Neighbourhood Information: Green Space Festival 2025

Each year during the final weekend of Pride, The 519 hosts the Green Space Festival (GSF) featuring a series of signature events held in Barbara Hall Park. The Festival, and other activities held during this important Pride month, have many positive impacts for our local neighbourhood and businesses.

Green Space Festival is The 519’s biggest annual fundraising event that takes place during the month of Pride.

Proceeds generated from Green Space Festival go to support The 519’s unique programs and services, and enable us to provide free space for community-led organizations.

The 519 is a Canada’s largest 2SLGBTQ+ community centre and service provider, serving underserved local residents and 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Toronto and beyond.

Green Space Festival has been able to directly invest millions of dollars into programs and services for marginalized 2SLGBTQ+ communities as a direct result of our fundraising over the last 10+ years.

We are committed to building on the improvements we have made to how we manage sound mitigation, traffic flow, pedestrian safety, maintenance, and communications in the build up to and during the Festival. We are grateful for the ongoing support, feedback, and advice from our neighbours, the Councillor’s office, the Church-Wellesley Neighbourhood Association, the Church-Wellesley BIA, and City of Toronto staff. Please see the following information about our commitment to access to the park and other facilities during the 2025 Festival.

Sound Mitigation

We are again incorporating sound-proofing features in our site plan to direct sound away from our neighbours as much as possible. We incorporate sound-dampening banners into our site design.

We will not exceed 80 db during the events. We monitor this continuously and diligently during the festival and bylaw enforcement checks our levels several times per day.

Amplified sound will end promptly at 11:59pm from Wednesday, June 25 to Sunday, July 29.

Thank you for your continued support and care for The 519. we can’t wait to see at the Festival!

As of June 7, 2025:

Monday, June 23

Event/GSF Activity within Barbara Hall Park

9:00 am onwards: Fencing installed on north and south sides of Park for festival
11:00 am onwards: Set-up/installation for festival
Delivery of portable toilets
Delivery of festival products to interior of The 519
The 519 will be open until 9:00pm
Park will be closed overnight

Access Through Barbara Hall Park from Church to Jarvis

Some areas will have limited access for festival setup.

Access to AIDS Memorial

Some areas will have limited access for festival setup.

Access to Splash Pad

Regular access.
Festival setup will be underway.

Access to Off-Leash Dog Park

Regular access.

Access to Monteith Street

Regular access

Church Street Lane Closure

Lane closure on Church Street east curb from Monteith St. to Anvil Alley.
Through-way will be maintained for community members using sidewalk lane barriers.

Accessibility

Ramp into The 519 will be accessible at all times during building hours.

Tuesday, June 24

Event/GSF Activity within Barbara Hall Park

Event: Candlelight AIDS Vigil: 9:00 to 10:30 pm.
Festival setup continues.
The 519 will be open until 9:00 p.m.
Set-up and installation continues with some limited access.
Park will be closed overnight.

Access Through Barbara Hall Park from Church to Jarvis

Regular access.
Some areas will have limited access for AIDS Vigil set-up after 5:00 pm.

Access to AIDS Memorial

Regular access until 5:00pm.

Access to Splash Pad

Regular access.
Festival set-up will be underway.

Access to Off-Leash Dog Park

Regular access.

Access to Monteith Street

Regular access.

Church Street Lane Closure

Lane closure on Church Street east curb from Monteith St. to Anvil Alley.
Through-way will be maintained for community members using sidewalk lane barriers.

Accessibility

Ramp into The 519 will be accessible at all times during building hours.

Wednesday, June 25

Event/GSF Activity within Barbara Hall Park

Event: Starry Night: 5:00pm to 11:59 pm.
Continued installation and deliveries for GSF.
The 519 will be open with limited access until 2:00 pm.
Park is closed.

Access Through Barbara Hall Park from Church to Jarvis

No through access.

Access to AIDS Memorial

Access available through Front Desk available from 9:30 am to 3 pm.

Access to Splash Pad

No access

Access to Off-Leash Dog Park

Access via Cawthra Square only.

Access to Monteith Street

Access for residents only.

Church Street Lane Closure

Full street closure on Church St. both directions between 2 pm and 1 am.
Monteith St. is not accessible northbound on Church St. Access only via heading southbound from Gloucester St.

Accessibility

Access ramps will be available on both sides of sidewalk closure to ensure accessible through way passage.
Ramp into The 519 will be accessible until 2 pm.
Entrance to park for those with mobility needs, strollers, available at the entrance north of The 519 building.

Thursday, June 26

Event/GSF Activity within Barbara Hall Park

Event: Disco Disco: 5:00 to 11:59 pm.
The 519 will be open with limited access until 4:30 pm.
Park is closed.

Access Through Barbara Hall Park from Church to Jarvis

No through access.

Access to AIDS Memorial

Access via Front Desk from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Access to Splash Pad

Access via park entrance to the south of The 519 for families only until 4:00 pm.
After 5pm: Access through accessible entrance on the north festival entrance, subject to bag check.
Playground equipment tied-down at 5:00 pm.

Access to Off-Leash Dog Park

Access via Cawthra Square all day/evening

Access to Monteith Street

Access for residents only

Church Street Lane Closure

Full street closure of Church St. both directions between 2 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Monteith St. is not accessible northbound on Church St. Access only via heading southbound from Gloucester st.

Accessibility

Access ramps will be available on both sides of sidewalk closure to ensure accessible through-way passage.
Ramp into The 519 will be accessible until 3:30 pm.
Entrance to Park for those with mobility needs, strollers, available at the entrance north of The 519 building.

