Item - 2025.NY27.14

North York Community Council:

1. Requested the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and in collaboration with the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, the General Manager, Toronto Water, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, to undertake a review of the feasibility of a new multi-use trail connection between the area of Glassworks Drive and Vanderhoof Avenue and the trails adjacent to E.T. Seton Park in the Don Valley, as well as a plan to improve other trails in the area, including but not limited to a signage plan for the trails, and to report back to North York Community Council in the third quarter of 2027.

In 2014, a portion of a street was built in Leaside with the intention of providing a north-south connection to Eglinton Avenue East on the eastern end of Vanderhoof Avenue. The first segment was delivered as part of the ‘Scenic on Eglinton’ development project - ‘Glassworks Drive’ was meant to serve an important role in the local transportation network, relieving pressure on other connecting roads in the area - particularly Brentcliffe Road, which experiences significant congestion to this day.

As it stands, Glassworks Drive remains a dead end. Staff have advised that other north-south connections secured through major redevelopment projects to the west have reduced the need for this corridor, and challenges arising from the steep grade change and environmental condition of the land between the current end of Glassworks Drive and Eglinton Avenue East create significant complications that impact the feasibility of the original plans for the street.

This section of Leaside is slated for significant intensification in the coming years, with large commercial blocks set to be redeveloped with residential towers in proximity to the new light rail transit station at Laird Drive and Eglinton Avenue East. To support this future population growth, public realm improvements such as new parks and active transportation infrastructure along Vanderhoof Avenue are being contemplated.

The position of Glassworks Drive at the east end of Vanderhoof Avenue presents a unique opportunity for another significant public realm improvement in the area - a new trail providing access to Sunnybrook Park and the Don Valley.

Currently, residents of south and east Leaside can only access Sunnybrook Park and the Don Valley by heading west to Brentcliffe Road, then travelling back east along Eglinton Avenue East towards Leslie Street, or up into Serena Gundy Park in north Leaside. A connection at Glassworks Drive would provide convenient access directly within the neighbourhood and could eventually connect with the active transportation infrastructure contemplated along Vanderhoof Avenue in the Laird in Focus Plan.

This initiative could give new purpose to an otherwise unused dead end, providing residents with a new, convenient connection to our park and trail network in an area preparing for significant population growth and intensification.