[88drums]

I worked on Centre Island for several summers, and through July and August there was always a vastly disproportionate number of South Asian families enjoying the open lawn space, having family gatherings, picnics, BBQs. I always loved seeing the space so well used.

Cultural sensitivity is important, and of course culture can impact what people look for in a public space. But the assertion that this kind of park excludes non-Anglo-Saxons is just ludicrous.

 

[LUVIT!]

A Pubic space/park/square/piazza/ should be designed for all of us. Regardless of where we are from or our colour of skin. For this to become a racial issue is absolutely ABSURD!

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

A Pubic space/park/square/piazza/ should be designed for all of us. Regardless of where we are from or our colour of skin. For this to become a racial issue is absolutely ABSURD!

It could be phrased better, but the issue at hand is how parks are perceived differs across cultures - and the open lawn thing (or some variant of the English Garden) isn't necessarily the best or only option. The landscape design of OP should be cognizant of that and plan for intricacy. It isn't an issue of "race".

AoD

 

[Adjei]

This is the cheap option.

 

[Torontovibe]

This is the cheap option.

Yep, I'm afraid you're right! This looks like the Liberals saying we don't really want to invest serious money into Ontario Place, so let's just turn this once major attraction, into passive parkland. We'll build a few bike lanes, put in some benches, grass and trees and we're done! Is this what passes for great ideas and imagination in Ontario?

How is this better than what Ontario Place used to be? We already have acres of passive parkland, including Coronation Park, right beside Ontario Place, so why do we need more of it at this location? (not to mention the passive parkland at Ontario Place that opened in the summer) Why do they just keep giving us more of what we already have in abundance, down there? Oh yeah, it's cheap!
I thought we were supposed to be a "World Class City" damn it!

 

[Isotack]

I worked on Centre Island for several summers, and through July and August there was always a vastly disproportionate number of South Asian families enjoying the open lawn space, having family gatherings, picnics, BBQs. I always loved seeing the space so well used.

Cultural sensitivity is important, and of course culture can impact what people look for in a public space. But the assertion that this kind of park excludes non-Anglo-Saxons is just ludicrous.

My parents used center island for the same kind of picnics when they were new immigrants back in the 70s. They were A/S but the Italians, Portuguese and other immigrant populations of the time also held picnics there. It was part of exploring a new city, weather and a new land with open space. Today, all of us have moved on. The current crop of immigrants who are SE Asian and Asian, are just doing the same thing. Liberals love immigrants form wherever they come from, because they vote liberal!
Stop trying to make this a racial thing!

 

[MetroMan]

My parents used center island for the same kind of picnics when they were new immigrants back in the 70s. They were A/S but the Italians, Portuguese and other immigrant populations of the time also held picnics there. It was part of exploring a new city, weather and a new land with open space. Today, all of us have moved on. The current crop of immigrants who are SE Asian and Asian, are just doing the same thing. Liberals love immigrants form wherever they come from, because they vote liberal!
Stop trying to make this a racial thing!

Same. When I was growing up, we'd wake up on a Summer day and my family would pack up an icebox and we'd head out to a park, lay down a blanket and spend the day playing on the open lawn while the adults took in rays and played cards. My family is Portuguese but we'd see people of all ethnicities doing the same. I remember running into a kid from my class and his large family. I went to Kensington. I was the only white kid in that class.

I really do not want a Trinity-Bellwoods style park here. I am sorry, but the rest of the world considers that style of lawn-park dreadfully boring, not worth visiting, and in the winter time, openly hostile.

The City of Toronto is now >50% visible minority, so unless the goal is to exclude non-Anglo Saxons from the public space, I really think we should be aiming for something with more international appeal, especially considering Ontario Place's position on the waterfront and as a major potential attraction.

Nobody is saying to lay down a lawn on all of Ontario Place and call it a day. Trillium Park provides a great model to follow along the periphery of the park. I'll mention Trinity Bellwoods Park again because it's an example of the huge demand there is for spaces like that in downtown Toronto — notwithstanding what you assume the people of Toronto want. On a nice day, you can't find a patch of grass to lay down your blanket. Toronto's population is growing so demand will be even higher with no additional supply.

As for Winter, parks are barely used when they're covered in snow anyway. That goes for any park. We haven't paved them over yet so we must find their Spring/Summer/Fall appeal worthwhile. A great lawn surrounded by trees and gardens along the water would help mitigate breezes and provide for those quieter contemplative spaces.

In all the concept images, they've also included a beach which if built along an isolated harbour of clean water, is going to be one of, if not the most popular places on a hot Summer day. There's a lot of diversity in park types and uses in what we've been seeing for Ontario Place's revitalization, including the very first piece, Trillium Park, which is that exact kind of space you talk about.

 

[jje1000]

The open area likely will be used in conjunction with Molson Amplitheatre for festivals, I think.

Problem though, is that beyond that use, the open green space isn't going to be all that intensely needed since Coronation and Battery Park are nearby (though the two could do with some renovations and rework). Rather, it marks the further transformation of Ontario Place into parkland.

