Lake Ontario Park Master Plan
Where is Lake Ontario Park?
Lake Ontario Park will be one of Toronto's great new park spaces and a defining destination for the city. Covering an area of several hundred acres of land and water, Lake Ontario Park stretches between the Eastern Gap and the RC Harris Treatment Plant and includes Tommy Thompson Park and Ashbridge's Bay. The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC) is leading the preparation of a master plan for Lake Ontario Park that will define this as one of the world's great, large urban waterfront parks. Lake Ontario Park will celebrate and serve Toronto's diverse population and will be a draw for residents and visitors alike.
What is the Lake Ontario Park Master Plan?
In 2005 the TWRC received funding to prepare a master plan to guide the future implementation of Lake Ontario Park. The Master Plan defines a unique design vision for the park and identifies specific implementation projects. The Master Plan will embrace the Tommy Thompson Park Master Plan and supports the implementation projects that are now beginning. The goal is to foster the creation of a new waterfront park that is beautiful, sustainable and that serves as a special place for the people who live in and visit Toronto. The park will preserve the features that make this a unique and special place today but will be enhanced by new landscapes and facilities that change the way we think about urban waterfront parks.
The area covered by the Lake Ontario Park Master Plan is very broad. Some of these areas require more design work and creative change than others. For example, the Eastern Beaches are a treasured public open space in Toronto and there is no intention to redesign these areas. Other parts of the Lake Ontario Park, such as the shore of the Port Lands south of Unwin Avenue have never been properly planned and will be the focus of most of the planning team's design efforts. In total, Lake Ontario Park can be thought of as a system of places that have unique functions and character. The Master Plan provides an integrated framework and approach to this substantial park area.
Lake Ontario Park presents a unique opportunity to create a special waterfront park that performs many roles. The park will accommodate a wide range of landscape types, intensities of use and program activity. There will be a significant component of the park dedicated to recreational boating. There are also a range of important terrestrial and aquatic habitats within Lake Ontario Park, and one of the challenges and opportunities of the Master Plan will be to understand and protect these ecological resources. The plan is being developed with the full participation of the public stakeholders and agencies.
The Draft Concept Plan is the first step in the process leading to the Master Plan. Lake Ontario Park, as presented in the Draft Concept Plan, is defined by transects and outposts. The transects act as spines for wayfinding through a diverse series of landscapes. Outposts reach out from the transects, offering opportunities to explore further a chosen land formation or habitat along the path. Each transect travels through a series of unique landscapes; the Bar transect traverses the original fisherman’s island, the Spit transect travels north south along Leslie Street to the tip of the spit, and finally, the beach transect connects back to the beach.
Where did the idea for Lake Ontario Park come from?
In 2003, Toronto City Council adopted the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan. That plan formally identified the lands within Lake Ontario Park as a park and open space area. Lake Ontario Park was also an important feature of the TWRC's Public Space Framework that was developed and adopted by the TWRC's Board in 2003. The aspiration for a major waterfront park in this location has a long history in Toronto, and TWRC's goal is to make that long standing vision a reality.
Who owns the land in Lake Ontario Park?
All of the lands within Lake Ontario Park are owned by public agencies. These owners include the City of Toronto, the Toronto Port Authority, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the Toronto Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO). These partners are working together in the Lake Ontario Park planning process to support the successful revitalization of these lands. The public ownership of the park lands will facilitate the implementation of the master plan once it is complete. All of these public agencies are participating in the preparation of the master plan.
How is the Master Plan being prepared?
The Master Plan for Lake Ontario Park will be like a precinct plan for a park, similar to the neighbourhood plans for East Bayfront and the West Don Lands. The TWRC has retained the services of an integrated team of internationally renowned landscape architects and other specialists who can provide the creativity and skills that a plan of this scale requires. The design team is led by James Corner, Principal of Field Operations. The Draft Concept Plan was presented to the public on January 17th, 2007. There will be more opportunities for public participation and engagement throughout the Master Plan, and a key goal of the planning process is to get people excited about the amazing potential that Lake Ontario Park presents.
The TWRC expects Lake Ontario Park to perform at the highest level of design and sustainability. In order to succeed, the Master Plan must address a range of complex issues including environmental conditions, appropriate park programming, and land use. The plan balances the needs of the existing users of the park with an ecologically sensitive approach to future development and increased use. The plan builds on the range of studies and work that have been completed in the past by agencies such as the Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) and the City of Toronto. The plan is based on a compelling vision that preserves the unique defining features of the place while developing the kinds of landscapes and features that will make the park a repeat waterfront destination for the residents of this region.
The implementation of the Lake Ontario Park Master Plan will take place over a sustained period of time. Components of the new park will likely be developed in phases, rather than all at once. The Master Plan for Lake Ontario Park will be an essential tool in securing the required funding to make the vision for the park a reality.
How can I get involved?
The TWRC welcomes the participation of the public in the master planning process. There will be a range of opportunities for people to participate. You can attend public meetings, participate in focus groups and workshops, or submit your comments in writing. The design process will respond to the public input received to ensure that Lake Ontario Park Master Plan is embraced by the people of the Toronto Region.
To submit your comments and ideas, please email us at lakeontariopark@waterfrontoronto.ca