Willcocks Street between Huron and St. George, and Devonshire between Hoskin Avenue and south of the Varsity Centre is closed to cars as part of a program to create a pedestrian-friendly environment.
The closure is part of a pilot project that will last until Sept. 30, 2011. After the year is over, a decision will be made concerning the future of the streets.
“The pilot projects will be unique features on the St. George campus providing a new student amenity with the potential to enhance and enrich the student experience,” said Elizabeth Sisam, assistant vice president of campus and facilities planning.
“They can be seen as a first step in the process of planning, observation, design, and implementation of a longer term transformation of the Willcocks and Devonshire areas. The most basic measure of the project’s success will be the extent of their use and enjoyment by the University of Toronto community.”
Currently, there are tables and chairs for lounging students, a weekly farmers’ market, planters and Wi-Fi available to all students at U of T.
“I think it’s a great thing that I’d like to see more of. Most of all, it is great to see the space made comfortable for students with tables, chairs, grass etc,” said Zannah Matson, internal liaison of the University of Toronto’s environmental resource network. “There is something great when it isn’t just an absence of cars on the street, but instead the presence of a people-friendly space.”
U of T is currently working with the City to create a pedestrian scramble at the intersection of St.George and Harbord in the next month. This will allow students to cross the intersection in every direction — including diagonally — at the same time.
“It’s great that the City has approved the closure of streets across Toronto to make them more pedestrian-friendly,” said UTSU President Adam Awad.
“Students have been lobbying for safer streets for years. I like what the University has decided to do with Willcocks and Devonshire, but it’s unfortunate that they chose to not close down at least part of St. George, even though the City approved its closure from Bloor to College.”
Toby Bowers, bikechain coordinator, anticipates the closure will be very successful. “It’s great that the university is facilitating more active transportation and I trust cyclists will be sensible in travelling through car-free zones safely.”
“I hope that one day St. George and Harbord/Hoskins will be fully car free. If this project works out I don’t see why the university wouldn’t expand the idea to other more trafficked streets on campus,” said ASSU president Gavin Nowlan.
Recently, the University has taken steps to make its practices more sustainable. Several recent initiatives include: an extensive lighting retrofit project across campus; installation of solar panels on the athletic building at the St. George Campus and the Instructional Centre at University of Toronto Scarborough; and geothermal heating on the Instructional Centre at the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus.
