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A ground breaking ceremony was held today for a new Wallace Emerson Community Recreation Centre and Park, and new child care centre. The new City facilities are tied to Public Benefits moneys from the Galleria on the Park project being developed by Almadev at Dufferin and Dupont Streets in the Wallace-Emerson community of Toronto.
Designed by Perkins&Will, the Wallace Emerson revitalization project will be double the size of the current recreation centre, at approximately 89,500 ft². The new facility will stand three-storeys tall, and feature a full-sized gym fit with a running track, dance and aerobic studios, an aquatic centre that will include a six-lane, 25-metre pool and a leisure pool, and an outdoor running track that will be situated on the roof of the building.
Wallace Emerson Park is also to be revitalized, partly relocated, and expanded alongside the recreation centre. Designed by Public Work, the park will increase in area by 1.25 acres, and will feature landscaping and new amenities, in an effort to offer a more functional and inviting public space for visitors.
The first phase of park improvements are to create a BMX/skateboard park, a skating trail, a leisure/shinny pad with basketball hoops that can be used as a multipurpose sports court in the summer, a splash pad, new landscaping, pathways, lighting, custom seating, and outdoor furniture.
The first phase will also include a new Fieldhouse that will have a snack bar, a skate sharpening station, a changing area, and universal washrooms, along with storage and utility spaces for the facilities.
In addition to the revitalization of the recreation centre and park, a new child care centre with space to accommodate a total of 62 children is to be constructed, and will feature playrooms with direct access to age-appropriate playgrounds. According to the City, each playground will be outfitted with trike circuits, sand play, water tables, and places for kids to grow their own flowers or vegetables.
Construction of the new facility and the first phase of the park expansion has already begun at certain areas of the site. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow updates for this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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