The gloves have come off, so to speak, in a recent disagreement between parents in the Armour Heights neighbourhood and the City of Toronto — with street hockey at the centre of debate.

A favourite Canadian pastime for many kids across the city, street hockey is known to require a little patience from drivers, while kids playing on typically quiet residential streets hasten to move out of the way for incoming cars during games.

But national pride did not stop bylaw enforcement officers from issuing nearly 20 homes on Esgore Drive, near Wilson Avenue and Avenue Road, with notices threatening $90 fines to any resident who did not remove hockey nets from city property — a.k.a. the end of their driveways.

The issue was sparked by one resident’s complaint about equipment impeding traffic. But Mark Ashcroft, a local resident, said he has no intention of moving his nets, and other parents feel the same way.

“The city has to get its priorities straight,” said Ashcroft. “Do we want active children? Do we want a community? Or do we want our kids to lead sedentary lifestyles and not know who their neighbours are?”

The father of three pointed to other more prevalent concerns in the community more deserving of the city’s attention, such as speed limit and stop sign enforcement.

Lack of green space was another big issue on Ashcroft’s list, who said that Armour Heights Public School and Bannockburn School are the only areas available to residents to use for outdoor recreation.

 “And the Toronto District School Board and the city can’t organize themselves to save and work on that green space [at Bannockburn].… So where else are our children expected to play?”

Councillor Christin Carmichael Greb said she’s organized a meeting with city staff and residents. She also said she will be talking to Mayor John Tory about the issue, who came down on the side of the residents during a press conference on Sept. 24.