EastYorkTTCFan
Senior Member
I think it would be intresting to either have a streetcar or a bus route that could take you around the islands
Toronto Toronto Island Park Master Plan | ?m | ?s | City of Toronto
- Thread starter Northern Light
- Start date
robmausser
Senior Member
crs1026
Superstar
^Why do we bansh old streetcars to Rockwood, when both the Islands and the Spit would be a great place for a quaint tram that would serve a transportation purpose and also be fun to ride?
Similar to New Orleans or San Francisco, one could have a fleet of “vintage” looking but quite modern operationally railcars. Tap on once and ride for the day. Single track Row with a very fixed schedule.
Rather than a fixed bridge, what about a ferry similar to the Island Airport version, just across the channel. Walk on/walk off. On a ten minute headway, plenty of capacity.
Plenty can be done to constructively “naturalise” the islands, but I don’t mind the expanses of cut grass to give openness and to maximise the view of the harbour/skyline. This is not the place for a woodlot. Having said that, it would be a wonderful place for a campground. Maximising overnight usage, and enjoyment of sunset, night sky, and sunrise would all add to the attraction. The resorts should be on the mainland, just hop on a pre dawn ferry across the gap to go for a sunrise run or walk.
- Paul
Similar to New Orleans or San Francisco, one could have a fleet of “vintage” looking but quite modern operationally railcars. Tap on once and ride for the day. Single track Row with a very fixed schedule.
Rather than a fixed bridge, what about a ferry similar to the Island Airport version, just across the channel. Walk on/walk off. On a ten minute headway, plenty of capacity.
Plenty can be done to constructively “naturalise” the islands, but I don’t mind the expanses of cut grass to give openness and to maximise the view of the harbour/skyline. This is not the place for a woodlot. Having said that, it would be a wonderful place for a campground. Maximising overnight usage, and enjoyment of sunset, night sky, and sunrise would all add to the attraction. The resorts should be on the mainland, just hop on a pre dawn ferry across the gap to go for a sunrise run or walk.
- Paul
allengeorge
Senior Member
I do feel that (for whatever reason) the Islands don’t feel as awe-inspiring as some ‘world-class’ parks. Dunno why.
Midtown Urbanist
Superstar
Maybe because it looks the same as any other Victorian style park across the city?
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
It is modernism, but I am not sure about the quality to warrant wholesale preservation.
I don't actively "hate" it, but I do think it the space it occupies could be better and more intensively used.
AoD
allengeorge
Senior Member
Maybe? I don’t think that’s really it.
I think it lacks a vision, and, no one’s willing to spend real money on it. That’s true of so much public space in Toronto: we cheap out a ton, and we’re afraid of grand dreams and designs. As a result, our public spaces are ‘ok’ instead of great.
Edit: For example, if I think about how Governor’s Island in NYC looks and feels - its quite something. They’ve put in a lot of public art, made the most of views of Manhattan, put in tons of plantings and beautiful trails, created a bike loop, are setting up an artist’s space... You get a lot of ‘wow’ moments there.
M II A II R II K
Senior Member
How about adding more islands.
Northern Light
Superstar
We've got 'dead space' on the Islands now; and that's not counting the airport!
Building new islands is not cheap; I'm not convinced that would be a wise investment in the near-term.
EastYorkTTCFan
Senior Member
I wouldn't exactly say it's a good example of transportation as it only runs in the summer and only on one of the islands. What they need is something that runs around all of them at all times of the year.
EastYorkTTCFan
Senior Member
So what would you actually do with it?
allengeorge
Senior Member
Maybe build a hill, forest it, with a trail to the top? Would be interesting to have a view of the entire island.
EastYorkTTCFan
Senior Member
So basically say to families with young children there's nothing here for you anymore? As I said in one of my earlier posts for many young children Centerville is the first amusement park they go to. My guess is that you don't have any or have any necies or nephews that love those types of rides. In the last couple of years I've gotten to go see it with one of my nephews who at the time was 2 and 3 and it was great too see him being just as excited about it as me and my brothers were when we were younger too. A hill with a trail and trees isn't going to attract families to visit it.
wmedia
Senior Member
Hoping they bury the overhead utility wires on the island while they are doing this. Hopefully the proximity to the water won't prevent burial.
Image: Google Maps
Image: Google Maps
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Nope - I wanted a mix of quaint amusement style rides AND large-scale free playscapes like:
Michael Van Valkenburgh transforms Tulsa's riverfront into a fantastical green parkland
The Gathering Place is Tulsa's latest public park, and kids can experience a treetop kingdom-slash-playscape courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.
www.archpaper.com
The goal is to emphasize the public - money should not be a barrier to having fun on a public asset.
AoD