Although Toronto has a policy of leaving its public parks unlocked and open to the public 24/7, regular incidents of vandalism and public urination have led to a policy change for Paul Martel Park.

The small, well-loved park, nestled at 10 Madison Ave near Bloor and Spadina, just east of the Spadina Subway Station, has undergone a sort of eco-restoration in recent years — it now stands as a botanical garden boasting native and sacred Indigenous plants.

Unfortunately, local residents fear that all of this work may be in vain, with significant sums of money being wasted as the park is vulnerable to abuse at night. According to a recent letter from the Annex Residents’ Association to Coun. Dianne Saxe, the area’s local councillor, this abuse can be attributed to the park’s proximity to Bloor St, local pubs, and numerous fraternity houses that frequently host large parties.

“Often, people trample the plantings and harm, even destroy, Park fixtures. All this wreckage makes restoration extremely challenging. The damage significantly diminishes the enjoyment of the Park and, of course, the willingness of our Indigenous neighbours to continue to work on the Park,” the Association stated in their letter. “At a recent community meeting, the police openly told us their staffing is inadequate to monitor this Park properly. It is unfortunate, but we feel that putting up higher fences and gates and locking the Park at night is the only remaining viable solution.”

Saxe agrees, noting in a recent interview with CBC Toronto that the native medicinal plants have been “tromped on and urinated on by the drunks and the frat boys,” adding that “[g]rass can put up with it to a certain extent, but fragile native plants cannot.”

She’s been trying to convince city staff for two years to put gates across the park’s two entrances at night. Although she’s received resistance, she finally reached a breakthrough last Thursday — her motion to allow the park to be locked at night was adopted.

Saxe told the CBC that it makes sense for most public parks to be accessible to all, but individual communities have to decide whether their parks need special security at night.

“…at least the gates will keep the worst damage and attacks out of the park overnight, which is all I can do,” she added.

The next step is for staff to ensure that the park is locked between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. No timeline was given on when this will happen.