Today, Mayor Tory announced that Riverdale Farm, High Park Zoo and the City’s conservatories will open tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14. The farm, zoo and conservatories were closed in March to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Riverdale Farm is home to domestic farm animals and representative of a turn-of-the-century Ontario farm. The farm is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. More information is available at toronto.ca/zoos or by calling 311.
Toronto’s oldest zoo, the High Park Zoo, houses animals such as bison, llamas, highland cattle and reindeer. The High Park Zoo is open daily, with free admission, from 7 a.m. to dusk. More information is available at toronto.ca/zoos.
Only outdoor areas of Riverdale Farm and the High Park Zoo will be open to the public. Signage is being installed to reinforce physical distancing and admission rules. Regular cleaning of common facilities such as washrooms and water fountains will take place.
Residents can take in a wide-array flowers and other tropical plants at Allan Gardens Conservatory and Centennial Park Conservatory. Both conservatories are open daily from 12 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/conservatories or by calling Allan Gardens Conservatory at 416-392-7288 or Centennial Park Conservatory at 416-394-8543. Visitor capacity will be reduced at both locations to facilitate physical distancing. One-way foot-traffic will be in place to prevent crowding and bottlenecking. Visitors will be required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering at the conservatories.
The City of Toronto continues to safely and gradually reopen amenities for people to enjoy this summer. Residents heading out to visit these amenities should continue to follow to Toronto Public Health’s advice to wash hands often, practise physical distancing and wear a face covering or mask in all indoor public spaces.
Quotes:
“The reopening of the Riverdale Farm, High Park Zoo and conservatories in our city will provide families an opportunity to enjoy some of our city’s most treasured attractions. By reopening these family-friendly attractions, we can provide kids a chance to participate in new and exciting experiences after a challenging few months. I want to thank staff for working hard to help us reopen these attractions in a safe and measured manner to ensure that residents are protected.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Exploring our own city can be the best and least expensive adventure of all. There’s just so much to see and our farms, zoos and conservatories should be on everyone’s ‘To-do’ list.”
– Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 6 York Centre), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee
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