Introducing Aitken Place Park

At the eastern end of East Bayfront, in the heart of the new Bayside development, is Toronto’s next waterfront park – Aitken Place Park. (Image courtesy of Hines and Tridel)

PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 3, 2015
BY: SAMANTHA GILENO

Aitken Place Park is a new waterfront park, just east of Sherbourne and south of Queens Quay, in the heart of the new Bayside Development. The park’s name pays tribute to Alexander Aitken, a surveyor who prepared a plan for the Town of York in 1793.

Given that the park is named for a surveyor, it’s fitting that Aitken Place Park was identified and mapped out in the East Bayfront Precinct Plan. Approved by Toronto City Council in 2006, after many hours of public discussion and consultation, the precinct plan sets out the vision for East Bayfront including the location of its parks and public spaces. 

Building East Bayfront’s Parks

Over the last few years, we’ve made great progress on implementing the vision outlined in the East Bayfront Precinct Plan.  Two major award-winning parks – Canada’s Sugar Beach and Sherbourne Common – have been built and are helping to set the tone for this new waterfront community. And the beautiful Water’s Edge Promenade, which connects these two parks at the lake, is being extended east as construction moves into high-gear on Bayside – a 10-acre mixed-use neighbourhood.  And now, it’s time to start planning for Aitken Place Park – East Bayfront’s third park – which will also be connected at the water by the promenade.

Aitken Place Park will serve as a local neighbourhood amenity for those living in the area.  Located in the middle of the new Bayside development, the park will offer play and recreational opportunities as well as quiet places to relax and enjoy nature and waterfront views.

Designing the Park

Aitken Place Park is .75 acres and will be designed by Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc. and Thomas Balsley Associates. With the landscape architecture team now onboard, planning is just getting underway. Over the next couple of months, as the design process moves forward, the types of programming for the park will be developed in consultation with stakeholders and the public.  To ensure the design meets the high-standards set out for the waterfront, the park’s design will also go before the Waterfront Design Review Panel for input and feedback on four occasions. Park construction is expected to begin in Spring 2016 and it will be open for Summer 2017. Aitken Place Park will be owned and operated by The City of Toronto.

Stay Engaged

Public feedback will be an important part of the design process. If you want to stay informed about this project, make sure you’re on our mailing list.  Sign up for our monthly newsletter [LINK] to get regular updates on this new park.

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