cityscape Putting the “Park” in Regent Park

The latest phase of the neighbourhood's revitalization officially opened on the first day of summer.

SHOW CAPTION  ✉ Share on:  321517 Looking south along the main walkway. The aquatic centre is to the left. 20140623walkway https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623walkway-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623walkway.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623walkway.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623walkway/ 20140623walkway 0 0 321518 Peeking through the trees at the lawn. 20140623viewthroughtrees https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623viewthroughtrees-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623viewthroughtrees.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623viewthroughtrees.jpg 1000 855 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623viewthroughtrees/ 20140623viewthroughtrees 0 0 321519 20140623playground https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623playground-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623playground.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623playground.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623playground/ 20140623playground 0 0 321520 20140623slide https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623slide-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623slide.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623slide.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623slide/ 20140623slide 0 0 321521 We didn't see many kids parked on the playground —they were too busy testing the equipment. 20140623noparking https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623noparking-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623noparking.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623noparking.jpg 750 1000 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623noparking/ 20140623noparking 0 0 321522 The plots for the community gardens. 20140623communitygarden https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623communitygarden-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623communitygarden.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623communitygarden.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623communitygarden/ 20140623communitygarden 0 0 321523 The off-leash area. 20140623offleash https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623offleash-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623offleash.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623offleash.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623offleash/ 20140623offleash 0 0

321531 Banners for participating musicians. No beer was seen on the premises. 20140623performersigns https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623performersigns-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623performersigns.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623performersigns.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623performersigns/ 20140623performersigns 0 0 321525 Making music on the lawn. 20140623musician https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623musician-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623musician.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623musician.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623musician/ 20140623musician 0 0 321524 Bramwell Tovey conducting the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. 20140623tso https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623tso-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623tso.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623tso.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623tso/ 20140623tso 0 0 321526 The Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps prepare to start marching around the park. 20140623optimistpractice https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623optimistpractice-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623optimistpractice.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623optimistpractice.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623optimistpractice/ 20140623optimistpractice 0 0 321527 One of the dancers who roamed the grounds. 20140623multicoloured https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623multicoloured-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623multicoloured.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623multicoloured.jpg 750 1000 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623multicoloured/ 20140623multicoloured 0 0 321529 One of the dancers honouring the First Nations historical presence in the city. 20140623firstnations https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623firstnations-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623firstnations.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623firstnations.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623firstnations/ 20140623firstnations 0 0 321530 Some of opening day's youngest entertainers. 20140623youngdancers https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623youngdancers-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623youngdancers.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140623youngdancers.jpg 1000 750 https://torontoist.com/2014/06/putting-the-park-in-regent-park/slide/20140623youngdancers/ 20140623youngdancers 0 0



The first day of summer seemed an appropriate day to open the city’s newest major park. Sunny skies, comfortable temperatures, and curiosity drew hundreds of people to Regent Park Saturday afternoon to welcome the latest sign of the neighbourhood’s revitalization.

“This is the people’s park,” declared councillor Pam McConnell (Ward 28, Toronto Centre–Rosedale) during the opening ceremony, referring to the input local residents offered during design consultations for the six-acre, $6.2-million grounds known simply as Regent Park. Bounded by Dundas, Oak, Sackville, and Sumach streets, the park adjoins the Regent Park Aquatic Centre opened in fall 2012. The site was given to the Parks, Forestry, and Recreation department by Toronto Community Housing.

The big hit of day one was the playground, on the north side, where kids eagerly tried out the new equipment. On the park’s west side, dog owners tested the enclosed off-leash area. Speakers and dancers made use of the paved plaza, while the Toronto Symphony Orchestra played next to the aquatic centre. Performance artists, marching bands, and still more dancers paraded around the perimeter of the grassy “Great Lawn” at the park’s core, a space ideal for taking an afternoon siesta, collecting one’s thoughts, or contemplating the neighbourhood’s evolution.

The park’s food amenities aren’t ready for prime time yet. The community gardens await planting, the bake oven sits behind fencing, and the greenhouse is still under construction. These elements will roll out over the next few months, as part of an effort by the Regent Park Food Partnership to bring residents together through participation in all aspects of food production and preparation. There are also plans for a farmers’ market.

Based on its debut, Regent Park shows promise as a street-level community gathering space. As towers rise around it, the large open space of the park will serve a vital function as a place to relax, meet neighbours, and join in cultural activities.

Photos by Jamie Bradburn/Torontoist.