Following a global call for design talent, a new public park in Liberty Village is getting closer to reality as the City of Toronto has identified five design teams via an international competition. The initiative will transform a Toronto Parking Authority lot at the southwest corner of Hanna Avenue and Liberty Street into a permanent green space. A portion of the parking lot has already opened as a temporary park.

Interim "Park in Progress," image courtesy of the City of Toronto

The 4,900m² site will become a new public open space, slightly larger than Liberty Village Park two blocks to the east. The future park is intended to support a range of activities, from informal daily use to programmed events, helping to address growing demand for accessible green space in Liberty Village.

The initial phase of the international competition aimed to attract a range of expert landscape and design teams to submit credentials and past work. It drew 26 submissions from firms across Canada and abroad, which were assessed by a panel of City staff and a professional advisor. From this pool, five teams were selected to proceed to the second phase, where they will develop and present conceptual designs. These proposals will be reviewed by a design jury with input from a Community Advisory Committee, technical reviewers, and the public. 

Advancing to the competition’s second stage are five teams: 

Input gathered through earlier local engagement has helped shape a program centred on adaptable, multi-use space. Residents and other local stakeholders highlighted the need for areas that can accommodate everyday use alongside organized activities, including markets, performances, and outdoor screenings. These priorities are expected to guide the shortlisted teams as they develop proposals.

The next phase will see the teams receive a detailed competition brief outlining submission requirements, followed by a site tour and orientation. Concept proposals are scheduled for submission in July, 2026, after which they will be exhibited publicly and reviewed by the design jury. Feedback gathered from community members, a Community Advisory Committee, and City-led technical reviewers will be synthesized by a professional advisor and used to inform the jury’s recommendation, with a winning scheme expected to be selected later in 2026.

A high-angle view looking north to the parking lot, iamge courtesy of the City of Toronto

The competition forms part of a larger municipal push to improve the quality of Toronto’s public realm through design-led procurement. Building on recent initiatives such as the redesign of Love Park and the launch of an international competition for a net-zero community recreation centre at Ramsden Park, the City has been increasingly turning to open competitions to shape major civic projects. This approach aligns with the “Towards a Beautiful City” initiative adopted in 2025.

Following the selection of a winning scheme in late 2026, the project would move into detailed design through 2027, alongside additional rounds of community consultation. Procurement for a construction team is anticipated later that year, with work on the permanent park expected to begin after the closure of the interim “Park in Progress.” Construction is slated to start in Spring 2028, with completion targeted for Fall 2029. Timelines remain subject to change.

* * *

UrbanToronto's research and data service, UTPro, provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe—from proposal through to completion. Other services include Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.​