Weird. I was just mentioning to my wife that Ontario Place was way overdue for a make-over. I don't think making it educational is a sure shot for attracting more visitors though. It would seem like making it more fun would be more effective.
 
I love the main buildings at Ontario Place and would hate to see them removed, except for Molson Amphitheater, which I always thought was a mistake. I also wish they had kept the old Forum. It was a great place to see concerts, which were free with admission. The old Children's Village was also a nice attraction, until they changed it, years ago. Ontario Place used to be a great attraction but it's been allowed to deteriorate for a long time. Those huge parking lots need to be redeveloped, with parking put underground, if that's possible. Making it more educational and year round are great ideas. I'd like to see Ontario Place become more like a World's Fair, with museum type exhibit's. (mixing education with fun) It would also be nice if they could integrate it with the CNE, doing something to cover Lakeshore.


UPDATE: I just spoke to Ontario Place this morning and was told the floating pods (which used to be used for museums and entertainment) are now used only for private functions (weddings & corporate stuff) and there are no attractions in them. Also, Ontario North Now is CLOSED! How are they working to improve the park if they are closing down attractions and replacing them with nothing? Is it any wonder to them why attendance had dropped?
 
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I can't believe this is happening actually. Those buildings are amazing that "float" in the water. They should not go anywhere! Same with the Cinesphere. Re-purpose it if they need to, but don't tear down the structure.

Molson Amphitheatre should stay, so should the water park, if possible. Maybe even make the water park bigger? I know they're expensive to maintain though.

I have no problem with revitalizing, as long as it doesn't change any of the above too drastically.
 
Isn't the Cinesphere the world's first permanent IMAX theatre? That sounds like grounds for preservation to me. Otherwise in 20 years we could be wondering why such an historic structure was needlessly destroyed.
 
I'm in complete agreement w/many here, the 'floating' buildings and Cinesphere must stay.

I also quite like a lot of mature trees on the site.

*********

That said, there is something amiss w/the place, as revealed by the fact I was last there to see the original Lilith Fair....10 years ago?

I would break down the issue with Ontario Place this way.

1) Connections, it does have some good stuff now, though not enough.......but what is there just feels so isolated from the City, in many ways more so that the Toronto Islands

Resolving this is not that easy, of course, as the isolation occurs from

a) The Gardiner
b) Lakeshore
c) The Ex ( a barrier in that during the off-season the Ex feels like quasi-private and often under-used space
d) The Railway
e) OP's own parking

That's a lot to overcome

In the short-term, I see very little to be done about the Gardiner, except giving the underside a nice paint job and under-lighting.

The railway is what it is; and I wouldn't want it removed......Lakeshore could re-routed north....but not easily..........what could be done......would be to change the area grades; as right now Lakeshore is almost in a valley/gulley btw the Ex and OP. If the edge of the Ex/OP were lowered, and Lakeshore raised a bit, so it felt more like an urban boulevard w/sidewalks etc. that might help.

The parking as it stands, must go.......some reduction, some underground, if feasible, and possibly a 2-level parkade for part of it, to reduce the footprint by as much as 75% so that OP could meet Lakeshore in a welcoming way.

***

2) OP as a passive place, park, a few shops a place to paddleboat/canoe etc. This is part of its charm (though by no means all of it); but this part needs some touch-ups............at least one, ideally 3-5 restaurants worth eating at, with outdoor, water-facing patios......it could be quite the destination, particularly in summer. Either existing low-use islands, or a new one could showcase nature, a coastal-lakefront forest/meadow and...

And how about a beach.............a real honest to goodness, beach for downtown........

***

3) The active stuff...........for the little ones, can we have the Original Children's Village back? And the caboose that served the really great fries.....(childhood memory)

More than that......how about a top-notch water park (double the current size, better than Splash works etc.

Finally, keep Cinesphere, but bring back its futuristic vision........start by refitting the theater with those new-fangled movie seats Cineplex is testing that move with the movie......

Then change the lighting on the building (and adjacent buildings) to mimic the CN Tower in putting on multi-coloured fantastic light show each night.

3b) At the Ex site, but operated for the full OP Season, bring back one truly awesome Wooden Roller Coaster......THE NEW FLYER....lit-up at night with LED on every wooden beam in all sorts of fantastic colours and a light show that moves with an in-motion coaster.

There....think I've covered it!