 

[Torontovibe]

Ontario Place was never meant to be just passive parkland! This somewhat out of the way location will not work as passive parkland. Trinity Bellwoods Park is popular because of its location in a popular area. Few people are going to trek out to Ontario Place unless you give them a good reason to. (especially when they already have passive parkland in their own neighbourhood)

 

[adHominem]

So, the skating rink is a bit less picturesque than the concept rendering. But considering they put this together pretty quickly that’s OK; hopefully if this goes well they can install something bigger & more exciting next year.

They’ve put lights on tons of trees on the West Island as well, which looks just lovely. A pleasant surprise to happen upon this on tonight’s run!

 

[ponyboy]

Does anyone think they should make the surrounding area a 24-hour community by incorporating some residential? A kind of world showcase village, mixing themes of ethnic villages, multicultural attractions, water/lake/nature themed exhibits, with some surrounding residential would be attractive. They need a thoughtful and integrated plan that includes both Ontario Place and Exhibition place together. All parking should eventually be put underground.

I'm glad we dodged the bullet on the casinos.

I wish the proposed land bridge over Lake Shore was considerably wider, and perhaps someday they can deck over a trenched Lake Shore Blvd, and build over the top.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

A kind of world showcase village, mixing themes of ethnic villages, multicultural attractions...

Those never turn out well - at best you'd end up with something Epcot-ish, which is a total caricature.

AoD

 

[Edward Skira]

News Release

Vibrant Winter Festival Kicks Off at Ontario Place
December 5, 2017

Province Continues to Transform Ontario Place into Year-Round Destination with New Skating Rink
Ontario is continuing to transform Ontario Place into a vibrant, year-round waterfront destination with new winter festivities that celebrate the sites and activities of the season.

Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and Han Dong, MPP for Trinity Spadina, were at Ontario Place last night to kick off the festivities. From December 8 through March Break, people will get in free at Ontario Place to enjoy winter-themed activities including:

• A Winter Light Exhibit - Every day, a beautiful array of 12 illuminated light exhibits will be on display throughout the West Island of Ontario Place. The exhibit will be lit by fairy lights that cast a warm glow and guide visitors along a path as they explore the West Island.
• Skating - An outdoor synthetic skating rink will be open with family friendly music playing and an outdoor concession stand with snacks and warm beverages.
• Bonfires - To cap off a day of skating and exploring on the weekends, visitors will have a chance to enjoy a bonfire at the Ontario Place fire pit. Located on the north end of Cedar Cove, the fire pit is just steps away from the skating rink.
• Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail - The wonderful new park is open all year-round. The paths are accessible and cleared with lots of room to build snow sculptures!

In addition to the Winter at Ontario Place programming, the iconic Cinesphere theatre is now open, showcasing year-round with regular IMAX® screenings.

Transforming Ontario Place into a vibrant, public, year-round waterfront destination is part of Ontario's plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.


QUICK FACTS

• In addition to Winter at Ontario Place, four diverse festivals were held at Ontario Place in the spring and summer to celebrate the province’s 150th anniversary.
• On November 17, 2017, the province issued a request for proposals (RFP) to seek a design consultant for a Celebration Common on the east island of Ontario Place. The RFP is available on MERX and closes on December 21, 2017.
• Ontario Place’s Cinesphere reopened to the public on November 3rd with regular, year-round IMAX screenings.
• The Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail opened in June 2017, welcoming people back to a spectacular piece of Toronto’s waterfront for the first time in over forty years.

 

[Northern Light]

Presser coming today:

https://news.ontario.ca/mtc/en/2018...ure-and-sport-to-make-an-announcement-14.html

 

[Edward Skira]

News Release

Province Moving Ahead with New Park at Ontario Place
February 8, 2018

Designer Selected to Develop Plans for New Multi-Purpose Space on Toronto Waterfront
Ontario is partnering with an award-winning design team to plan a new, flexible and vibrant green space on Toronto's waterfront at Ontario Place, creating a year-round destination for everyone to enjoy.
Daiene Vernile, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, was at Ontario Place today to announce that DTAH will lead the design work for a new multi-purpose park, known as the Celebration Common.

The new park, roughly the size of 14 football fields, would be Toronto's newest waterfront destination and would be used for open-air cultural activities, festivals, community events and recreation on the East Island of Ontario Place.

This marks the next step in the transformation of Ontario Place into a year-round public destination and follows on a number of milestones that include the opening of the Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail, free summer weekend festivals and the reopening of the Cinesphere. Public programming continues with Winter at Ontario Place until March 18 and features activities for the whole family including:

• IMAX movies at the historic Cinesphere, which will include a selection of the Best of Hollywood 2017 films such as Lady Bird, Dunkirk and Get Out. Beauty and the Beast will also be screened daily on Family Day weekend.
• Skating on an outdoor synthetic skating rink and experiencing the magic of illuminated light exhibits.
• Exploring the Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail with accessible and cleared paths.

Ontario's plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

QUICK FACTS

• DTAH is an award-winning design firm that has worked on other waterfront projects including the revitalization of Queens Quay and the Central Toronto Waterfront.
• Ontario Place’s Cinesphere reopened to the public in November 2017 with regular, year-round IMAX screenings.
• The Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail is now open and welcoming people back to a spectacular piece of Toronto’s waterfront for the first time in over forty years.