Item - 2025.EC20.1

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix E – Schedule 1, Parks and Recreation by amending fees to read as set out in the table below:

2. City Council approve the revised Outdoor Ovens in City Parks Policy, as detailed in

Attachment 1 to the report (March 24, 2025) from the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, with the following amendments:

a. delete of section 5.5 and replace it with the following:

Non-profit organizations, charities and community groups interested in establishing long term use agreements for an outdoor oven on City-owned or operated parkland may approach the City of Toronto’s Parks and Recreation Division to pursue such an agreement, in consultation with the local Ward Councillor. Terms and conditions will be outlined in the Agreement, in a manner satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks and Recreation.

3. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to:

a. Establish an Outdoor Ovens Community of Practice, inclusive of oven champions and interested residents from across the city, to bring a community development and activation approach to Outdoor Ovens policy, operations and access;

b. Extend the option for non-profit organizations, charities and community groups that have been involved in the establishment and operation of a local park oven to explore long-term use agreements with the City of Toronto for park oven activation, including commitments on recurring days and times of use; bulk insurance options; and training and knowledge transfer requirements for additional oven use by City employees or outside organizations;

c. Collect data on oven usage, including through event permits, and make this information publicly available;

d. Explore opportunities to expand education and community awareness of park ovens to areas across the City, with a focus on areas that are currently underserved by park ovens; and

e. report back on the above in the first quarter of 2026.

The Director, Policy and Strategic Planning, Parks and Recreation and the Interim Director, Client and Business, Parks and Recreation gave a presentation on Increasing Community Use of Outdoor Public Ovens in Parks.

This report responds to City Council's direction (MM20.11) to review the 2011 Outdoor Ovens in City Parks Policy to identify opportunities, if any, and to reduce administrative or financial barriers to the community use of outdoor ovens, while also ensuring public health, safety, and liability considerations continue to be met.    

Toronto maintains the largest outdoor public oven network in Canada and facilitates public enjoyment of these amenities both through City-delivered programming and opportunities for individuals and groups to book the ovens for their own use. This review finds that Toronto's outdoor ovens are not used as much as they could be and recommends opportunities to reverse that trend with the recommended removal of booking fees and other administrative processes that may serve as barriers for communities to self-activate these amenities, while continuing to mitigate risk appropriately.