Friday, June 27

Event/GSF Activity within Barbara Hall Park

Event: One World: 5:00 to 11:59 pm
The 519 will be open until 4:30 pm with no access to upper floors

Access Through Barbara Hall Park from Church to Jarvis

No through access.

Access to AIDS Memorial

Access available through Front Desk available from 9:30 a.m to 4 p.m.

Access to Splash Pad

Access via park entrance to the south of The 519 for families only until 4:00 pm.
After 5pm: Access through accessible entrance on the north festival entrance, subject to bag check.
Playground equipment tied-down at 5:00 pm.

Access to Off-Leash Dog Park

Access via Cawthra Square all day/evening.

Access to Monteith Street

Access for residents only.

Church Street Lane Closure

Full street closure by Pride Toronto commences 6:00 am.

Accessibility

Access ramps will be available on both sides of sidewalk closure to ensure accessible through-way passage.
Ramp into The 519 will be accessible until 3:30 pm.
Entrance to Park for those with mobility needs, strollers, available at the entrance north of The 519 building.

Saturday, June 28

Event/GSF Activity within Barbara Hall Park

Event: Pride & Remembrance Run: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Load in and set up for Pride & Remembrance run from approx. 5:30 am to 8:00 am.
Event: Lipstick Jungle: 1:00 to 11:59 pm.
The 519 will be open with limited access from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Access Through Barbara Hall Park from Church to Jarvis

No through access.

Access to AIDS Memorial

Access available through Front Desk available from 9:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m.

Access to Splash Pad

Access via park entrance to the south of The 519 from 9:00am until 12:00pm.
After 12pm: Access through accessible entrance on the north festival entrance, subject to bag check
Playground equipment tied down at 5:00 pm.

Access to Off-Leash Dog Park

Access via Cawthra Square.

Access to Monteith Street

Access for residents only.

Church Street Lane Closure

Full street closure by Pride Toronto continues.

Accessibility

Access ramps will be available on both sides of sidewalk closure to ensure accessible through-way passage.
Entrance to park for those with mobility needs, strollers, available at entrance north of The 519 building.

Sunday, June 29

Event/GSF Activity within Barbara Hall Park

Event: Treehouse Party: 1:00 to 11:59 pm.
The 519 will be open with limited access from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Access Through Barbara Hall Park from Church to Jarvis

No through access.

Access to AIDS Memorial

Access through Front Desk available from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.

Access to Splash Pad

Access via park entrance to the south of The 519 from 9:00am until 12:00 pm.
Access for families after 12:00 pm Church and Monteith entrance (subject to bag check and stroller check).
Playground equipment tied down at 5:00 pm.

Access to Off-Leash Dog Park

Access via Cawthra Square.

Access to Monteith Street

Access for residents only.

Church Street Lane Closure

Full street closure by Pride Toronto continues.

Accessibility

Access ramps will be available on both sides of sidewalk closure to ensure accessible through-way passage.
Entrance to park for those with mobility needs, strollers, available at entrance north of The 519 building.

Monday, June 30

Event/GSF Activity within Barbara Hall Park

The 519 will be closed.

Access Through Barbara Hall Park from Church to Jarvis

Limited access until 8:00 pm as we strike the festival and clean up the park, including power-washing.

Access to AIDS Memorial

Limited access until 8:00 pm as we strike the festival and clean up the park.

Access to Splash Pad

Regular access.
Festival teardown will be underway.

Access to Off-Leash Dog Park

Access via Cawthra Square all day.
Access via Church St. begins approximately 3:00 pm.

Access to Monteith Street

Regular access

Church Street Lane Closure

No closures; regular access.

Accessibility

Regular access.

Tuesday, July 1 (Canada Day Holiday)

Event/Green Space Festival (GSF) Activity within Barbara Hall Park

The 519 will be closed.
Normal access to park resumes.
Remaining festival teardown will be underway.

Note:

Splash Pad: Only families with children can access the splash pad from June 25 to 29 during non-festival times.  While the splash pad will be open during festival event hours, Barbara Hall Park, including the splash pad, is licensed for alcohol sales and consumption. Caution is advised when set-up or events are underway. For safety reasons, we will be tying down playground equipment at 5:00 pm on June 25 through 29.
Hours for access to dog park and splash pad via park entrance south of The 519 subject to change based on public safety and operational considerations.

Community Pride Events at The 519

There are other Pride events hosted by The 519 in June. These include:

Saturday, June 7 – 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Pride Queerapalooza – 11am to 4:30pm
Monday, June 9 – Pride Sober Mixology Class 7 to 8:30pm. $25 per person.
Monday, June 9 – 2SLGBTQ+ Older Adults Pride Celebration – 2 to 4pm
Saturday, June 14 – 2SLGBTQ+ Family Pride Celebration – 11am to 12:30pm
Thursday, June 19 – Trans People of Colour Park Party – 3 to 5pm
Thursday, June 19 – Cross-Programs Pride Party – 5 to 8pm
Friday, June 20 – All Out Rally for 2SLGBTQ+ Freedom at Queen’s Park South Lawn [Not at The 519]

Key Contacts

General Inquiries & Park Access Front Desk: 416-392-6874

Festival Passes: www.greenspaceto.org | Giving@The519.org

Concerns: Community@The519.org | During festival: 416-392-6874

Accessibility concerns: Accessibility@The519.org

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