The police chief says officers at Trinity Bellwoods Park ticketed several people who urinated and defecated on nearby properties.
Brad Ross, a spokesperson with the City of Toronto, said officers will try to focus more on education than dolling out tickets.
Mayor John Tory says he will consider closing Trinity Bellwoods Park if the “out of control” crowds continue.
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders says several tickets were issued at Trinity Bellwoods Park on Saturday after people were spotted defecating and urinating in the driveways and backyards of homes nearby.
Thousands of people flocked to the park on Saturday, ignoring physical distancing rules and disobeying the province’s emergency order banning gatherings of more than five people.
While officers did not hand out fines to the large swath of people neglecting to comply with physical distancing rules, Saunders said a number of tickets were issued for disorderly conduct.
“A lot of complaints were coming in from the residents, people urinating, people defecating on their properties,” he said. “When you’ve got an elderly woman opening the door and seeing someone defecating, it is quite bothersome.”
He said enforcement has been ramped up at the park today to ensure the situation is not repeated.
“We want you to enjoy the park but there are boundaries,” he said. “You can’t be cavalier in breaking the law.”
He said he hopes people begin to understand the impact of their actions.
“When you don’t see the threat, you are less likely to understand the impact you are having. If it were scorpions, they’d be nobody here at the park,” he said. “I’m just hoping that people understand this is about saving lives.”
Brad Ross, a spokesperson with the City of Toronto, said officers will try to focus more on education than doling out tickets.
“Having police and municipal bylaw enforcement in the park helps make people understand why we are doing what we are doing,” he said Sunday. “We can’t have crowds like we saw yesterday.”
Ross said while there is “no excuse” for people urinating in driveways and backyards, the city is working to reopen washrooms in public parks.