Our city seems to be changing by the day, and for the better. These new parks and beaches in Toronto will give us all kinds of new options for enjoying the great outdoors. From art trails along the water to sandy shorelines with skyline views, there are some incredible destinations in the works in our city.
Here are 8 new parks and beaches in Toronto that are set to open to the public.
Mirvish Village Park
Big developments are underway to transform the former home of Honest Ed’s at Bathurst and Bloor into Mirvish Village, an exciting destination for locals and visitors alike.
Described as a “complete, pedestrian oriented, 100% rental community,” Mivrish Village will have over 900 pet-friendly rental homes, 100 of which will be affordable rentals.
The rentals will be surrounded by a bustling community featuring a new park, a sprawling public market with shops, restaurants, live music venues, and much more.
Leslie Slip Lookout Park
A new beach and green space is coming to the Port Lands. The destination is called Leslie Slip Lookout Park and it’ll transform an industrialized area into a gorgeous multi-use community space.
The park will be located on Martin Goodman Trail at the entrance to Tommy Thompson Park, according to CreateTO.
The public beach will be surrounded by forested dunes and will span 1.9 acres along the waterfront, with a viewing platform offering stunning views of the skyline and the Toronto Ship Channel.
Love Park
A unique outdoor destination by the water is well on its way to completion. Toronto’s Love Park is taking shape at the southern end of York Street and Queen’s Quay and its main attraction is an illuminated heart-shaped pond.
When it’s complete, the pond will be surrounded by walking paths, seating areas, trees, and green hills for people to relax on and enjoy the view.
The Love Park will be a “lush urban oasis” and a “playful and immersive experience secluded from busy downtown life,” says Waterfront Toronto.
Public beach and trails at Ontario Place
Ontario Place is undergoing a major transformation and there are many plans in the works, including 12 acres of new public space to be used year-round.
Occupying around 37,600 square feet of this land will be a new sandy beach, which will be open to the public for beginner and experienced swimmers to enjoy.
Also coming to Ontario Place are enhanced walking and cycling trails around the West Island, gathering spaces by the water, and a Wetland Innovation Zone to help return clean water to the lake and help local wildlife thrive.
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The Lassonde Art Trail
Toronto’s Villiers Island is shaping up, and the new Port Lands location is set to have a gorgeous waterfront public art trail.
Thanks to a $25 million donation by The Pierre Lassonde Family Foundation — the largest donation of its kind in the City of Toronto — a free, open-air art walk will be installed on the island.
The trail will feature two permanent art pieces and “a rotating cycle of contemporary installations from local, national and international artists.”
Villiers Island
Villiers Island is one of the premier redevelopment sites along the waterfront. Described as a “stunning new waterfront community,” Villiers Island has been in the works for several years now.
It will occupy 88 acres of land, 34 of which will consist of water’s edge parks and public spaces. It’ll be a climate positive community with incredible views of the city and incredible nature, slated for completion in 2024.
Several other parks will also be created in the area — Promontory Parks North and South, Villiers Park, and V River Park.
Parliament Slip WaveDeck
The heart of Toronto’s east waterfront is being reimagined. Waterfront Toronto plans to create an innovative WaveDeck at Parliament Slip, which will include all kinds of activities water.
Plans for the new destination include kayak and canoe launches, lakeside swimming pools, open-water swimming opportunities, a marina, a waterfront amphitheater, and even a floating restaurant.
Quayside
A brand new neighbourhood is set to transform a vast stretch of Toronto’s waterfront.
The 12-acre site will be “Canada’s largest all-electric, zero-carbon master-planned community,” says Waterfront Toronto.
One of the key features of this new neighbourhood is that it will be home to over 800 affordable residential units. Quayside will also have 3.5 acres of public space, including a “car-free green oasis” that will extend from Parliament Street to Bonnycastle Street.
