With the amount of pedestrians walking around High Park, it's safe to say most drivers don't want to be there anyway. But now the city is making it official by banning vehicles from High Park during cherry blossom season.
According to CTV News, local residents were sent a letter from Ward 4 city councillor Gord Perks stating that vehicles will be prohibited from accessing or parking in the park during peak blooming season.
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The letter went on to say that the decision was made “to ensure public safety in High Park during the festival.”
Every year, thousands of people visit High Park in late April/early May to take in the beauty of the blooming cherry blossom trees.
The cherry blossoms in High Park typically only last a week to a week and a half, depending on the weather. Though it is still too early to tell when exactly the flowers will bloom, a local bud watch site, Sakura in High Park, says the buds are showing healthy progress.
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Perks' note also told locals to expect a significant increase in parking enforcement in the area during the event. In addition to ticketing vehicles in violation of the new rules, officers will also have the ability to tow violating vehicles.
Residents have also been informed that they should file complaints with the city if vehicles are blocking their driveways or are parked illegally.
READ: Toronto Police Are Now Taking Parking Complaints Online
For those wanting to see the cherry blossoms without wading through the crowds at High Park, you might want to hop on the ferry to the Toronto Islands.
According to High Park Toronto, there are about 30 sakura cherry trees just 10 minutes from the Centre Island ferry docks.
