Safe Trails and Parks

The City of Vaughan’s Parks By-law 134-95 (PDF), and its amendments, are part of the City of Vaughan’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all who live, work and play in Vaughan.

While in any park, citizens must be respectful of others enjoying the park, the environment and City property. Here are a few tips to make your visit to Vaughan’s parks and trails fun, and laws you should know to stay safe.

Etiquette

While in parks, citizen shall not:

use firearms or weapons
climb any building, structure or equipment, unless it is equipment designed for climbing
damage any part of any trees, other vegetation or any building, structure, equipment, or other property of the municipality
dump or drain any garbage, liquid or other material
disturb, or allow their pet to disturb, any wildlife
consume, possess, serve or sell alcoholic beverages
encroach on park lands by allowing their personal property to cross on to public property

Bike riding

Ride on designated paths and do not exceed 20 kilometres/hour.

Dogs

Keep dog on a leash, unless in a designated off-leash area. Be sure to pick up after them and place droppings in a garbage bin.

Campfires and barbecues

Use only in designated areas and with a Fire Burn Permit from the City. For more information about a permit, visit vaughan.ca/fire or call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281.

Fireworks

Fireworks are not permitted in any parks without a permit and never on city streets or boulevards. For more information about fireworks, visit vaughan.ca/fireworks.

Off-road vehicles

Off-road vehicles are not permitted in parks, woodlots, open spaces, or any roads and highways within the city of Vaughan. The use of illegal off-road vehicles in parks and forests is not only dangerous for pedestrians, it also disturbs natural habitats.

The owner and/or operator of an off-road vehicle driving in unpermitted areas can be charged and convicted of an offence under the Off-Road Vehicles Act, Highway Traffic Act, Insurance Act, Trespass to Property Act and City of Vaughan by-laws.

Reporting a non-emergency activity

Residents and visitors can help by reporting non-emergency activity occurring illegally in parks, woodlots and open spaces to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or York Regional Police (YRP) at 1-866-876-3423.

Please provide as much of the following information as possible:

Park name and location of sighting
Date and time of occurrence
Identifiable marks of the off-road vehicle (colour, size, make)
Licence plate number
Street name of where the vehicle is coming from
Number of vehicles and riders
Physical description of person riding

Off-road vehicles can be driven outside of Vaughan on approved trails and private property. Please visit the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders for approved trails in Ontario.

What to do if you are stopped

If you are stopped by YRP, the City of Vaughan or Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), you must provide identification. Offences include, but are not limited to:

Operating a motorized recreational vehicle in a park
Using a public facility or public land in a manner other than its lawful intended use
Damaging plants and park property
Emitting noise from a combustion engine
Driving carelessly
Operating an unregistered vehicle
Operating without insurance