This park site is located just to the east of the Portland Street Slip. To the west of the park site is the Harbourfront Community Centre and Waterfront Public School. The Music Garden is approximately 1.30 Ha (3.42 acres) in size, and was completed in 1999.
The Music Garden was originally intended for Boston, but when plans for this initiative fell through, an opportunity was created for establishing the garden in Toronto. Toronto Council authorized the acceptance of private funds to establish the Music Garden as part of Spadina Gardens Park.
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The Music Garden was designed by Julie Moir Messervy, in association with Yo-Yo Ma. Inspired by the first suite of Johan Sebastian Bach's Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, the park is physically shaped by the spirit of Bach's music with each of the six design elements of the contemplative garden corresponding to the six movements in the suite:
Prelude: An undulating riverscape with curves & bends
Allemande: A forest grove of wandering trails
Courante: A swirling path through a wildflower meadow
Sarabande: A conifer grove in the shape of an arc
Minuet: A formal flower parterre
Gigue: Giant terraced grass steps
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The Music Garden is a place of contemplation and rest, as well as a place for summer music and cultural performances.
