Last chance to help name Toronto's newest waterfront park

April 24, 2013, Toronto, ON— Last call for submissions to Name That Park. You have until this Thursday, April 25 at 11:59 pm to submit your suggestion to name Toronto’s the next great waterfront park. Since the contest launched on April 11, almost 400 names have been submitted.

This spectacular park is opening this summer in the West Don Lands. Waterfront Toronto and The Grid are inviting you to come up with a name that reflects the park’s unique setting on Toronto’s waterfront in the heart of what will become one of Canada’s newest, most technologically advanced and sustainable communities.

Proposed names should reflect the park’s strengths and advantages, for example its location in the heart of the West Don Lands, a community rich in natural and social history; its proximity to the Don River and the waterfront; its innovative location on top of the area’s flood protection landform; or, its sophisticated approach to sustainability. Submissions must include a brief explanation of why your proposed park name should be chosen.

A selection committee made up of a broad range of community representatives will review the submissions and shortlist three to five names for the public to vote on. The shortlist will also be vetted by the City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department to ensure the proposed names meet the city’s naming policies.
From May 6 to May 17 you can vote for your favourite name on the contest website. The winning name will be announced on May 22, 2013 and declared official following approval by the city.

Currently known as Don River park due to its location near the Don River, the park is inspired by the site’s many inherent assets—its strong connections to the city, its proximity to the Don River, its unique ecological history, and its position on top of the area’s flood protection landform. The design maximizes the exceptional topography and capitalizes on the unique landscape to open sightlines to the Toronto skyline, the Don River and beyond.

At 7.3 hectares (18 acres) this beautiful and innovative park will be the cornerstone of the revitalized West Don Lands and a year-round destination. Located between Bayview Avenue and the GO/CN railroad lines, from King Street to the rail corridor in the south, this magnificent public amenity is leveraging essential public infrastructure to provide community members of all ages and abilities with a place to gather, exercise, play and socialize.

Official contest rules and the City of Toronto’s Honourific and Street Naming Policy are available on the contest website.

Follow Waterfront Toronto and The Grid on Facebook and Twitter for the latest contest updates.

Waterfront Toronto
The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization.

The Grid
The Grid is Toronto’s weekly city magazine. It is a fresh, accessible voice that captures the energy of the city for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, reflecting the downtown lifestyle of its audience through its hyper-local focus on Toronto’s many neighbourhoods. Content, which ranges from politics, the arts, and pop culture to fashion, style, and food and drink, is always delivered in a smart, surprising, highly visual way.