City supports community safety with temporary closure of Frontenac Park

Effective July 2, 2025, the City will temporarily close Frontenac Park, beside the Adelaide St. Shelter (38 Cowdy St.) and lease it to Lionhearts to ensure that Lionhearts can safely use it for the expansion of day services. The closure will remain in place for at least six months, or until the winddown of services at Adelaide Street Shelter, which is anticipated early in 2026. During this period, the park will be closed for public use, and people not participating in day services will be restricted from entering or using the park. In addition to public communications being shared over social media and through the City’s Get Involved Kingston platform, the City and Lionhearts will install fencing and signs to notify the community attempting to access the site of the closure. 

This change will allow Lionhearts to offer expanded programming during the day, such as gardening, educational programs and outdoor health and wellness activities. These activities have been shown to positively impact mental health and aid in recovery efforts, helping participants develop a healthy path out of homelessness. 

“Working with our partners at the City, we're pleased to announce these enhanced supports for the vulnerable persons we serve, changes which will also improve neighbourhood safety and wellbeing,” said Travis Blackmore, Founder and CEO, Lionhearts Inc. “Together, we continue to work toward our goal of eradicating hunger and homelessness while restoring human dignity in the communities we serve.” 

At the recent Adelaide Near Neighbour Workshop, held on June 11, some community members raised the idea of closing and fencing Frontenac Park to enable Lionhearts to offer additional supports to those in days services. Shelter users and shelter operators have also requested the change, recognizing that disruptions in the neighbourhood are destabilizing to those who live near the shelter, those who work at the shelter and those seeking shelter and day service supports. 

The City is closing the park in accordance with City of Kingston By-Law 2009-76. This by-law regulates the use of parks and recreation facilities, and under this by-law the public will be prohibited from entering or using the park, including for daytime access, recreational activities and sheltering overnight. This closure is a temporary measure untaken to support the neighbourhood, shelter operations and shelter clients, and will be in place for six months or until the shelter operations winddown at this location. 

The City recognizes that people may choose to shelter overnight in other municipal parks, and the emergency shelter system continues to have capacity. The closure of Frontenac Park does not restrict anyone experiencing homelessness ability to shelter overnight in other City parks or to access the various support services and programs available across the community. Throughout this period of transition, Street Outreach and City Housing & Homelessness Services staff will provide supports to people accessing the park, offering updates on the closure and on the expansion of services to be offered at Adelaide Street Shelter as well as assistance and connections to services, transportation and storage to those choosing to shelter and access services elsewhere.