Sir Winston Churchill park to close as city plans two year repair project to underlying reservoir

What many people don’t know about Sir Winston Churchill Park, an 8.6-hectare park on St. Clair Avenue West at Spadina Road, is that it sits on the lid of a large reservoir, one of 10 such facilities storing Toronto’s drinking water. This fact was recently brought to light after the city announced the need to undergo major repairs to that reservoir, necessitating the park’s closure for approximately two years.

The park features 10 lit outdoor tennis courts, a large off-leash dog area and a children’s playground and is heavily utilized by surrounding residents.

Ward 22 councillor Josh Matlow acknowledged that the park closure will be a “major disruption” for nearby residents but said he hopes many will understand that the construction period is a necessary inconvenience.

“Every few decades it’s understandable that there needs to be repairs and maintenance to a facility that is so critical to our city’s health,” said Matlow.

Two potential plans for construction have been presented to the community. Plan A calls for the west part of the park to shut down this fall, and the rest in the spring of 2017 for a year. Plan B calls for the entire park to close in the spring of 2016 until 2018.

But the tennis courts and dog park are expected to close for at least a year either way.

Nancy MacSween, acting manager of public relations and issues management with City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry & Recreation, said that staff are working with tennis court permit users to determine options during the rehabilitation. MacSween also pointed to the off-leash dog parks at Wychwood Barns, Hillcrest Park and Cedarvale Park as suitable in-area alternatives for dog owners (all approximately a 30-minute walk).

But Alan Pearson, president of the South Hill Homeowners’ Association, is also concerned with the loss of trees in the park to construction.

“All trees on top and some around the perimeter [of the reservoir] need to be removed,” said MacSween, to protect the roof structure. City staff are working on a plan to replace as many trees as possible, she said.