...the park has 2 parking lots on the southern end, that are open, even on the weekends.

Are you referring to the Spring Rd parking lot and the Colborne Lodge parking lot near the Children's Kitchen Garden?

If so, it my understanding that the Spring Rd lot will no longer be open to the public as it has recently been closed during the weekend and evening closures by the security company responsible for locking the gates.

The Colborne Lodge lot is quite small and will likely move towards being permit parking only as a consequence of programs being run out of the garden area there requiring parking for staff and those attending the programs. That would be my assumption anyway.