScarboroughOakridge Park (Picnic Site Only) – ScarboroughOwen Park (Park) – North YorkPort Union Village Common (Park) – ScarboroughRees Street Parkette (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontRoding Park (Park) – North YorkRoundhouse Park (Picnic Site Only) – Toronto-East YorkRowntree Mills Park (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkRV Burgess Park (Picnic Site Only) – North YorkSanwood Park (Park) – ScarboroughScarborough Villages Park (Picnic Site Only) – ScarboroughScarden Park (Park) – ScarboroughSherbourne Common (Park) – WaterfrontSir Casimir Gzowski (Park) – WaterfrontSorauren Park (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkStanley Greene Park (Picnic Site Only) – North YorkSunnybrook Park (Picnic Site Only) – North YorkSunnyside Park (Park) – WaterfrontTom Riley Park (Picnic Site Only) – Etobicoke-YorkToronto Music Garden (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontTrinity Bellwoods (Picnic Site Only) – Toronto-East YorkWallace Emerson Park (Park) – Toronto-East YorkWarner Park (Park) – North YorkWest Rouge Walking Trail *for walks (Park) – ScarboroughWexford Park *for walks (Park) – ScarboroughWithrow Park (Park) – Toronto-East YorkWoodbine Beach Park (Picnic Site Only) – WaterfrontWoodbine Park (Picnic Site Only) – Waterfront