Posted July 2024.
More people are using Guild Park's unimproved waterfront along the Scarborough Bluffs, but the area doesn't receive the same attention as the park grounds atop the bluffs or other places bordering the City's lakeshore.
As a result, Guild Park's waterfront area has become an illegal summertime home for campers, while garbage piles up in locations where trash bins used to be.
Many people are attracted to this unimproved location by Google Maps. The on-line search service labels the area as "Guildwood Beach View" (see map).
While the name is enticing, the "beach" has very limited accessibility, isn't maintained and lacks any public services.
The conveniently-located "switchback trail" between the Guild Park's north garden and the old construction road to the shore has deteriorated badly from neglect. Park vistors using that now-dangerous footpath have fallen and injured themselves with scrapes and even broken bones, Friends of Guild Park no longer recommends using that route to reach the water.
The alternative is to take the unmarked dirt path from the south end of Guild Park''s gravel parking lot located directly south of Galloway Road.
Along the way to the water, some half dozen wastebin "stations" have been set up and identified with City of Toronto signage.
However, so far this year, few waste bins are actually installed at the stations. Shoreline visitors leave litter and bags of garbage where waste bins used to be.
Control of this land appears to be toss-up between two government bodies. Most of this waterfront area is owned by the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Currently, the multi-municipality agency is focusing its attention elsewhere, notably the section of the future Scarborough Waterfront Trail, west of Bluffers Park.
Without having TRCA resources nearby, Guild Park's waterfront vicinity is maintained through an understanding between the TRCA and the City of Toronto's Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR).
The aim is to have PFR crews maintain Guild Park's waterfront as part of their routine. The reality is City budget cuts reduced Guild Park's PFR grounds crew by 25% from 2023. There aren't enough park staff to make their way down to shore, unless there's a special reason.
Essentially, Guild Park's lakefront operates as a "no man's land" where no one is overseeing it, nor taking responsibility of what's become an increasingly popular public asset. It's a case of out of sight, out of mind and out of control.
Public park land, such as this waterfront area, is meant to be enjoyed and used safely for public recreation. For the second consecutive summer, people have decided to make this part of the City's lakeshore their personal campground (see photo).
Unimproved public land isn't intended to be commandeered by squatters. The City operates locations much better suited to help those without shelter.
It's notable that this section of waterfront lacks any proper facilities for hygiene. So unauthorized and inappropriate use of this area creates unsanitary conditions for humans and wildlife.
At such a neglected site, there's real risk to personal safety. As an example, on the morning of Saturday July 13, a woman in this area was slashed by a man with a knife. Very little has been reported about this incident, which doesn't make it any less serious.
What is known is that due to poor access trails along this section of the Scarborough waterfront, emergency vehicles - police and ambulance - were unable to reach the scene. Police used one of PFR's small utility vehicles to access the area, both on the day of the incident and the next day as part of the investigation.
Ward 24 City Councillor Paul AInslie is the elected muncipal representative responsible for Guild Park. Paul also currently serves as chair of the TRCA. He was contacted this week (July 23/24) about the current situation, including the people tenting along Guild Park's waterfront,
In response, the councillor's staff stated the office is aware of the encampment and have requested other City officials to investigate.
In the meantime, the email asks people to "please report all concerns related to a new encampment to [Toronto's 24-hour Information Hotline] 3-1-1." Callers are also requested "to provide details and the location of the encampment."
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