The City of Toronto has provided an update on next steps for three key public-realm projects.

Mayor John Tory and Councillor Joe Mihevc released details of a staff report on the projects on July 5.

The report, which will go to the city’s Executive Committee next week for consideration, recommends a plan for advancing work on three initiatives: Bathurst Quay, a Rail Corridor Master Plan and University Avenue. The report outlines the vision for each project, work undertaken to date and key implementation considerations in the next phase of project development.

The projects take advantage of existing city assets, including city-owned property and co-operative partnerships, to deliver much needed parkland downtown. They are proposed to be developed and implemented in stages as funding and approvals are secured.

“This is an important opportunity for the City of Toronto to keep taking the necessary steps forward to get these major parks built including the Bathurst Quay waterfront park, expanded park space along the Rail Corridor, and a redesign of University Avenue,” Tory said. “These projects are all important opportunities to deliver much needed parks and public space in areas where the current ratio of parkland per person is amongst the lowest in the city. They will take time to get done but we have a path forward that will see them done right and in a way that will enhance the liveability of our downtown for all those who live and work there and its vitality for visitors.”

Bathurst Quay will repurpose a city-owned parking garage as the structural foundation for a new waterfront park in combination with a structure over part of the adjacent Portland Slip. Design work is proposed to proceed in tandem with the garage closure and remediation in order to enable a park construction tender award in late 2026. The plan also calls for the creation of an exploratory committee to advance a multimedia projection installation on the adjacent Canada Malting Company silos.

The development of a Rail Corridor Public Realm Master Plan will provide a strategic plan for incrementally expanding public space over and adjacent to the rail corridors that run through downtown. The City is engaging with property owners, Metrolinx and other stakeholders on a variety of project opportunities. The Master Plan will better position the city to plan for new open spaces and connections that contribute to the implementation of concepts envisioned in the Downtown Plan.

Finally, the redesign of University Avenue has the potential to reimagine one of Toronto’s most iconic streets and deliver a continuous public green space connecting the Financial District, Health Science District and the University of Toronto. The next stage to develop this longer-term opportunity will include an engagement strategy for key stakeholders and partners, a capital project coordination strategy and a heritage inventory.

“These park projects build upon the substantial efforts the City has already undertaken and continues to envision to create downtown public spaces for all Toronto residents and visitors to experience and enjoy,” said Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, who chairs the city’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

Toronto’s Executive Committee and Council are being asked to endorse the work plan and to direct relevant city staff to report back on individual projects at major milestones, and through the annual budget process.

Some community and stakeholder consultation has already occurred for the three projects through related planning studies and planning applications. Comprehensive engagement plans will be implemented for all initiatives as feasibility studies and design work advance to ensure continued consultation with the public, stakeholders and Indigenous communities.

The city has put a premium on the value of parks and public spaces in its strategic objectives, policy frameworks and guidelines. The need to expand and improve public spaces is acutely felt in areas of the city experiencing rapid growth, especially in the downtown core, where growth is primarily occurring in the form of high-density residential developments.

“Increasing access to parks and public spaces as our downtown communities grow is more important than ever,” said Mihevc. “By taking advantage of existing City assets, we can address the need for more public spaces downtown by building new parkland that everyone can access and enjoy. This is how we support a vibrant and liveable downtown for residents, visitors, and our commercial and cultural sectors.”

Downtown Toronto’s population is projected to double from nearly 238,000 people in 2016 to 475,000 by 2041.