Have your say on the new design revealed for urban park and waterfront trail at Ontario Place

March 25, 2014, Toronto, ON—On March 19, 2014, the public had another opportunity to view and comment on the proposed design for the new park and waterfront trail at Ontario Place. Join the discussion and share your feedback on the refined design by March 31.This is your final opportunity to provide input before the final design is unveiled later this year.

LANDinc and West 8, refined the conceptual design in response to the extensive input and feedback received from the public, stakeholders and Waterfront Toronto’s Design Review Panel. The design continues to reinforce the inspiration provided by Ontario’s iconic natural landscapes and powerfully references the concept of “where land meets water”. It celebrates the distinctive experiences associated with being at the lake: stunning views, picturesque scenery, exposure to the elements and the mesmerizing sound of water.

The new park and trail proposes a dramatic transformation of a 7.5 acre portion of the East Island at Ontario Place. The design reinvents a flat, non-descript parking lot by altering the topography to create a completely new landscape at the shoreline. The new park and trail will be must-see destination on Toronto’s waterfront that will draw visitors year-round.

By manipulating the topography and creating an upper park and lower park, the design innovatively expands the modestly sized space to offer a range of new experiences for park and trail visitors. An iconic ravine gateway greets visitors once they’ve made their way south through a beautiful allee of coniferous trees. Inside the park visitors will be able to touch the water, enjoy the magnificent views of the lake and the city’s skyline or simply hang out with family and friends in the flexible programming space, wooded areas, planted slopes or rolling lawns.

Native plantings, an extensive lighting scheme and simple furnishings ensure the landscape features will dominate and allow the park’s natural beauty and stunning views to take centre stage. With almost a kilometre of new trail and extensive native plantings, the new park and trail will bring a green footprint to a section of Toronto’s waterfront that until now has been an inaccessible asphalt parking lot.

Watch the webcast from March 19 or read about the project at: www.ontario.ca/myontarioplace.