Park Renaming Sparks Community Tensions

The recent renaming of the Sumach-Shuter Parkette to Louis March Park has ignited tensions in a neighbourhood. The change, passed at Toronto City Council in May and led by Councillor Chris Moise, is meant to honour the late community leader and founder of the Zero Gun Violence Movement. March, who passed away in 2024, was widely admired for his advocacy in youth empowerment, violence prevention, and justice reform.

Dawar Naeem – Local Journalism Initiative

But for some residents of Trefann Court and the surrounding Corktown area — who live closest to the parkette — the renaming has raised questions not about the man being honoured, but about the process behind the decision.

“This is our park — our choice — and that was taken away from us,” said Shane Omar, a resident of Regent Park for over 20 years. “The city says it wants to be transparent, but this wasn’t transparency.”

The parkette, affectionately known by locals as “Stinky’s Park,” sits just east of Parliament Street, near Sumach and Shuter. It was built on land where a factory once stood, following grassroots resistance by homeowners in the 1960s who fought against expropriation. For some, that history makes the site deeply symbolic.

“It was the first time ordinary citizens challenged the city on urban planning,” said Bill, a Shuter Street resident of 40+ years. “The city eventually gave in, and the park was created. That’s part of our legacy.”

Residents say they were caught off guard when the renaming was announced. They point to a lack of signage, newsletters, or invitations to public meetings. While a petition supporting the renaming collected around 800 signatures, local organizers opposing the change say their own petition, calling for public consultation, received nearly 1,200 signatures in under a month.

“We don’t object to naming something after Louis March,” said Anne-Marie Boone, a resident. “But this particular park has a history. It’s not even in Regent Park. There were other locations that made more sense.”

City officials have said the renaming followed proper channels, including petitions and email feedback. As of now, new signage for Louis March Park is expected to be installed soon.

But for residents who feel unheard, the fight is not over. Organizers are now calling on City Council to pause the renaming process and commit to meaningful local consultation before the name becomes permanent.