SSP Construction timeline updated by the TRCA

Below is the revised timeline for construction and remediation along the South wall of Sam Smith Park

Hopefully the 2029 deadline is met, and disabled users can return to all areas of Sam Smith Park

SSP Construction Update meeting with TRCA - completion now delayed to 2029

DASSP attended last night's TRCA meeting on park construction. As I was the first person to arrive, I had all 3 of the folks to speak to.

TRCA stated that completion is now delayed a year, to 2029. This is no surprise as TRCA has a terrible record of completion on all their projects in S. Etobicoke over the last few years.

They stated that all the large gravel will be removed, and replaced with the original pea gravel, after re-grading, as before. Apparently, they took photos of the original pathways to use as a reference.

I asked that DASSP and FOSS have a walkthrough of the pathways, beaches and surroundings near the end of the project, to assess any issues identified or outstanding. Hopefully there will soon be access to a beach, for disabled park users, as there now is at Marie Curtis. Time will tell.

The gravel issue is huge for wheelchair users, mobility impaired and elderly folk with balance constraints

Public Information Session - SSP Shoreline Construction Phase 2 Progress

There will be an information session on Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 5pm - 7pm

Humber College, C Building, Room 109

For more information please copy the link below into your browser, review and then attend;  

                            https://trca.ca/conservation/erosion-risk-management/restore/colonel-samuel-smith-park-major-maintenance/

DASSP not contacted again by the City of Toronto and TRCA

It has come to our attention that a toxic spraying in Sam Smith Park will occur in the Autumn.

Despite having existed for many years and participating in many Park projects, our Group never gets contacted at the genesis of new projects. 

                                                              

We are in the process of finding out about wheeling through the pathways near the spraying and how to mitigate the threats to our hands, arms, gloves, tires, length of toxicity, etc.

Please stay tuned, as we have just reached out to the City and TRCA, via Janette Harvey.

Path between the Jean Tweed Centre and Humber is now safe for Elderly and Disabled.

Last week, 311 workers finally repaired the path between Jean Tweed and Humber! This path, which leads toward Sam Smith Park both ways, had been in a terrible state of disrepair for quite a long time. 

DASSP is glad to see that this little part of the world will be a lot safer for elderly and disabled from now on.

Disability Issues - Rebuilding and relocating the weekday Morrison St entry path through Humber.

TRCA has installed a notification sign of a new entrance to Sam Smith Park at the rustic Morrison weekday gateway. The work is set to commence after July 1 and wrap up by the New Year.

Prior to July, TRCA will have a period of input, and DASSP will need to be involved.

At this time, there is a need to move the entrance because the current small entrance is actually on the property of the adjoining property owner. The property line is at the midpoint of the parking lot, so the fence needs to move to the left/south, so that it is on City property.

This is the current entrance, which needs to be relocated.

The new entrance would be to the left/south in the proximity of a large, healthy old growth tree, which TRCA wants to cut down (they have already painted a red dot on the tree) 

DAASP supports retaining the tree, and simply leveraging the existing north/south path, by smoothing and rebuilding it, while landscaping the parking lot to a gradual grade, down to the path, in front of the tree, without harming it.

Disability issues arise, as a new fence may need to be erected between the path and the Small Bowl, for the protection of elderly, wheelchairs, mobility devices etc.

With the Helen Keller Centre completed now, the Visually Impaired population of New Toronto will be increasing exponentially and the upgraded path will require modifications to accommodate the group.

This is the location of the proposed new entrance. You can observe the tree in question, behind the fence.

This is the healthy tree that TRCA proposes removing.

Mayor Olivia Chow - City in a Tax Grab with the Helen Keller Centre for the Visually Impaired on Eighth St.

Amazingly, the City of Toronto is trying to undertake a tax grab from the new Helen Keller Centre on Eighth St. 

The City is trying to charge the Centre a six digit figure saying that development taxes are overdue, however the Centre maintains that these are not owed, as the building was constructed under the affordable housing initiative, for disabled and low income folks.

Let's hope that Mayor Olivia Chow and her management team come to their senses and quickly resolve this unseemly conflict.  

DASSP is looking forward to welcoming lots of new Visually Impaired park visitors throughout 2026!