Item - 2025.EC20.1

The General Manager, Parks and Recreation 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.

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.

This report recommends that City Council amend Municipal Code Chapter 441 "Fees and Charges" by amending the existing permit fee for the outdoor oven resident / not-for-profit user category to $0. This change will result in an estimated annual revenue loss of less than $1,000. This revenue impact is minimal, and the implementation of these changes will be managed within the existing Parks and Recreation's Operating Budget.

No additional funding is required.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.