Weston Lions Park

Humber River Pals clean Humber River valley

The Humber River Pals (and about 30 volunteers) cleaned up the Humber River Valley around Lions Park today, in their sixth outing of the year.

City facilities reopening

The city is re-opening many sports, recreation, and library facilities. In Weston and Mount Dennis, you should be able to

Use the dog parks
Golf at Scarlett Woods
Fish at the Humber and Topham Pond
Play tennis

For the time being, playgrounds, pools, and splash pads remain closed. The Weston Farmers’ Market will not open until mid-summer, at the soonest. The soccer field at Weston Lions Park, which had attracted players in violation of distancing rules, remains closed.

The Weston Public Library will reopen for curbside pickup of book holds on June 1. Borrowers will be able to return their loans through the drop box. The library is asking that you hold onto any large or fragile items.

Soccer players draw the mayor’s ire

Groups of people have been playing soccer on the field at Weston Lions Park over the past week, despite exhortations to not gather in groups so that we can flatten the COVID curve.

John Tory says he’s had enough. “People were playing soccer at the Weston Lions Park and at Humberline Park having climbed over fences and gates that were locked there to keep people out during this health emergency.”

Violators could now be fined, he says. “For them, we won’t hesitate to issue a minimum $750 fine and potentially as high as $5,000 fines so that maybe they will get the message.”

View this post on Instagram

“Please do what you are asked to do,” Mayor John Tory asked people on Monday. • The mayor said city officials have seen social media posts, received 311 calls and heard reports from councillors about people using parks and amenities now closed and not practising physical distancing. • These amenities include sports fields, dog parks and fitness equipment. • The mayor said there have been reports of people gathering in large groups at parks and beaches, jumping over gates and fences at closed parks and soccer fields, removing locks and using park fitness stations taped off to prevent the spread of the virus. • “This is not physical distancing,” Tory said. “It is irresponsible and insensitive behaviour and it risks spreading COVID-19 further in our community.” • • • 📄: Greg Ross/CBC 🎥: Joe Fiorino/CBC #cbctoronto #cbcto #toronto #coronavirus #covid19
A post shared by CBC Toronto (@cbctoronto) on Mar 30, 2020 at 5:00pm PDT

Whose party is it anyway?

July 1 preparations in Lions Park this morning.

Did you ever get an invitation to a party where you are footing the bill?

You have now. Toronto city councillor Frances Nunziata and MP Ahmed Hussen have sent invitations to ‘their’ party – that you are paying for.

Nunziata’s reads,

I am thrilled to co-host my first Amesbury Canada Day in Amesbury Park from 12-10PM. Mayor Tory will be stopping by for the fun. Flea market opens at 9 AM. Fireworks show at 9:45PM!
I am also hosting my annual Canada Day party in Weston Lions Park from 5-10:30 PM. Fireworks at 10 PM!
Bring your family for all the food, fun, and celebration!
I look forward to seeing you at one (or both!) of these exciting events!

Hussen’s goes like this,

I am hosting my annual Canada Day party at Weston Lions Park (Weston Road and Lawrence Ave W) from 5pm-10:30 PM. I warmly invite you to bring the whole family for an evening of food, fun, and celebration! There will be food trucks, inflatable rides, and entertainment for all. Be sure stick around for the fireworks show at 10 PM! I can’t wait to see everyone there!

At least MPP Faisal Hassan isn’t claiming credit for your Canada Day celebrations.

Let’s hope we’re not at the banana republic stage where politicians have to dispense largesse in order to stay in office.

Oh wait; Doug Ford. Peel me a $20!

Fireworks this Sunday

Weston’s Canada Day fireworks display is one of our more spectacular annual events, little known outside our community. This Sunday, beginning at 10:00 pm sharp, Weston’s annual firework display will be launched from the southernmost baseball diamond in Lions Park as part of the July 1 activities.

The old fairgrounds at Lions Park (next to the arena) will see action from 5 pm with food trucks, bouncy castles and a bubble show involving the creation of gigantic bubbles up to 50 feet long.

Sunday’s forecast predicts a scorching high of 36° with a chance of showers in the evening so prepare to be warm and thirsty.

Weston’s sports complex

The sports complex at Lawrence and Hickory Tree Road is a little quieter than usual. York Weston Tennis Club‘s courts are closed for major renovations. The city will pay for the resurfacing but not the acrylic top coat which will be applied early in 2014 after the new paving has time to settle. The resurfacing itself will be done soon in conjunction with the final coat of asphalt on the parking lot. The fencing is being removed for the work but will be re-used if possible. Members will be on the hook for the cost and while the club doesn’t have the estimated $27 – $50,000 cost, members who wish to lend the club money for the top coat will get 5% interest on their loan.

Fencing being removed in preparation for court resurfacing.

Weston Pool is also gearing down for the return to school and will close for the summer on Sunday September 1 at 3:45pm. According to manager, Brock University student (and camera shy) Sarah, the pool employs 10 – 12 local students every summer serving 10 – 12 hour shifts.

The pool on a quiet, overcast morning. — Weston pool on a quiet, overcast morning.

Oddly, the snack bar has not been opened since 2001. It occupies prime space at the front of the building but for some reason has sat idle for more than a decade.

The snack bar has a window at the right of the pool entrance.

A tenant could rent the space for the summer and serve the hundreds of daily swimmers as well as passing traffic. In addition, they could be charged with keeping the area free of litter. Manager Sarah could shed no light on why the space has gone unused all these years but it shouldn’t be too hard to bring it up to speed if a Weston restaurant wanted to open it for the summer.

Perhaps Westonians can shed some light on this mystery. Let’s hope that red tape is not getting in the way.

The soccer field is in action for many hours a day. The venue has proven to be so attractive that groups of soccer players use the large garbage and recycling bins as goalposts for smaller games. The downside of this is that litter accumulates in the places formerly served by the bins.

WestonWeb attempted on several occasions to contact Parks supervisor Diane Czapla but her phone mailbox has been full for several weeks. Perhaps 311 can help.