Roads in High Park have been closed to visitor vehicles on weekends and holidays since March 2020 to give people space to safely physically distance during the COVID pandemic.

However, that’s continued to be the case after the High Park Movement Strategy was launched the following year to consider improvements to the park’s travel network to better serve visitors and surrounding neighbourhood.

City Council has now endorsed a phased strategy to improve how pedestrians, cyclists and drivers access and move around High Park.

It includes the continued closure to vehicles on weekends and stat holidays along with a long-term strategy for closing the entire park to vehicles.

West Road and parts of Colborne Lodge Drive will also be permanently closed 7-days-a-week.

While the park will be car-free on weekends, there will be access to the Spring Road parking lot.

Changes to parking will include adding accessible and family-priority spaces and also exploring the potential for paid parking.

Visitors can also eventually expect to see enhancements to transit and a new shuttle service serving destinations within High Park.