Here's what Toronto's new waterfront parks will look like
The designs of Toronto’s latest waterfront parks have been unveiled.
This week, Waterfront Toronto, in partnership with the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division, announced the winning design submissions for the York Street Park and Rees Street Park design competition.
Love Park by Claude Cormier et Associés has been selected for York Street Park, and Rees Ridge by wHY Architecture and Brook Mcllroy has been selected for Rees Street Park.
“The jury was thrilled with the quality and effort reflected in the design submissions for both York Street and Rees Street Park,” said Chris Glaisek, Chief Planning and Design Officer at Waterfront Toronto. “The winning designs best responded to the design requirements for each space, and we’re very excited to see these visions come to life.”
Rees Ridge/wHY Architecture (Courtesy of Waterfront Toronto)
Both park designs were unanimously selected by the jury, which included Michael Van Valkenburgh, Principal, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (Chair of the Jury); Neil Hrushowy, Principal Urban Designer, City and County of San Francisco; Jane Hutton, Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo; Matthew Hyland, Director/Curator of Oakville Galleries; Janna Levitt, Principal, LGA Architectural Partners.
“I’d like to thank all of the five short-listed teams for their submissions and congratulate Claude Cormier et Associés and wHY Architecture and Brook Mcllroy, who have exceeded our expectations for what the York Street and Rees Street parks can become,” said Mayor John Tory, in a release. “I know we all are looking forward to seeing their creativity come to life in these parks. They will be vibrant additions to Toronto’s waterfront.”
Love Park by Claude Cormier et Associés
The design competition was launched in February 2018 to develop proposals for the two parks that would respond to the pressing issues of a growing city and a busy waterfront district, while serving the diverse needs of local residents, office workers and visitors.
In July 2018, all ten design proposals were put on public exhibition at Toronto City Hall and online, giving Torontonians an opportunity to review the proposals and provide feedback.
Construction of York Street Park is expected to commence in 2019 with a budget of approximately $7 million. Construction of Rees Street Park expected to commence in 2020 with a budget of approximately $10 million.
An artist rendering of Love Park, by Claude Cormier et Associés (Montreal)