Plan for 'new space for play' beneath Gardiner Expressway unveiled
The next steps of what will eventually pop up in the space under the Gardiner Expressway were unveiled on Thursday – and it's being touted as a "new space for play, shared experiences and regenerative landscape."
As part of the Under Gardiner Public Realm Plan – a collaborative project with non-profit Bentway Conservancy and the City of Toronto to rejuvenate the underutilized space underneath the busy Toronto expressway – the Bentway Islands will be just one site of the 11,500 square metre development spanning from Dan Leckie Way and Spadina Avenue.
"The Bentway's innovative approach to transforming public spaces is exactly what Toronto needs. Over 100,000 residents within a 10-minute walk will enjoy this future space and new gateway to the waterfront," Ward 10 Coun. Ausma Malik said of the project online.
Three large-scale traffic islands will live in the heart of this concrete jungle – called The Triangle, The Wedge and The Arcade – and will not only serve as a "vibrant" space for visitors to enjoy, but as a "sister site" to the existing Phase 1 location that opened in 2018, the conservancy said. The conservancy also noted that this is the first manifestation of the Under Gardiner Public Realm Plan, which was approved by the city in 2024.
A graphic of where The Bentway Islands are located in Toronto. (The Bentway)"The main goals of Bentway Islands are to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety, expand public amenities in the CityPlace neighbourhood, and enhance the area's biodiversity and environmental resilience," co-executive director of The Bentway, Ilana Altman, told CTV News Toronto in an emailed statement.
"It's now up to our talented design team to figure out what that will look like when it's complete, but visitors can expect spaces for four-season recreation and cultural experiences, public art, new linkages to the waterfront, a flood resistant landscape, and a welcoming signature space for pets."
The islands' design – overseen by Field Operations, an urban design firm known for the High Line in New York, and Brook McIlroy, a Toronto-based firm in planning and architecture – will draw inspiration from the Phase 1 site and input from Indigenous communities, locals and the city's technical experts.
"Our goal is to create an iconic, vibrant and sustainable public space that embodies The Bentway's vision," Isabel Castilla, associate partner at Field Operations, said online.
The City of Toronto is providing funding with additional support from the conservancy, including Manulife, with future financing "expected" to come from a variety of public and private sources.
The conservancy said the initial concepts of what the Bentway Islands could look like will be revealed in 2025, with construction kicking off after the multi-year rehabilitation project planned for the Gardiner. Altman says they expect to have the Bentway Islands open by 2029.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Sparks fly as MPs question minister on pension implications of proposed election date change
Sparks flew at a parliamentary committee Thursday as MPs questioned Canada's democratic institutions minister about a widely opposed provision in electoral reform legislation that seeks to delay the next fixed election date by one week.
'There is no electricity': Canadian travellers in Cuba urge caution in hurricane's wake
Cuba's power grid was knocked out by Hurricane Rafael, which ripped across the country as a Category 3 storm. In western Cuba, it toppled buildings and pushed 50,000 people to find shelter elsewhere. Cubans were already enduring rolling blackouts due to energy shortages.
Three charged in One Direction singer Liam Payne's death
Three people have been charged in relation to One Direction singer Liam Payne's death in a fall from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony last month, Argentine authorities said on Thursday.
RCMP already 'on high alert' for potential wave of migrants after Trump election
Canada's federal police force has been preparing for months on a contingency plan for a potential massive influx of migrants across the border following Trump's promise of 'mass deportations' of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
'There was no stopping this baby from coming': Woman gives birth while aboard Newfoundland ferry
A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.
Volkswagen models recalled for airbag safety precaution
Recall notices have been issued for some Volkswagen models from 2006 to 2019 for airbag safety issues.
Canmore wildlife and landscape defender Karsten Heuer dies peacefully at 56
Canmore conservationist Karsten Heuer, who was a biologist, park ranger, author and activist, has died.
America votes: How celebrities are reacting to Trump's decisive victory
Celebrities from Hulk Hogan to Ariana Grande are sharing their reactions to the U.S. election, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House.
3 Winnipeg police officers charged with breach of trust, theft
Three members of the Winnipeg Police Service have been charged with breach of trust, obstruction of justice and theft following a lengthy investigation