September 25th Green Toronto Tree Planting at Sam Smith Park is NOT scheduled to be Disabled Friendly !

DASSP became aware of a tree planting event at SSP in September, sponsored by Green Toronto. 

We immediately reached out to our contact at Toronto Forestry, who was on vacation, but kindly gave us the group email for Green Toronto. 

DASSP was contacted by the City of Toronto's, Scott Laver from their Natural Environment and Community Programs Unit, who help coordinate the annual Spring and Autumn planting events. 

Green Toronto has said that it is too late to not discriminate against Disabled and Seniors in S. Etobicoke, at Sam Smith Park due to "internal communications and approvals required to plant at any given location".

DASSP has reached out to Mayor Tory and Councillor Grimes to determine who approved to discriminate against Disabled and Seniors, in this much anticipated bi-annual event. 

Our understanding is that ALL Toronto public events MUST be inclusive to LGBTQ+, Islamic, Disabled, Black, Aboriginal, Seniors, etc. ? 

With one month to go before the planting we are hoping that Green Toronto and DASSP can find a timely solution to the event, and moreover, educate Green Toronto, in how to correctly plan inclusive tree planting, and other events throughout Toronto in 2022 and beyond.

The Pavillion is finally Wheelchair and Senior friendly!

After almost 2 years of effort by DASSP, the Pavillion is once again Wheelchair and Seniors friendly!

Over time, the earth around the concrete base had settled to the point where it had become very dangerous (and almost impossible) to independently enter or leave the Pavillion. During sudden inclement weather and rainstorms, our group was unable to seek refuge in a safe and easy way. 

Now the Pavillion is once again inclusive for all, including families with strollers or prams!

Many thanks to Toronto Parks, Councillor Grimes, Mayor Tory and 311 staff, for all their efforts on this important remediation!

Sam Smith Park Cleanup - Sunday, April 18th, 9 am -3 pm !

Please help us to keep our Park clean! Social distancing rules will apply.

Wheelchair and Senior Friendly Park Benches at SSP !

Last autumn, the Parks Department installed a number of wheelchair friendly park benches near the eastern entrance to Sam Smith Park, at the end of Lakeshore Rd, in New Toronto. 

The benches have an extended pad, wide enough for a wheelchair user to sit beside someone while facing the Park, looking out towards the lake.  This wider pad is also useful for Seniors using their walker to sit in, making it easier to enjoy a conversation while sitting at the proper height for easy standing, upon departure.

Hats off to Jorge and his workmates from Toronto Parks and Recreation !

Braille signage in Sam Smith Park

Winter is a slow time for DASSP, and our members, as the cold, poor weather, and ongoing pandemic limit our ability to be out and about enjoying the park and its wildlife.

That's not to say that we haven't been beavering away behind the scenes.  Recently, Janette, from Toronto Forestry has been asking about the Braille signage we are most interested in obtaining for Sam Smith Park.   

One of our members, Vesty Roze, has forwarded his resource materials on the subject, and Janette will be following up, as she is extremely interested, and is one of our key Allies, who was instrumental in correcting the surface of the Observation Deck last year.

Let's hope we have some progress on Braille, and we will be following up in the coming months.

For more information please see:

CNIB Braille Signage resources

Important Warning Signage at SSP is not Disabled Friendly.

Some very important signage at Sam Smith Park has long been placed too high for most Disabled to even notice.

As visitors enter from the parking lot through the circular drop off area, there is a Coyote warning sign which has been placed higher than even the top of the head of an able bodied visitor !

DASSP will be following up to first, determine which government group is responsible for signage, and then to ensure the problem is corrected throughout the park. 

Lakeshore Lodge residents enjoy the fully accessible SSP Skating Trail in the summertime !

One of the most wonderful and unexpected uses of the SSP Skating Trail, is the pleasure it brings to mobility impaired residents of nearby Lakeshore Lodge. 

On summer mornings or evenings you may spot an elderly resident or two, along with their companion moving slowly along the winding path, listening to the song birds or enjoying the foliage and wildflowers which many volunteers from FOSS and CCFEW planted a number of years ago. 

The path has a ramp, and also offers access to the NW entry point of Sam Smith Park past the Swallow Field.