City councillors voted to adopt a motion that reviews Toronto park rules to scrap outdated and unnecessary provisions, including ball playing and kite flying.
The “Time for Outdated Park Rules to Touch Grass” motion was first introduced by Coun. Josh Matlow earlier this month, and requested that the city review Chapter 608 of the Toronto Municipal Code on public parks to consider removing any “archaic, burdensome, or unnecessary” rules.
Speaking with Now Toronto on Friday, the councillor explained that he got the inspiration to do something about outdated rules after a resident sent him a photo of a sign at Sunnybrook Park.
“For a while now, I’ve been aware of some more absurd [rules]. And I thought they were absurd, but I didn’t really do anything about it, because I just kind of [thought it was] ridiculous. But then, more recently, I did receive a claim from a resident who was in Sunnybrook Park, and sent me a photo of a sign that was posted in the park that had just a litany of rules and restrictions that ranged from the archaic to the absurd,” he said.
The rules, cited by Matlow in the motion, include prohibiting park visitors from throwing frisbees, playing ball, flying a kite and even having large picnics, which the councillor said could be restrictive for locals, as well as some antiquated ones prohibiting things like hot-air balloons or telling horse riders to yield for other riders.
“There are some Torontonians who have a backyard that they’re able to go [to] and enjoy, but there are many Torontonians who do not… and they should have the ability to enjoy the outdoors and have fun, and be playful, and not have all these unnecessary, absurd rules to tell them what to do when they’re really behaving responsibly and enjoying themselves,” he told Now Toronto.
The councillor is also asking that city staff review options to provide food and beverage spots in parks, like kiosks and small cafes that can open up more opportunities for Torontonians to gather and connect in these spaces.
“We often visit other cities that have really animated, enjoyable and beautiful public spaces, and we envy those cities. And my view is to just create the city that they want to live in, and allow our parks to be really creative and fun places for everyone to enjoy,” Matlow added.
The motion was supported by other council members and adopted during a city council meeting on Wednesday, and the revisions are supposed to come by the fourth quarter of the year.
Thank you to Council for supporting our motion to remove absurd and archaic park by-laws and allow for our public spaces to become for more innovative, creative and fun! https://t.co/VmikA6k8bS
— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) April 24, 2025
Torontonians online are looking forward to the revisions, with many agreeing with Matlow that many park rules in the city can be restrictive and archaic.
“Great idea. Not letting people eat or drink in the park was super outdated and not letting people play frisbee or play ball at the park is just flat out, out of touch with reality,” one user said on X.
“This is great to see @JoshMatlow. This is so popular in other parts of the world, brings people together, and ignites local entrepreneurs to build businesses locally! This is a win/win plan in my opinion,” another local pointed out.
“Absolutely agree with getting rid [of these] and other restrictions,” a different user also added.
ALCOHOL IN PARKS
Another park rule recently also received a makeover in Toronto when the city permanently adopted legal consumption of alcoholic beverages in certain public parks.
In 2023, Toronto introduced its first pilot program that allowed for alcohol consumption in 27 selected city parks.
Last March, the program was amended to permanently allow legal public drinking in at least one park per city ward, including popular locations like Trinity Bellwoods Park, Queen’s Park and Riverdale Park.
The program was expanded to 54 city parks earlier this month, after a report found that it was successful among many locals and didn’t raise any major concerns.
Matlow, who also moved the first motion to authorize park drinking, said that while many expected bad behaviour to arise from this rule, recent research suggests that no concerning episodes were registered.
“My point about behaviour is that city staff have reported back to us since we allowed adults to have a drink in a park. And guess what? Nothing bad happened. People who behave badly? Well, there’s rules against that,” he said.
“My view has always been [to] focus on behavior rather than having silly rules. So, for example, any behavior that has an adverse impact on other people, that interferes with other park users enjoying the park, that needs to be addressed,” he added.
Torontonians drinking in authorized parks are still expected to follow some basic rules, including only drinking between 5:30 a.m. to midnight, correctly disposing of bottles and cans, and refraining from getting intoxicated and engaging in disruptive behaviour.
Parks included in the program can also not be located within two metres from playgrounds, outdoor pools, ice rinks or skateboards.
