Love Park Officially Opens on Toronto’s Waterfront

June 23, 2023, Toronto, ON - Today, the City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto officially opened Love Park at 96 Queens Quay West, along Toronto’s waterfront. The new 2-acre park creates a lush urban refuge for surrounding residents, workers and visitors on the waterfront. The site creates a new green oasis to the busy heart of the City’s waterfront, reclaiming the former Gardiner Expressway off-ramp at York Street and Harbour Street.

Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park) was joined by Councillor Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York), Julie Dabrusin, Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth, Waterfront Toronto Chair Stephen Diamond, and others who helped make Love Park a reality.

The new waterfront park responds to the need for flexible public space in the heart of the waterfront as well as the public’s desire for a lush green space where visitors, neighbours and colleagues can enjoy a peaceful leafy atmosphere together. 

The park’s design was borne from an international design competition held by the City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto. The design submitted by landscape architects CCxA in collaboration with gh3* and Arup was unanimously selected as it created a lush urban refuge along the waterfront. This project was funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

Features within the park include:

• A large, shallow, heart-shaped pond at the park’s centre, combined with existing and newly planted trees to create a tranquil area amongst the bustling city streets.
• A gently swirling pathway for pedestrians to move through the park quickly or stroll and enjoy a calm respite.
• Plenty of seating areas for casual lunches by employees of the neighbouring offices, for meet-ups, people watching or just quiet contemplation.
• Nine bronze-cast Canadian animals and moveable café-style tables and chairs sponsored by the Waterfront BIA.
• A trellis, a drinking fountain and an off-leash area for dogs.

More information on Love Park is available on the project page.

Quotes
 

“Love Park embodies the City’s ongoing efforts and leadership to embrace innovative and exciting community spaces through collaboration with the Government of Canada and multiple waterfront partners. Our combined dedication has helped create North America’s largest urban redevelopment program and one of the most extensive waterfront revitalization efforts in the world.”

– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee
 

“Love Park joins a growing collection of iconic parks Waterfront Toronto has delivered on the waterfront, creating a needed amenity for neighbourhood residents, office workers and visitors. Designed to respond to the community’s desire for flexible public spaces that provide sanctuary from the bustle of downtown, this new park provides an inviting green space for people to connect with nature and the waterfront.”

– Stephen Diamond, Chair, Waterfront Toronto Board of Directors

“The waterfront park that you have built will be a great place for residents, families and visitors to enjoy for years. Congratulations to the City of Toronto on the opening of your new, highly anticipated Love Park in the downtown core. The Government of Canada is thrilled to support projects that build communities and give people a place to come together and enjoy the outdoors.”

– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

“Outdoor spaces and public parks, like Love Park, are key in developing healthy urban communities. The Government of Canada’s funding for projects like these provide important foundations that support active and vibrant futures for our residents.”

– Julie Dabrusin, Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth

“Love Park is a bold and creative new public space that has been enthusiastically shaped and welcomed by neighbours. I'm excited for Love Park to become a favourite for the local community, a joy for visitors, and a wonderful part of a growing, green and beautiful waterfront.”

– Councillor Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York)

Image Gallery

Aerial view of Love Park looking south

Trellis with movable furniture underneath and the heart shaped pond in the background

Close up of the pond

The official opening event for Love Park was held on June 23rd. From left to right: Claude Cormier, Councillor Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York), Stephen Diamond, Chair of Waterfront Toronto Board of Directors, Grandmother Liz, Deputy Mayor McKelvie, Julie Dabrusin, Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth, Marc Halle, and Janie Romoff participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Media Kit
Read the Love Park Fact Sheet (PDF)

Media Contact: 

media@waterfrontoronto.ca