---
title: "Ward 4 Parkdale-High Park candidates split on car access plan for High Park"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/ward-4-parkdale-high-park-candidates-high-park-access-october-19"
last_updated: "2026-10-19T17:55:12.120Z"
---

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](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/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](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/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](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/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](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/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](/on/toronto-2026/races/councillor/ward-4-parkdale-high-park). Voting day is 26 October 2026.

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