[Northern Light]

@AlexBozikovic has a column out on the Weston gift and associated (vague) proposals.

A $50-million parks gift is nice, but Toronto must take care of itself, too

Toronto’s parks are suffering from chronically poor maintenance and a lack of vision in their design and programming. Philanthropic help is great, but the city must also act

www.theglobeandmail.com

He raises the issue of University Park once more, questions the choice of Janet R. to lead the efforts here (he is right to, for reasons discussed up thread) and also whether this was the park where this money was most needed, in any event, other investments are also required (definitely true).

 

[Northern Light]

Here we go.

The Community Engagement Page has been updated.

The usual, multi-part, Parks Engagement process is underway, but there is good news here, the influence of outside, impatient money can be seen.

The typical 5-year process from initial consultation to construction has been reduced to 1 year, with a goal of breaking ground next summer.

Queen's Park North Revitalization

Learn about the final vision and guiding principles for the park revitalization, and provide feedback on the draft big moves and design ideas for the park. The survey closes on December 14, 2025. Take the Online Survey Queen's Park North is a historic and culturally significant public green...

www.toronto.ca

From a quirky facts about the park section, the one I didn't know:

There is an initial survey, it is essentially about the principles about, how much you like them or don't, but also some ranking of the things you like about the park currently, and some improvements (washrooms, food, nature, seating) that you would like to see added the most.

There are write-in options for most questions, so if you don't like the choices, select 'other'. Be concise, there is a character limit.

- Queen's Park North Phase 1 Visioning Survey

ca.mar.medallia.com

 

[DSCToronto]

Here we go.

The Community Engagement Page has been updated.

The usual, multi-part, Parks Engagement process is underway, but there is good news here, the influence of outside, impatient money can be seen.

The typical 5-year process from initial consultation to construction has been reduced to 1 year, with a goal of breaking ground next summer.

Queen's Park North Revitalization

Learn about the final vision and guiding principles for the park revitalization, and provide feedback on the draft big moves and design ideas for the park. The survey closes on December 14, 2025. Take the Online Survey Queen's Park North is a historic and culturally significant public green...

www.toronto.ca

View attachment 667674
From a quirky facts about the park section, the one I didn't know:

View attachment 667675

View attachment 667676
View attachment 667677
There is an initial survey, it is essentially about the principles about, how much you like them or don't, but also some ranking of the things you like about the park currently, and some improvements (washrooms, food, nature, seating) that you would like to see added the most.

There are write-in options for most questions, so if you don't like the choices, select 'other'. Be concise, there is a character limit.

- Queen's Park North Phase 1 Visioning Survey

ca.mar.medallia.com

Parks managing to get their act together to start work in a year? I will believe it when I see it. They have been talking about fixing up Market Lane Park (which is the size of a large suburban lawn) for several years and it was supposed to be fixed up at about the same time the North Market opened. The Market opened in April (and the external work was done last fall) but the latest plan is to start construction 'fall 2025' - though the contractor has yet to be selected. The David Crombie updaing is a similar tale of lethargy.

 

[Northern Light]

Parks managing to get their act together to start work in a year? I will believe it when I see it. They have been talking about fixing up Market Lane Park (which is the size of a large suburban lawn) for several years and it was supposed to be fixed up at about the same time the North Market opened. The Market opened in April (and the external work was done last fall) but the latest plan is to start construction 'fall 2025' - though the contractor has yet to be selected. The David Crombie updaing is a similar tale of lethargy.

The Westons are not donating 50M+ to those; and there's other money too......

Big players, for whom time is money and Parks is on their dime, and their time.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

...are they planning on putting that pavilion back?

 

[DSCToronto]

The Westons are not donating 50M+ to those; and there's other money too......

Big players, for whom time is money and Parks is on their dime, and their time.

I 100% understand the need to please donors but Parks really seems disfunctional for even small projects so I remain 'doubtful' they can move fast in any circumstances. We shall see!

 

[Northern Light]

The Westons are not donating 50M+ to those; and there's other money too......

