Councillors want to end the practice of CNE parking at Marilyn Bell Park, saying that allowing thousands of vehicles to park on the grass is causing too much damage.

For decades, the annual Canadian National Exhibition has used the park for overflow car parking. In recent years, the 135-year-old fair has been pressed to reduce parkland use. It agreed in 2012 to cut the number of temporary parking spaces at Marilyn Bell to 800 from 2,200.

Monday, the park and environment committee went further and recommended that council ban the practice immediately after viewing a staff report that warned that cars cause soil compaction, poor turf quality and stunted tree growth.

In the fall of 2012, the city spent 40 hours and $4,000 aerating, fertilizing and over-seeding in the park, and planting 37 trees that may not survive cars driving and parking around them, the report said.

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“Cars do not belong on green space,” said Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon. “Why are we using taxpayers’ dollars to repair our parks, only to wreck them with vehicles?”

CNE president Brian Ashton said the fair is hoping for flexibility when the issue reaches city council next month for a final decision.

“Overall, I can understand the city’s desire to protect its parks and make sure you’re not setting a precedent, but there’s times in a major city like Toronto when you have to balance interests,” Ashton said.

The CNE urges people to take transit — and half of the visitors do come by TTC or GO Transit, he added.

“We’re proud of that. It’s not as if we’re wild and crazy car-oriented people.”

The Marilyn Bell overflow is used by visitors and exhibitors driving in from west of the city and is in operation only about eight to 10 days during the 18-day fair, Ashton added.

The CNE pays the city 23 per cent of net parking profits from Marilyn Bell — about $24,000 a season — which goes to the tree advocacy program.

Granting an exemption to the CNE makes it harder for the city to prevent parking in other parks during large events, committee members said.

High Park visitors who park on the grass are subject to fines, said Councillor Sarah Doucette (Ward 13, Parkdale-High Park).

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Doucette suggested the CNE could arrange to use paved lots along the lakeshore and at Ontario Place, even if meant having to set up a shuttle service.

“We’re not saying you don’t have parking,” she said. “We’re giving you a suggestion to park cars on asphalt we already have.”