:D
 
Mongo said:
Isn't the Cinesphere the world's first permanent IMAX theatre? That sounds like grounds for preservation to me. Otherwise in 20 years we could be wondering why such an historic structure was needlessly destroyed.
Click to expand...

It was. A 3D screen and sound upgrade in the Cinesphere would be all I'd like to see happen there, and it all ready operates pretty much year 'round.
The pods have to stay too, they're so unique and can easily have their interiors redesigned for other uses.
 
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I just heard on the news that they might tear down EVERYTHING! I agree with the above post. They better not touch the floating pods and the Cinesphere. I LOVE those buildings! I seriously would be PISSED!!! The rest of Ontario Place is in need of redevelopment but keep your hands off my floating pods, Dalton.


Those pods used to have museums and entertainment in them, when OP first opened, then all of a sudden, they closed them down. Also the original Children's Village was great. I used to play there for hours. It was a great place to get children to be active. I don't know why they tore it down. It seems like all the changes at OP, just made the place less interesting. (kinda like what's happening to the CNE)
 
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According to the Star "Ontario Place to be torn down and rebuilt" This will be a crime if this happens :mad: How can McGuinty even consider tearing down some of the most original buildings ever erected in this city. The floating pods are timeless masterpieces.

What I find odd is that they have set a deadline of September 10th. for submission of "ideas". Just a few weeks away! How can developers come up with proposals in this tight time frame? What this suggests to me is that probably "the fix" is in. It would not surprise me if a company well connected with the Liberals has had its eye on this public property and have been working on a detailed proposal for some time. When submissions are made in a few weeks from now their proposal outshine all the others and the Liberals will conclude a deal with this company behind closed doors the details of which will be kept confidential.
 
ladyscraper said:
Weird. I was just mentioning to my wife that Ontario Place was way overdue for a make-over. I don't think making it educational is a sure shot for attracting more visitors though. It would seem like making it more fun would be more effective.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing cycling by it today. It would be truly disappointing to see the entire site demolished.
 
I haven't even read the documents yet but "Ontario Place to be torn down and rebuilt" makes my blood boil! I'm chaining myself to the Cinesphere if that plan goes ahead. Ontario Place's architecture is as much a part of Toronto as the CN Tower and SkyDome.
 
Agreement Type Open Bidding (OB)
Tender Type Request for Information (RFI)

REVITALIZATION OF ONTARIO PLACE CORPORATION

ONTARIO PLACE Corporation (OPC), an agency of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, seeks private sector proposals for the potential redevelopment of its beautiful 96-acre site on Lake Ontario. A revitalized ONTARIO PLACE could be the focal point that identifies Toronto's waterfront to the world.

The purpose of this RFI is to gather innovative ideas to develop a state-of-the-art, year-round attraction that will help to re-energize the waterfront and bring new international recognition to Ontario. These proposals will help to formulate a vision and long-term strategy for redevelopment.

Response Deadline: 4:00 PM local time, Friday September 10, 2010.
http://www.merx.com/English/SUPPLIE...=&MoreResults=&hcode=POUxW6h9JwOMxh0fWCV8Zg==
 
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Raze it? I think not. Yet, it makes sense that it needs to be revitalized. I'd save the Cinesphere, the Atlantis Pavilions and the Goh Ohn Bell Shelter, and I wouldn't be overly worried about the rest. I have no problem with private sector involvement and think it makes sense. To me, a key question would be whether it will continue to be limited access or not - I would prefer some plan that saw greenspace preserved and access to the site, with attractions being paid for on an as-you-go-basis. That would also allow for a more full re-purposing of some of the mainland side of the site, which has a lot of potential. Move the parking lots from the lakeside and make some better use of that land, and improve connections to the Ex while you are at it.
 
The fact that the Star headline emphasized "torn down and rebuilt" is probably enough to start big protests, Facebook petitions, et al. I'm feeling the rumble coming on. Just watch.

Anyway...re the "educational" thing, OP was meant to be "educational" from the start, right? Trouble was, it had too much of that year-round World's Fair cast, while a new, less plastic-bubbly and more Jane Jacobsish standard for educational/cultural attractions was (inadvertently, perhaps) being set at Harbourfront...
 
casino, si!
 
Putting a casino there isn't a bad idea as a magnet for people, actually. I wonder if the Pods (or additional Pods, even) can be used for that purpose? Get people to the neighbourhood first and then sucker them with the rest of the tourist attractions. Just like Vegas - the kids got to go somewhere right?

AoD
 
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