waterfront park

Two new waterfront parks in Toronto set to open this year

The city of Toronto has announced that two long-anticipated new parks and a slew of other waterfront projects are on track to open on schedule this year.

Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park) was joined by Councillor Gary Crawford (Scarborough Southwest), Chair of the Budget Committee to highlight the city’s investments in Toronto’s central waterfront.

Highlights include:

  • Ferries and shoreline infrastructure – replacement of two ferries and electrical shoreline infrastructure at the ferry terminal ($75.9 million investment over three years, including $12.3 million in 2023)
  • Love Park – to be completed in 2023 ($15 million total budget)
  • Leslie Lookout Park – to be completed in 2023 ($2.7 million City investment)
  • One Yonge Community Recreation Centre – to be completed in 2023 ($19.1 million total budget)
  • Bathurst Quay Revitalization Projects – new waterfront park to be completed in 2024 ($8 million investment in the 2023 budget). This is the last of six recent projects to date totalling $47 million in spent and committed funding from the City and its partners.
  • Rees Street Park – expected to be completed in 2026 ($19.2 million total budget with $2.5 million invested in 2023)
  • East Bayfront Community Recreation Centre – expected to be completed in 2025 ($25 million total budget over the next three years with $1.3 million invested in 2023)
  • Shoreline improvements – rehabilitation of shoreline infrastructure for the High Lake Effect Flooding and Windstorm projects ($22.8 million investment in 2023 across the waterfront)
waterfront park
A rendering of Love Park (photo: Claude Cormier + Associés Inc.)

“The City of Toronto’s 2023 budget makes investments in Toronto’s waterfront that help move our city forward and will benefit all residents who live, work and play in and around the central waterfront,” said McKelvie. “Each budget is an essential step towards long-term, impactful development of the waterfront, which has already been radically transformed over a generation of change. The enormous multi-year commitment made by Toronto City Council of more than $160 million ensures that the waterfront continues its evolution into a more liveable and sustainable community.”

Collaborating with the provincial and federal government on a massive amount of waterfront work have created North America’s largest urban redevelopment program and one of the most extensive waterfront revitalization efforts in the world, according to the city.

Of course, the timing of the announcement is notable given the renewed talk of revisiting the decision to repair the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway instead of tearing it down and opening up the area underneath the concrete behemoth for more housing, public space and parkland.

“Toronto’s growing downtown communities thrive from our continued commitment to creating gathering places along our precious waterfront, for residents and visitors alike. Each new investment strengthens our community-building, now and for the future,” said city councillor Ausma Malik, in whose ward the central waterfront is located.

More information about the City’s waterfront revitalization plans and work is available on the City’s Waterfront Revitalization webpage.

Article exclusive to STREETS OF TORONTO