A plan to half the size of the city-owned Dentonia Park Golf Course in southwest Scarborough in order to provide more parkland or other community uses will not be getting the support of the local councillor.
In a brief statement sent to Beach Metro Community News late last week, Scarborough Southwest Councillor Gary Crawford said he would be working to keep the par-three golf course northeast of Danforth and Victoria Park avenues, which is one of five municipal courses owned by the City of Toronto, at its current 18 holes.
Crawford said he would be working with other area councillors “to retain Dentonia as a key affordable 18-hole golf destination for Scarborough and the East End.”
A report will be going before the city’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 11, recommending the Dentonia Park course be reduced in size to nine holes and that remaining portions of the site would become community parkland.
“Dentonia Park is identified as a unique opportunity to renew the golf offering while also addressing local parkland needs,” reads the report from the General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation and the Chief Procurement Officer, Purchasing and Materials Management.
“This report recommends initiating a master planning process at Dentonia Park to better achieve golf outcomes and Parks, Forestry and Recreation strategic goals. Dentonia Park would continue to operate as an 18-hole par-3 course until the master plan is completed and budget is identified to advance any suggested alterations. Following the completion of the master planning process, Dentonia Park would be redeveloped to deliver an improved golf offering and new local parkland,” the report reads.
A nine-hole disc golf course was recently installed by the city on Dentonia Park Golf Course lands, and it is open to free play for members of the public over the winter.
The city owns four other golf courses along with Dentonia Park, and the report going to the committee on Jan. 11 is part of an overall Review of City of Toronto Golf Courses. The other courses owned by the city are Tan O’Shanter in northwest Scarborough, Don Valley near Yonge Street and Hwy. 401, Scarlett Woods near Jane Street and Eglinton Avenue, and Humber Valley in Etobicoke.
Depending on the decision made at the Jan. 11 committee, the report will then be considered at the Toronto City Council meeting on Feb. 2.
Was this article informative? Become a Beach Metro Community News Supporter today! For 50 years, we have worked hard to be the eyes and ears in your community, inform you of upcoming events, and let you know what and who is making a difference. We cover the big stories as well as the little things that often matter the most. CLICK HERE to support your Beach Metro Community News!
What a fine amenity and the mere thought of taking away the one affordable beginner and novice in the cities portfolio is a real head scratcher, when literally Taylor Creek, the ravine system and massive system of parks sits adjacent on Victoria park? Thank goodness our councillor gets it. Do people at city hall literally have nothing better to do or what. This a ridiculous, pandering notion and should be not pursued further people, the city already has a copious amount of parks people, literally. Just ask Rosedale, the rest of the private clubs to start paying their fair share of taxes, they got a honey deal and that perhaps should be re-examined.
This is a great place to learn the sport and meet up with people from all walks of life. Why would someone propose to remove or reduce in any way the most inclusive and accessible golf course in Ontario? Its cheap and you can get there by subway. We are not short on park land in Toronto. This is unique! Save it.
Is this a joke?
This golf course is literally attached to Taylor creek park and Byng park.
Dentonia park is across the street.
You can literally walk all the way to Cabbage town byway of parks…
Who would propose this? And why?
I trust that Councillor Bradford will oppose this ludicrous proposition
More questions than answers here. I know who wrote this report, but who asked for it and what is their agenda? It seems many at City Council unfairly presume that golf is the exclusive domain of the wealthy. This inexpensive, accessible little gem that is used by beginners, youth, seniors, and people of all backgrounds and neighborhoods who just want to get outside and play some golf without travelling afar or breaking the bank. It’s hard enough to get a tee-time there already, let alone if capacity is cut by half! I sincerely hope that our local councillors oppose this measure. There is already plenty of parkland in the area.