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• The Dufferin Grove Park approach

Part of Community Notebooks: Campfires

Booking Campfires

Campfires need to be booked with on-site staff. They can help you arrange a campfire time (416 392-0913 or staff@dufferinpark.ca). There's a suggested $10 donation for program equipment maintenance and materials.

In the summer there are two campfire locations – centre path and south path (the south path is reserved for groups with children, and it is only available after 6 pm). In the winter, the two campfire locations are - centre path and by the rink (the rink campfire location is right next to the pleasure pad and has a matted path to the rink house - be prepared to welcome other rink users!!)

To have a safe, fun campfire and to keep neighbours happy, these are the rules:

Book in advance.

Contact the park program staff at 416 392-0913 or email staff@dufferinpark.ca. Let them know where you plan to have the fire (centre path or south path). Staff will need to know your name, phone number, and the number of people you expect to join you. All campfires end at 10pm.

Have a fire safety training session with one of the park staff 15 minutes before your fire booking.

To have enough time, arrive 15 minutes before your booking any time except if you have a fire booked to start between 3 and 4pm Thursdays, or 6 and 7pm Fridays, in which case you need to arrive at 2pm Thursdays or 5 pm Fridays (staff are too busy otherwise). It takes about 15 minutes to go over everything. In addition staff will give you two pails of water, a pail for sand, and a shovel, which have to be returned to the rink house at the end of your fire.

Bring your own firewood

(but the staff can usually give you some kindling if you like.) Park staff will give you water, pails, and a shovel.

Obey the rules of the booking

especially being courteous to neighbours by being quiet (no drumming please) and make a hot fire with as little smoke as possible (ask staff for tips if you are unsure how to do this). To put out your fire on time at 10pm (all fires end at 10pm), stop adding wood at least 30 minutes earlier.

Campfires are cancelled during high wind alert days or smog alert days. Remember that a campfire is not a bonfire. Please keep in mind that the consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs is not permitted anywhere on parks property at any time and participating in questionable activities while having a campfire risks bringing the campfire into ill repute.

Be a Campfire Ambassador:

because of the unusual nature of this program you will need to be respectful of neighbours' homes, nearby families, staff and volunteers. Welcome friendly passersby who might stop to see what you are doing.

Ask about our loans of campfire cooking supplies:

If you would like to cook anything over the fire we can provide a trivet to hold a grill, a pot or a pan, pots and pans that are suitable for using over a fire, or roasting forks for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs.

Location of Campfires

For the summer, there are two campfire locations – centre path and south path.

In winter, there's one more fire location, near the skating rink, which is only for cooking fires and on days of extreme cold temperatures.

Community involvement

The community group CELOS lends grills, a cast-iron stand (if you want to cook more than marshmallows or hot dogs on a stick) and pots and pans for campfire permits. They suggest a donation of $10 for upkeep. Many park users also come through the park regularly to check on your fire and to see if you need anything additional.

A few VERY important reminders:

1. The park has small cozy campfires and cooking fires. No bonfires in the park, ever, except on the Night of Dread.

2. You can’t go home without making sure the fire is out completely, no smoldering.

3. You have to bring back everything you borrow from the park staff. (Most peopel don;t need this reminder, but from time to time...)