Two Waterfront Toronto projects recognized with Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Awards

Toronto, March 17, 2011 – Canada’s Sugar Beach and the Martin Goodman Trail improvements at Marilyn Bell Park have received Regional Awards of Excellence from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA).

“It is an incredible honour to have two of our projects recognized by the CSLA this year,” said John Campbell, Waterfront Toronto President and CEO. “With all of our projects we set out to achieve design excellence.  Canada’s Sugar Beach and the improvements to Marilyn Bell Park raised the bar by setting a new standard of creativity and delivered public spaces that were transformative, as well as beautiful and functional. ”The CSLA Professional Awards recognize and promote excellence in all aspects of landscape design. This year’s competition included 53 project entries in seven categories. Canada’s Sugar Beach received a CSLA Regional Honour Award and the Martin Goodman Trail improvements at Marilyn Bell Park earned a Regional Merit Award. Both awards were in the design category, which recognizes newly constructed or renovated works of landscape architectural design.

Canada's Sugar Beach

Opened in August 2010, Canada’s Sugar Beach was the first new public space to open in East Bayfront, one of two new waterfront neighbourhoods currently under construction as part of Toronto’s waterfront revitalization. Designed by landscape architecture firm Claude Cormier Architectes Paysagistes Inc. with The Planning Partnership, Canada’s Sugar Beach transformed a lakefront parking lot and underused industrial area into an iconic waterfront attraction. The 8,500m2 (2 acre) park is Toronto’s second urban beach and it features bright pink umbrellas, white Muskoka-style chairs, sugar-like sand and iconic candy-striped rock outcroppings.

Designed by Victor Ford and Associates Inc. Landscape Architects, the Martin Goodman Trail improvements at Marilyn Bell Park just west of Exhibition Place transformed a neglected and inaccessible section of the Martin Goodman Trail into a vibrant multi-use waterfront promenade, creating a scenic destination that supports major pedestrian and cycling needs on Toronto's western beaches. The improvements at Marilyn Bell Park were completed in 2007, and include the new waterfront promenade, boardwalk and cantilever deck.

The Government of Canada, the Province of 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.

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Media Contact:

Tari Stork, Manager, Project Communications, Waterfront Toronto