Where there was once a big, ugly parking lot, in the space between Queens Quay Terminal and York Quay is now, finally, officially, a park.
Canada Square, a major addition to the central waterfront, opens officially on Canada Day.
"In the spirit of European plazas," says James Roche, Waterfront Toronto’s director in charge of park design and construction, "Canada Square offers a new place for people to gather and enjoy beautifully framed views of Lake Ontario and Toronto's skyline under a canopy of majestic redwood trees."
The park is on top of what is now an underground parking garage, constructed by Ellis Don after designs by Beyer Blinder Belle architects. The park’s landscaping design is by US firm
Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates.
Canada Square is part of the larger
York Quay revitalization project, which also includes Ontario Square and Exhibition Common.
The budget for the whole project was $20 million.
Roche points out that this is only the second time Harbourfront Centre and Waterfront Toronto have worked together on such a project. "In 2006," he says, "public access to the water's edge was improved by widening the promenade south of Harbourfront Centre and the addition of a wooden boardwalk and two new finger piers."
The opening ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. on July 1.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: James Roche