Waterfront Toronto recently celebrated the opening of the largest park in the City of Toronto in a generation.

Representatives from the federal, provincial and city governments were on hand at the city’s newest island, Ookwemin Minising, to celebrate the opening of the island's marquee attraction, Biidaasige Park.

This island, renaturalized Don River and park all form part of the Port Lands Flood Protection project, an initiative funded by all three levels of government to enable the flood protection and naturalization necessary to unlock the Port Lands for revitalization and development. The project is valued at $1.4 billion.

At full buildout, it is estimated that Ookwemin Minising will be home to more than 15,000 residents, nearly 3,000 jobs, and an additional 15 acres of parkland to be developed in later phases.

Biidaasige Park is the largest park to open in Toronto in a generation and the first public space to open on Ookwemin Minising. The park will open in two phases. Approximately 50 acres of parkland opened on July 18, with an additional 10 acres set to open in 2026.

Next steps will accelerate the creation of over 14,000 new homes on public and private lands at Ookwemin Minising and Quayside, including affordable rental housing.

The development is expected to create an estimated 100,000 skilled trades jobs and add $13.2 billion to the economy.

"Today is an historic day for Torontonians with the opening of Biidaasige Park – the largest park in a generation and a beautiful space along the city's Eastern Waterfront,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “It is part of the revitalization of Toronto's waterfront at Ookwemin Minising creating a city within a city with 14,000 new homes.”

Funding for the Port Lands Flood Protection project includes more than $465 million by the Government of Canada, more than $471 million by the Government of Ontario and more than $471 million by the City of Toronto.