Making Connections to the Community

While there are a number of park parcels within the study area that require completion, one of this study's main objectives is to investigate how these parcels should fit and function within Harbourfront and as part of the Toronto's overall parks and open space system. This includes addressing critical east-west and north-south connections to adjacent parks and open spaces, as well as the historic and cultural connections noted in the Waterfront Culture and Heritage Infrastructure Plan.

Moving westward from the Harbourfront Parks system, there are open space connections that link Harbourfront to Coronation Park, Historic Fort York , the Garrison Creek ravine system , Exhibition Place, Ontario Place and the western beaches. To the east, there are connections through the existing Harbour Square Park to the future parklands in the East Bayfront and the Port Lands.

There are several north-south links that connect Harbourfront and its open space system to the downtown, Roundhouse Park, and future parklands planned as part of the railway lands development. These include York Street, Rees Street, the John Street corridor, Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street.

Like Harbourfront itself, the majority of lands surrounding it are undergoing an extensive amount of redevelopment. Consideration must be given to how the Harbourfront parks and open space system will serve to connect the future communities at Bathurst/Strachan, the Railway Lands and the East Bayfront, among others.

Harbourfront Centre

Harbourfront Centre is an innovative non-profit cultural organization with a mandate to organize and present public activities and events in the arts, culture, education and recreation. It operates a 10-acre Special Public Parkland site encompassing York Quay and John Quay.

Facilities include gallery and theatre venues, outdoor programme areas for major events and childrens recreation programmes and waterside events. It has become one of the City's premier attractions, producing approximately 4,000 events and programmes in theatre, dance, literature, music, film, visual arts and fine crafts.

Harbourfront Centre has produced a Master Plan for the 10 acre site to inform its development and operations over the coming years. This plan will require integration into the complete Harbourfront Parks and Open Space System.

With more than three million people visiting the site annually, the programming provided by Harbourfront Centre is a critical component of the Harbourfront parks and open space system. Special attention should be paid to ensuring that the form and function of the remaining parkland to be developed builds on, and is co-ordinated with, the continued success of Harbourfront Centre.

Additional information on Harbourfront Centre can be found on its web site: www.harbourfrontcentre.com