Newsstand: April 22, 2015

After a new change in regulations, Toronto is one step closer to joining other major food-friendly cities for whom food trucks play an integral role in the culinary landscape. Read more about that, plus a neighbourhood pollution map and Park People's latest report, which comes out today.

By Kelli Korducki • Illustration by Matthew Daley

Today, area green space advocates Park People have released their latest report on the state of Toronto’s urban parks. “Making Connections: Planning a network of parks and open spaces in urban neighbourhoods” highlights Toronto’s need for a connected network of parks, and puts forth strategies for making that possible.

A team of engineering researchers at the University of Toronto have put together a map of Toronto’s pollution levels. The results show that, when it comes to sheer breathability, not all of the city’s neighbourhoods are created equal. The Star reports that areas of concern include the neighbourhood surrounding Scarborough Town Centre, Don Mills and Sheppard, and Riverdale.

The city’s food truck vendors have something to (sort of) celebrate: yesterday, the City’s licensing committee voted 5-1 to approve a motion to change the distance that a food truck is allowed to park to a standing restaurant from 50 metres to 30 metres. Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 22, St. Paul’s), who put forth the motion, told the Star: “The action that we took today liberalizes our city’s regulations with regards to food trucks and it allows for new creative food diversity on our streets. It was important to me, and I believe the mayor, and the majority of members of the committee, that if it was possible to bring parties together rather than create a street fight over street food, that that would be our preference.”