STOP THE TRAINS
IN OUR PARKS

OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES WORLD CLASS TRANSIT AND OUR GREENSPACE

Join us for the rally for environmental peace and justice on Nov. 30

Date: November 30

Location: Outside Union Station – south-east corner of York Street and Front Street West

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

WHY join the rally: Strength in numbers to affect real change

WHAT’s happening: Metrolinx will be meeting in their office at Union Station behind closed doors about the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (ECWE). All of the LRT line will be buried underground EXCEPT for a 1.5km elevated portion in the neighbourhood of Mount Dennis. Despite a lack of consultation with the community, and better options, like tunneling or along the road, Metrolinx and the Ford Government continue with their plan which will destroy our parks and urban forest, including 1,500 trees that are home to Threatened and Endangered species. In Premier Doug Ford and Minister Kinga Surma’s more affluent Etobicoke ridings, constituents were consulted in 2018 and they successfully lobbied for the ECWE to be tunneled. Residents in Mount Dennis, one of Toronto’s most culturally diverse neighbourhoods, were not consulted with and Eglinton Flats parkland is at risk of destruction.

WHO we are: Save Eglinton Flats is a grassroots coalition fighting to protect the Humber river watershed, parks, and urban forest in Toronto’s west end.

ALL ARE WELCOME. This gathering is inclusive of all groups and individuals who disagree with how Metrolinx has operated in their communities.

WHAT DO WE WANT?

Protect green spaces, trees, and heritage sites from infrastructure and transit construction impacts.
Communities are heard, respected, and empowered in the decision-making process.
For all people to have the power to protect the environment and preserve access to our green spaces now and for future generations.
A healthy relationship between people and nature.
We support expanded world-class transit projects but demand Metrolinx build in the most environmentally responsible and equitable way.

This is the greenspace and urban forest Metrolinx wants to destroy.

This mess is what we're trying to stop in our parks. (This photo shows the elevated tracks at Black Creek Drive and Eglinton Avenue West.)

About the issue

Join our Save Eglinton Flats Coalition

Metrolinx and the Ford Government presented their illogical and short-sighted plan to run a 1.5 km section of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (ECWE) as elevated tracks and stations through our parks as a done deal without any input from the local Indigenous community and residents. Metrolinx and the Ford Government could run this section (from Pearen Park to Scarlett Road) underground like the rest of the line, or along the road, which would save them time and money. Metrolinx and the Ford Government have ignored our community’s countless requests to consult on how to build the line.

Metrolinx plans to make Pearen Park a construction staging zone for years. The projected opening of the ECWE LRT line is 2031. Metrolinx plans to start clear cutting 1,500 trees before the end 2023 and have already fenced off large parts of Pearen Park, where kids played every day, and Fergy Brown Park. The ECWE is the western extension of the disastrously delayed and over budget Eglinton Crosstown.

Over the last year and half we’ve been trying to save our trees and parks, including Pearen Park, Fergy Brown Park, Eglinton Flats and the Humber River area, for everyone in our community. For nearly a year, we partnered with urban Indigenous organizations to take action to save the parks. The urban Indigenous organizations had a tipi and Sacred Fire in Pearen Park and were in Ceremony to honour the trees, until Metrolinx threatened to take legal action — which could have included hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines and criminal charges — if the tipi and sacred fire weren’t removed from the park.

The urban Indigenous organizations are going to focus on Ceremony and are planning for future Sacred Fires. Our Save Eglinton Flats Coalition continues our advocacy to protect our greenspace and will continue to support the Indigenous organizations' Ceremonies.

The 1,500 trees Metrolinx plans to clear cut are a flood and erosion protector, sound barrier, cool the parks in hot weather, a wildlife corridor to the Humber river system and home to Threatened and Endangered species. These parks are used for ceremony, education, recreation, and contribute to the mental well-being of the residents within our community. With over 5,000 new residential units planned to be built in our community over the next 10 years we'll need our parks more than ever.

WHAT WE WANT

No train expressway in our parks. Period.
Metrolinx to bury the trains underground in York South-Weston like they're doing in Etobicoke, or put them along the road, which would save time and money. Metrolinx and the Ford Government must consult with our community.
Metrolinx to provide transparency about the project - its costs, its size, and its impact.

YORK SOUTH-WESTON DESERVES THE ECWE
AND OUR GREENSPACE!

ABOUT STOP THE TRAINS IN OUR PARKS (STOP)

We are a group of York South-Weston residents who support the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, but oppose putting a train expressway through our parks as part of the project. We believe greenspace should be for wildlife and people, not concrete and trains. We are part of the Save Eglinton Flats Coalition.

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