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.
For years, Geri and Gary James drove an hour outside Toronto to find nature — not realizing one of the…
In 2026, 72 community groups and organizations across the country are receiving TD Park People Grants. They’ll be bringing people together in parks and green spaces through creative, inclusive, and environmentally focused events.
Ready to rally your crew and make a visible difference in your local park? This guide walks you through everything you need to host a successful community clean-up in Toronto
Explore key findings from five years of the Canadian City Parks Report, highlighting significant trends, issues, and practices shaping urban parks across the country.
Connect, Support, Influence and Inspire your community parks - Get our newsletter and email updates!
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
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
Join the Canadian City Parks Report’s authors, Jake Tobin Garrett, Adri Stark & Naomi Amberber, and Park People Board Chair Zahra Ebrahim, for a webinar to launch the 2021 Report. This Canadian City Parks Report launch webinar features:
The third annual report tracking the trends, challenges, and leading practices in 32 Canadian cities. This year’s report highlights new city park insights on how parks can foster more resilient, equitable cities—not only as we recover from COVID-19, but as we address another looming crisis: climate change.
The webinar is held in English; French subtitles are available.
Adri Stark is specialized in research and policy at Park People, and co-author of the annual Canadian City Parks Report.…
Zahra is a public interest designer and strategist focused on shifting power to people who are typically underrepresented in institutions…
Jake Tobin Garrett (he/him) is a writer, illustrator and public space policy and research consultant. He was previously Park People’s…
The rich ecosystems in our large urban parks not only make our cities more biodiverse and climate-resilient, but they also provide places for people to build connections to nature which are strongly linked to pro-environmental attitudes and well-being.
Nature-based programming–from environmental stewardship to species monitoring– engages communities in the valuable work of caring for large green spaces to help them thrive. It’s a virtuous cycle that can simultaneously support the well-being of people and the planet.
How can we measure and amplify the impact stewardship and restoration have on the health of ecosystems and people in our large urban parks?
This first Cornerstone Parks talk gather three experts who are evaluating the benefits of large urban parks and applying this research to secure more funding, attract partners and move the needle on large urban parks.
Catherine Reining is the Project Coordinator for ParkSeek, a pan-Canadian initiative to gather information about population health impacts of parks,…
With a background in landscape architecture, international development cooperation, and social impact measurement, Jia currently manages the Research and Analytics…
Ariane is the Conservation Projects Manager with Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) and is a Registered Professional Biologist. She is…
Sue Arndt is Director of Programs at Park People. Sue leads Park People’s National Network and Cornerstone Parks program, building…
In this webinar, storyteller Hillary Clermont, historian and artist Philip Cote, and Indigenous grower Isaac Crosby connect Toronto’s Indigenous history to current Indigenous-led ecology work, to help understand how we can deepen our connection to the plants and animals of our land and ravines.
A Candid Conversation in Celebration of Park People’s 10 Year Anniversary
This webinar explores the barriers and opportunities for creating parks as natural places for engagement across differences.
*The webinar title comes from Jay Pitter, an award-winning placemaker whose practice mitigates growing divides in cities across North America.
The session is held in English; French subtitles are available.
Carolynne Crawley is a Mi’kmaw woman with mixed ancestry from the East Coast. She is dedicated to social and environmental…
Ambika is a Ph.D. candidate at the Daniels Faculty, University of Toronto. Her research is focused on recent immigrant engagement…
Proudly Franco-Albertan, Chúk’s passion lies in the interactions between culture, health and the environment. Outside of this work with Future…
This webinar features a wide range of partnership models used in city parks across Canada. From community groups to conservancies, we explore the context underpinning each model and highlight its strengths and limitations. We also take a look at the differences between Canadian and American park partnership models.
Rooted in Park People’s Canadian City Parks Report and a decade of work on park governance, we share the latest opportunities and challenges emerging in Canada’s park partnerships.
Dave has decades of experience working in government on municipal and environmental issues. He excels at bringing partners together and…
Our city and our ravines were shaped by past extreme weather events. Looking ahead, our ravines can help us be more climate-resilient. But first, we need to protect them.
In this webinar, David MacLeod, Senior Environmental Specialist with the City of Toronto, and Carbon Conversations TO explore how these natural spaces can mitigate climate impacts and the steps we must take to protect them.
Explore the relationship between public space, race, and systems of oppression in the public realm.
This webinar was inspired by urbanist and placemaker Jay Pitter.
It is held in English; French subtitles are available.
Gil (Guillermo) Penalosa is passionate about creating cities for all people; vibrant cities and healthy communities for everyone regardless of…
Tamika L. Butler is a national expert and speaker on issues related to building environment, equity, anti-racism, diversity and inclusion,…
Park People is excited to launch the 2024 Canadian City Parks Report, our sixth annual edition highlighting the most significant trends, issues, and practices shaping Canada’s city parks.
Watch our special launch webinar to explore our findings:
The webinar features an engaging discussion on the future of city parks, with guest speakers from the City of Victoria and Greenspace Alliance. They share opportunities and challenges in their work around collaborations and partnerships, across city departments, communities, non-profits, and more.
Joy is the Manager of Research and Partnerships at Park People and facilitates national research and network engagement that supports…
Julia is the Food Systems Coordinator for the City of Victoria. She comes to the role after over 15 years…
Nicole DesRoches, born in Ottawa and living in Chelsea Québec, part of the National Capital Region, therefore living within the…
While large natural areas are critical, research shows that small-scale urban biodiversity projects—like pollinator gardens—are critical to healthy city ecosystems. In urban environments, every nook and cranny counts.
In this webinar, hear from experts and advocates on the ecological benefits of these small urban habitats, explore the policies and practices that support (or don’t) this shift and learn how you can start your own tiny habitat – right in your backyard or local park!
Landscape architect and member of the AAPQ, Caroline brought a deep knowledge of Montreal’s professional, municipal and community networks as…
Mahnaz Ghalib is passionate about the environment and works on innovative and sustainable solutions through community participation. Her journey to…
Carmen Rosen is an artist, singer, community organizer and Founding Artistic Director of Still Moon Arts Society. She has Art degrees…