Access To Recreation

In 2005, the City of Toronto began the Regent Park Revitalization Project to rebuild housing, support a vibrant community and create enjoyable spaces in the neighbourhood. A part of the early development was the Regent Park Aquatic Centre, offering recreational activities and classes.

However, registration is mostly online and has proved to be a challenge for many in Regent Park who have slower internet, fewer devices or language barriers – and were often left without spaces for themselves or their children.

Building on work shared with other neighbourhood organizations, YSM’s Community Development team brought these parents – mostly mothers – together to start developing a solution, and a way to create space for their community.

With passion and skills from Regent Park mothers and the support of YSM, the Access to Recreation group came into being. Through a successful proposal to the City’s Parks, Forestry, and Recreation department and a private foundation grant to bring their idea to life, a solution was designed. Starting as a pilot in 2017, this program, which allows local schools to send children to swim classes during school hours, became a permanent program at Nelson Mandela and Lord Dufferin schools in 2023.

The Access to Recreation program has significantly increased children’s opportunities to learn to swim and stay active, particularly in communities facing barriers. A total of five schools serving Regent Park, Cabbagetown and St. James Town children have implemented the program, which now includes an after hours component on weekdays. Additional schools participating are Winchester, Sprucecourt, and Rose Avenue (this last starting in September 2024).

The group’s work has built and honed its members’ skills in advocating to city government for the community’s needs . Members have built relationships with city staff and council, and worked through many decisions and strategies about how best to gain their objectives.

Each year, over 950 students benefit from the program, and since its inception, more than 3,000 children in Regent Park and surrounding areas have participated in swimming lessons and other activities. YSM and local partners continue to advocate for policy changes, aiming to secure ongoing funding and ensure equitable access for all.

The success of this Communty Development initiative includes expanding to more schools, raising parental awareness, and simplifying registration. Abdirahman, a community member, notes, “The Access to Recreation program not only makes it easier for kids to join swim programs, but it also highlights the importance of safety and fun. The Access to Recreation Program’s expansion reflects its success, particularly in supporting those who need it most.”