This neighborhood needs more seating. Jimmie Simpson Park doesn’t really have any place to sit other than a few small benches facing Queen Street.
IMO, Metrolinx should scrap the ridiculous 3-4 parking spots they retained and expand the proposed plaza in front of the station to look something more like the following:
View attachment 618842
Bella Abzug Park NYC
I can see this area being
much busier than it already is when the Ontario Line opens, so I think creating more of a welcoming area where people feel comfortable to stick around for a while is important. Think: meeting up with friends, a place to rest after a long walk or allow for families to get sorted before boarding the train/entering the busy station.
The plan already includes a bench or two (circled in the render below) but that’s not nearly enough to seat the number of ‘bums’ this area will see.
View attachment 618844
From the database
To accommodate the parking if needed, I’d propose moving it to Strange Street (permit only) and I’d even go as far as saying the street should be cobbled to allow overflow for pedestrians and differentiate the priority to drivers that it’s not a place the can idle at for long.
Further, I can’t stress enough that a proper Dutch-style raised crosswalk should be the new standard
especially in this case:
View attachment 618853
Strange Street Crosswalk
…since they’re already
so close, I hope they don’t revert to a dipped curb as shown.
View attachment 618854
From the database (cropped for emphasis)