Markham residents are pushing back against a Franklin Carmichael Park sport court. Here’s why

Markham residents are pushing back against a Franklin Carmichael Park sport court. Here's why

Scarlett Liu, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Markham Economist & Sun

A new sport court beside Franklin Carmichael Park in Thornhill is turning into a broader battle over consultation and transparency for some nearby residents.

The project, which includes a year-round multi-use court expected to operate daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., is being constructed approximately 20 to 30 metres from nearby homes and is expected to accommodate activities including basketball.

While residents say they are not opposed to park improvements, Michael Xiao said homeowners living closest to the site are concerned about increased noise, traffic and loss of privacy.

“Homeowners like us, living closest to the court feel our concerns were overshadowed by feedback from residents living farther away from the park,” he said.

According to residents’ email records, objections were raised during a community Zoom meeting with city representatives in 2022, but communication from the city largely stopped afterward. Residents said they later received notices in late 2025 advising construction would begin within days.

In April, about 40 residents gathered at the park carrying protest signs and calling on the city to halt construction.

“We feel that the city council has decided to put a multi-use court in the park without consulting with the residents, particularly the residents around the park,” said resident Gary Rewald.

In joint letters addressed to Mayor Frank Scarpitti and members of council, residents said they repeatedly requested an opportunity to address council directly and asked the city to conduct noise and parking impact studies before construction proceeded.

“We are deeply concerned that directly affected residents have been denied the opportunity to present our concerns before council,” one resident letter states.

Residents also submitted a petition with 64 signatures opposing the project, a separate request with 52 signatures calling for noise and parking impact studies, and another request signed by 31 residents asking to address council directly at a council meeting.

However, none of these requests were properly responded to, Xiao said. In addition, after multiple attempts to contact local councillor Keith Irish seeking a resolution to the issue, residents later filed a complaint with the city’s integrity commissioner involving Irish.

Residents also pointed to documents obtained through a freedom of information request, which they allege showed a community support letter signed by only three individuals was used as part of the project approval process.

The City of Markham said the project dates back to 2021, when it applied for funding through the Canadian Healthy Communities Initiative following public requests supporting a permanent ice rink structure with year-round recreational use. Although the grant application was unsuccessful, council later approved the project through the city’s budget process.

According to the city, a public open house was held in June 2022, after council approval of the multi-sport court. The city acknowledged some nearby residents opposed the project and requested a different location, but said other members of the surrounding community supported it.

“This is a public park that serves the broader community and the city as a whole and the feedback provided by community residents throughout the area is given equal weight,” the city said in a statement to YorkRegion.com.

Residents had requested noise, traffic and parking impact studies, but the city said such studies were not considered necessary because residential areas and parkland are viewed as “compatible land uses” under provincial policy.

The city said several design changes were made in response to resident concerns, including additional berms, larger trees and expanded setbacks from nearby homes to help reduce noise and visual impacts. No lighting is planned for the facility.

The city declined to comment on the integrity commissioner complaint, saying such matters are confidential. However, it confirmed staff were aware of resident concerns before construction began and said efforts were made to meet with residents and gather additional feedback.

“Residents deserve to be heard,” Rewald said. “This is a democracy, and the city council should be taking notice of what the residents around this park are doing.”

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