Island park permits cancelled until July 31

The Toronto Island will continue to have limited access until at least July 31, extending the previous estimate by one month. The announcement is another blow to Island businesses who rely on a limited summer season and will now likely see little business on the typically lucrative Canada Day holi- day as more than 40 per cent of the Island continues to be covered in water.

The decision, announced Wednesday, means 300 permits affecting 90 groups or individuals will be cancelled.

It also affects 350 summer campers, as well as July weddings planned for the Island, and trips by community groups, according to the city.

Shawnda Walker, the spokesperson for Centreville Amusement Park, remains optimistic in the face of the unprecedented challenges.

“We would be absolutely shocked if Centreville is still closed at the end of July,” she told Metro, explaining that the amusement park’s area of the island is in better shape than most, but they’re going “week-to-week.”

News of the Island’s continued clo- sure comes after a positive report on projected Lake Ontario water levels.

The analysis, by the International Lake Ontario — St. Lawrence River Board (ICJ), showed the lake could return to pre-flooding levels by midto-late June.

But the optimistic projections are based on median scenarios and historic data.

The worst case scenario — a repeat of the previous record rainfall from 1952 — could mean that the lake doesn’t return to pre-flooding levels until mid-August.

In addition to the Island, all of Toronto’s 11 beaches have significant water coverage, according to the city.

Much of the recovery along the shoreline will rely on the ICJ releasing a massive amount of water into the St. Lawrence.