'It's disgusting': Toronto staff respond to garbage, safety complaints at Bluffer’s Park in Scarborough

Thestar.com
June 11, 2021
Jennifer Kozak

Scarborough resident Edwin Hanson hopes that people going to Bluffer’s Park this summer pick up their garbage.

"I've lived here for 20 years now, and the amount of garbage that people leave behind is getting worse. Don't just blame the young people. I see parents leaving their children's diapers on the beach sometimes. It's disgusting. I tell them to pick up after themselves, but they don't listen," Hanson said. He goes to Bluffer’s Park every day for a run, followed by a quick swim.

"If someone came to your house and left a bunch of garbage, would you invite them back? Of course not. Treat the beach as your home. We don't have many clean beaches left," he said.

Due to a large amount of garbage beachgoers leave at Bluffer's Park, parks staff are working with Solid Waste Management to increase the number of garbage receptacles and reposition them based on high usage areas and monitor volume to increase the frequency of pickup if required.

The park has hired an additional four staff to solely address litter at Bluffer’s and nearby waterfront parks from Thursday to Monday.

Hanson would also like to see more lifeguards at Bluffer’s Park.

"Last year, we had three drownings here (at Bluffer’s Park). We need more lifeguards alongside the shores to monitor those in boats, kayaks and surfboards. Sometimes kids get drunk and decide to cool off by taking a quick dip in the water, and they can't swim properly," Hanson said.

The City of Toronto has a beach program with lifeguards who provide supervision at 10 designated swimming beaches seven days a week.

"Swimming at beaches should only occur when a lifeguard is on duty and is only permitted in designated swimming areas. Those going to the beach are advised not to swim unless the conditions are safe and a lifeguard is on duty," Lyne Kyle, senior communications co-ordinator at the City of Toronto, told toronto.com.

This year, the  city is also preparing to launch a comprehensive public education campaign about beach and water safety.

The campaign will highlight the importance of swimming only in designated areas, supervising non-swimmers and children at all times, and heeding the flag system that indicates when conditions are and are not safe for swimming.

"The campaign will be accessible, translated into several languages and be available on social media platforms, so anybody has access to it," Kyle said.

Hanson asks those who can't swim, especially, to wear a life-jacket, even if the individual is just on a boat or inside a kayak.

"People underestimate the power of Lake Ontario. If you can't swim, wear a life-jacket. If you can swim, also wear a life-jacket. You never know what can happen," he said.

Due to its attraction, Bluffer’s Park during the summer becomes a crowded beach, and lack of parking and space is something Coun. Gary Crawford, who represents Scarborough Southwest, hopes to fix this summer.

"We can't control how many people show up to Bluffer’s Park, but we did create a Bluffer’s Management plan, and we are working with transportation services to reduce traffic for summer 2021," Crawford said.

From May to October, additional Toronto police officers from 41 Division will actively monitor parking areas between 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Fridays, weekends and holidays, closing lots when full.