Area residents protesting a ban of cars using High Park at certain times.
City officials are bowing to public pressure against an auto ban in High Park and are putting in place a shuttle service to get people to visit the sprawling park.
Staff are seeking proposals for a ‘reliable and accessible’ shuttle service to help visitors to get to popular park locations as the petting zoo and other attractions.
City staff said they are ‘marketing the opportunity for a supplier to maintain and operate a passenger transportation shuttle service at the park.’
Those interested are asked to submit a proposal or contact the City website by December 3.
The move comes as an advocacy group claim the park is now empty except for cyclists and restaurant and other businesses are suffering due to a lack of visitors from the vehicle prohibition.
A view of an empty Grenadier Cafe as customers cannot use their vehicles to drive into the park as businesses suffer.
Diane Buckell, of High Park Access For All, said prior to the closure of the park to vehicles five years ago there were line-ups at the popular Grenadier Café for brunch or lunch with friends or family.
“Only three tables were occupied when I visited,” she wrote an Open Letter to Mayor Olivia Chow. “In a period of 15 minutes only six joggers or walkers and 17 cyclists went by.”
She told Chow the auto ban has left the park unaccessible for seniors, families or those with mobility issues.
“High Park these days is unvisited,” Buckell said. “Why does the City want to discourage people visiting what was once one of the most utilized parks in the City.”
She cited an online petition to reopen the park to vehicles that was signed by about 23,000 nature lovers.
The group is seeking a meeting with Chow to discuss the situation they face.