Dozens of families gathered on Sept. 7 for the end of the outdoor soccer season hosted at Humberline Park. But it could also be the last time soccer is played at the North Etobicoke neighbourhood park.
Humberline Fields, however, might soon disappear entirely.
Federal Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith announced on March 1 that $20 million would be provided to support the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation, which will be built on the Humberline Drive park, just south of Finch Avenue.
The proposed building site is located on a soccer field, one of the few in the area used by many in the community.
Area residents aren't supportive of the idea of demolishing valuable green space. They instead made signs, knocked on doors and eventually hosted an awareness event at Humberline Fields in a bid to save the park.
“This is our lifeline," said one person who attended the gathering. "Day and night we are here, our life will be gone, this is the only place where we can come, where we can meet friends, where we can walk and talk, meet and greet.”
Humberlinefield.ca was launched by the community to urge governments to locate another site to construct the centre after early reactions from politicians.
They argue that Humberline Fields is not the right place for it.
“The most important thing is that this has to be protected. Because that's where the kids have to come and play,” said concerned citizen Mr. Anil Vij.
This issue eventually caught Premier Doug Ford’s eye, and he sent Michelle Telfeyan, the executive assistant for his constituency office, as well as Etobicoke North MP John Zerucelli.
“I know about the controversy around the fields,” Zerucelli said. “And I'm going to make sure you guys always have a place to play soccer here, the premier and I are aligned on this, and we are aware of the issue and the community's concern.”
Vij says that initially, the government was supportive.
“Every level of politician has been with us. And they're trying to work within the system,” Vij said.
But after inaction from the regular pathways, Vij said the community started a petition.
“We had over 2,500 to 3,000 handwritten, signed-up petitions, over 3,000 to 3,500 online petitions, and when we knocked at the door, every single person signed, nobody even thought about it.”
The community has been feeling pressure from surrounding growth, including from Humber Polytechnic. They argue the park is used by thousands of children playing in the Rexdale Soccer League.
With a place in the area since before 2009, many community members are left wondering if there will be any green space left.
"How many green spaces are there now? And how many were there 20 years ago?” Vij asks.
