cityscape A New Urban Park at Ontario Place

The province reveals designs for a new green space along the eastern edge of the complex.

SHOW CAPTION  ✉ Share on:  302853 The map of the proposed park on the east side of Ontario Place. ontario-place-park-redesign https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ontario-place-park-redesign-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ontario-place-park-redesign.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ontario-place-park-redesign.jpg 640 1111 https://torontoist.com/2014/01/a-new-urban-park-at-ontario-place/slide/ontario-place-park-redesign/ ontario-place-park-redesign 0 0 302856 The park will occupy the long narrow band running horizontally across the bottom edge of the Ontario Place complex as seen in this view. Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindaedwards/5266485498/">L.S. Edwards</a> from the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/torontoist">Torontoist Flickr Pool</a>. ontario-place-east-view https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ontario-place-east-view-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ontario-place-east-view.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ontario-place-east-view.jpg 640 359 https://torontoist.com/2014/01/a-new-urban-park-at-ontario-place/slide/ontario-place-east-view/ ontario-place-east-view 0 0 302831 Looking east from the "romantic garden." Because nothing is more romantic than children running wild. 20140122romanticgarden https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122romanticgarden-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122romanticgarden.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122romanticgarden.jpg 800 518 https://torontoist.com/2014/01/a-new-urban-park-at-ontario-place/slide/20140122romanticgarden/ 20140122romanticgarden 0 0 302832 The rocky "scramble," designed as both a play area and an access to the upper, forested level of the park. 20140122scramble https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122scramble-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122scramble.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122scramble.jpg 800 448 https://torontoist.com/2014/01/a-new-urban-park-at-ontario-place/slide/20140122scramble/ 20140122scramble 0 0 302833 Taking in sunset at the park's southern summit. 20140122summit https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122summit-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122summit.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122summit.jpg 800 460 https://torontoist.com/2014/01/a-new-urban-park-at-ontario-place/slide/20140122summit/ 20140122summit 0 0 302834 One of the few hints on how the park may be used during the winter. Is there a permit for that fire? 20140122winter https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122winter-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122winter.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140122winter.jpg 800 456 https://torontoist.com/2014/01/a-new-urban-park-at-ontario-place/slide/20140122winter/ 20140122winter 0 0



A sliver of Ontario Place’s future look was revealed today, one promising forests, summits, rocky beaches, and a “romantic garden.”

The conceptual designs for the urban park which will occupy 7.5 acres on the far eastern end of Ontario Place were presented to media this afternoon. As envisioned by LANDInc (whose local projects include Tommy Thompson Park) and West 8 (builders of the wave decks along the waterfront), the former parking lot will become, according to a provincial press release, “a naturalized green refuge that celebrates the legacy of Ontario Place and the landscapes of Ontario.”



The Mobius strip-inspired main pathway will offer a continuous loop around the park. The west side of the park will be an elevated evergreen forest, which will shelter the lower side from lake winds. Closer to the water, users may relax on smooth pieces of granite, run up and down a rocky “scramble” connecting the park’s two levels, and stare at the city skyline from a summit at the south end. The current goal is to complete the park in time for the 2015 Pan Am Games.

An online survey has been set up to gather public reaction to the proposal. That feedback will be used to refine the design and another round of public feedback will be solicited in the spring.

Images courtesy LANDinc and West 8.