The way in which we interact with our waterfront has changed quite a bit over the years, and one of the first major redevelopments of the former industrial shoreline was Ontario Place, which opened to the public in the Spring of 1971. Changing times and aging attractions led to the 2012 closure of the park. Now, with the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games approaching, plans for redevelopment are accelerating quickly. In late 2013, the province selected the team of LANDinc and West 8 to design an approximately 7.5-acre green space to be built along a portion of the east island of Ontario Place – an area previously used as a parking lot and closed to the public for more than 40 years. The province will shortly host its second public meeting to unveil the proposed conceptual design for the new park and trail at Ontario Place, while seeking further input and ideas from people across Ontario.

Ontario Place, with new park area indicated

The meeting will be held next Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, Room 104 at 255 Front Street West.

Ontarians who can’t attend in person can also participate online by watching the meeting live and reading more information at ontario.ca/myontarioplace, or by joining the conversation during the meeting on Twitter using the hashtag #ontarioplace. Feedback on the conceptual design can be submitted in-person at the public meeting or on-line until February 21, 2014.

The park and trail is the first step in the multi-phased revitalization and delivers on an important part of the new vision for Ontario Place; to create a public park and public access to the waterfront. The province is aiming to have the urban park and waterfront trail opened in time for the start of the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

Related Companies:  Urban Strategies Inc.