Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park candidates split on car access plan for High Park
CBC Toronto reports that candidates for Ward 4 city councillor are divided over a city plan to limit car access to High Park, with Nadia Guerrera supporting a pause while Diana Chan McNally and Debbie King oppose stopping the work.
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Ten candidates are on the City of Toronto's certified list to replace retiring Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park councillor Gord Perks, and CBC Toronto reported on 19 October 2026 that access to High Park has become a dividing issue between them with one week until voting day.
The city's High Park Management Strategy calls for limiting car traffic inside the park. As part of that work, CBC reports the city has removed about 300 parking spaces in recent years to create more green space and give more room to people walking and cycling. An advocacy group called High Park Access, which opposes the plan, sent a survey to all 10 candidates asking whether they would call to immediately suspend the work and redo consultations. Seven candidates responded.
Nadia Guerrera, a local teacher, told CBC she supports pausing the plan. "I don't think that the current framing around protecting green space has to come by excluding people," she said. "I think we can do both." She told CBC she heard concerns about the city's consultation process while door knocking.
Two other candidates responded to the High Park Access survey saying they oppose suspending the plan. Diana Chan McNally, a housing advocate, told CBC she would not call to stop the work already underway, but said the city needs to address accessibility concerns before the car ban takes effect, including adding accessible parking spots, restoring trails and improving transit within the park. "I don't think it's appropriate for us to move forward until that's actually done," she said.
Debbie King, a Toronto District School Board Trustee also running for the Ward 4 councillor seat, told CBC: "I support a car restriction," though she added the plan needs some updates.
Vanessa Raponi, a candidate with a background in engineering, did not say in the survey whether she would call for an immediate pause. She told CBC she does not support making High Park a car thoroughfare, but also wants all people to be able to use the space. "I'm not supportive of High Park being a thoroughfare with a prioritization of vehicles," she said, adding that she supports adapting access so that every person can comfortably use the space.
The debate touches on accessibility. Marshall Leslie, director of High Park Access, told CBC that removing parking makes it harder for families with young children and people with disabilities to reach sports facilities at the centre of the park. Faraz Golizadeh, co-chair of street-safety group Safe Parkside, said the number of accessible spots has remained steady and that limiting car traffic makes the park safer.
Voters in Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park can see all certified candidates and their profiles at the Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park race page. Voting day is 26 October 2026.
Questions this story answers
Who is running for city councillor in Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park?
CBC Toronto reported on 19 October 2026 that 10 candidates are running for the Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park city councillor seat on October 26, 2026. The race is open because longtime incumbent Gord Perks announced his retirement. Candidates named in the CBC report include Nadia Guerrera, Diana Chan McNally, Debbie King and Vanessa Raponi. The full certified list is available at the City of Toronto's candidate registry.
What is the High Park car access debate about?
CBC Toronto reports that the city has a plan called the High Park Management Strategy, which includes limiting car traffic in High Park. As part of the plan, the city has removed about 300 parking spaces in recent years to create more green space and give more room to people walking and cycling. Ward 4 candidates have different views on whether this work should continue or pause before the October 26 vote.
What is Nadia Guerrera's position on High Park car access?
CBC Toronto reports that Nadia Guerrera said she would support calling for an immediate pause on the city's High Park management plan and redoing the consultations, which she said she heard complaints about while door knocking. She told CBC: 'I don't think that the current framing around protecting green space has to come by excluding people. I think we can do both.' The High Park Access group's survey published her response as in favour of suspending the plan.
What is Diana Chan McNally's position on High Park?
CBC Toronto reports that Diana Chan McNally, a housing advocate, opposes calling to stop the work already underway. She told CBC she would push to increase accessibility measures before the car ban is put in place, including adding accessible parking spots, restoring trails and providing better transit within the park. She said: 'I don't think it's appropriate for us to move forward until that's actually done.'
What is Debbie King's position on High Park car access?
CBC Toronto reports that Debbie King, a TDSB Trustee also running for Ward 4 councillor, opposes suspending the city's High Park plan. She told CBC: 'I support a car restriction,' though she added the plan needs some other updates. She was among the candidates who responded to the High Park Access group's survey saying she opposed pausing the work.
What is Vanessa Raponi's position on High Park?
CBC Toronto reports that Vanessa Raponi, a candidate with a background in engineering, did not say whether she would call for an immediate suspension of the city's High Park plan. She told CBC she does not support a car ban but also does not want to stop the work entirely. She said she opposes High Park becoming a car thoroughfare but supports adapting access so every person can use the space comfortably.
How many parking spaces has the city removed from High Park?
CBC Toronto reports the city has removed about 300 parking spaces in High Park in recent years as part of its management plan, creating more green space and giving more room to people walking and cycling. Accessibility advocates quoted in the CBC report disagree about whether accessible parking spots have been reduced: High Park Access director Marshall Leslie says they have been reduced, while Safe Parkside co-chair Faraz Golizadeh says the number of accessible spots has remained steady.
When is voting day for Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park?
Voting day for Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park, and all other Toronto races, is 26 October 2026. Advance voting ran from 6 to 11 October 2026. If you have not yet confirmed your voting place, use the City of Toronto's online tool at toronto.ca. You can also see all the candidates running in this ward at the Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park race page.
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