One of the most innovative pieces of landscaping and public space creation in the city has entered its second phase.
Underpass Park—one hopes the name sticks—is a 1.05-hectare site in the West Don Lands. It's a bit of land that, in most cities, including Toronto, would usually barely be considered land at all, placed as it is under and around the Eastern Avenue, Richmond Street and Adelaide Street overpasses that link the central to eastern parts of the lower city.
But thanks to Waterfront Toronto, and a team including
Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg,
The Planning Partnership and artist
Paul Raff, this space has all the potential to become a definitive urban space that can be repeated in derelict places throughout the world's cities. (Think Montreal; think Los Angeles.)
Work on the portion of the site east of St. Lawrence Street and River Street has been completed, and work on the western bit, nearest Eastern Avenue, is commencing.
Waterfront Toronto estimates the work will be completed by the end of the year.
Writer: Bert Archer
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