Big players, for whom time is money and Parks is on their dime, and their time.

Not that exact one, no.

And not in that spot either, last I heard.

But washrooms are coming, that is definitely in the plan.

 

[Northern Light]

Heads up........... workshop with public attendance upcoming!

Live link for the registration: https://ca.mar.medallia.com/?e=476299&d=l&h=1146FC5F5471DA3&l=en

A week later, an online survey will open:

Then you can also meet staff at various popups:

I'll post the panels when they're public...........if someone else doesn't get there first.

But for area residents, or people passionate about this space, I strongly encourage you to attend the workshop. You will have a great chance to understand and influence the developing design.

 

[Northern Light]

Just a reminder that the workshop for the project is tonight, starting at 6:30pm at the Y on Grosvernor.

 

[Northern Light]

I will post a link to the updated materials:

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/982d-queens-park-north-revitalization-discussion-guide-02.pdf

I will then enlarge a single page as a basis for discussion.

In the background section, accessed off the main project page, you can also find additional info:

Queen's Park North Revitalization

Learn about the final vision and guiding principles for the park revitalization, and provide feedback on the draft big moves and design ideas for the park. The survey closes on December 14, 2025. Take the Online Survey Queen's Park North is a historic and culturally significant public green...

www.toronto.ca

There's a good deal more that hasn't yet been made public, but images above should be a good jumping off point.

While nothing is finalized, the tentative pacing has work being tendered in summer '26, so any input needs to be offered when the survey goes live.

*****

The other thing I will share right now is that the idea of skating has been nixed. (Good)

 

[junctionist]

It would be nice to see the province revamp Queen's Park South into a proper destination public space. Ideally, there would be some common design elements between the north and south parts. The current state of the space with a massive driveway and a parking lot in front of the legislature with cracking asphalt doesn't cut it in terms of destination urban design, especially when compared with other provinces' legislatures like Quebec.

Our palace of a legislature deserves a destination public space around it to encourage people to come and enjoy the landmark and its unique place in the city. But if the province does something completely different one day, it might be worth renaming Queen's Park North to have more of its own unique identity in its name versus a name that makes it sound like a mere extension of the legislature grounds.

 

[innsertnamehere]

The province is early in the process of doing a full depth reconstruction of Queens Park sort of similar to what the Feds are doing with the Parliament buildings right now, albeit on a smaller scale. I'm sure Queens Park South would get cleaned up as a part of that. The talk is that the project will be north of a billion buckaroos.

 

[Northern Light]

It would be nice to see the province revamp Queen's Park South into a proper destination public space. Ideally, there would be some common design elements between the north and south parts. The current state of the space with a massive driveway and a parking lot in front of the legislature with cracking asphalt doesn't cut it in terms of destination urban design, especially when compared with other provinces' legislatures like Quebec.

Our palace of a legislature deserves a destination public space around it to encourage people to come and enjoy the landmark and its unique place in the city. But if the province does something completely different one day, it might be worth renaming Queen's Park North to have more of its own unique identity in its name versus a name that makes it sound like a mere extension of the legislature grounds.

There's lots for you to chew over in the slides I posted......have a good look at them.

I will answer questions publicly or privately depending on what's asked.

****

Side note from last nights' meeting:

Audience member: "There's a hidden agenda here ......to draw more people into the park"

 

[christiesplits]

The province is early in the process of doing a full depth reconstruction of Queens Park sort of similar to what the Feds are doing with the Parliament buildings right now, albeit on a smaller scale. I'm sure Queens Park South would get cleaned up as a part of that. The talk is that the project will be north of a billion buckaroos.

There's lots for you to chew over in the slides I posted......have a good look at them.

I will answer questions publicly or privately depending on what's asked.

Important to remember that Queen's Park South is where protests and demonstrations are held. Any urban design and landscaping changes will have to consider the high volume of people who attend the grounds, as well as the need for private lane access for OPP and emergency vehicles for public safety.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Too bad Claude Cormier is no longer with us - they can do hardscape like no other.

AoD