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Waterfront news releases |
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Waterfront Corp. breaks ground on $10.5 M investment to green Port Lands
April 26, 2005 - A $10.5 million investment from the three levels of government means that the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC) is breaking ground on a number of projects to green the Port Lands and improve public access to the waterfront, corporation chair Robert Fung announced today.
"With support and commitment from all three levels of government, waterfront revitalization has turned a corner. These Port Lands beautification projects are the first of many that will see shovels in the ground over the next year," said Fung. "And, it's no accident we are leading with work that will attract more people to the lake. Parks and public places are truly a priority for waterfront revitalization."
Public ownership, exceptional waterfront access and proximity to downtown make the 800-acre Port Lands an unprecedented opportunity for waterfront revitalization. While it will be several years before new neighbourhoods are built in the area, today's announcement will kick-start TWRC's efforts to lead revitalization here with parks, cleanup and greening projects.
"Investments such as this one help bring immediate and long-term benefits to both the city and the country by improving the quality of life in this region," said the Honourable Joseph Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Minister responsible for the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative. "Working with our partners, our shared vision is to build a stronger, better developed Toronto that can continue to lead the country in dynamism and growth."
Today's $10.5 million announcement includes:
- Cleaning up and landscaping Cherry and Leslie Streets and Unwin Avenue to transform them into major gateways for the Port Lands and the future 500-acre Lake Ontario Park
- Landscaping on Commissioners Street
- Launching the Port Lands Community Planting Strategy which this year will target sites at Cherry Beach and on Unwin Avenue
- Improving amenities and landscaping at Cherry Beach, Toronto's cleanest but largely underutilized beach
- Establishing a Port Lands Tree Nursery
"The Ontario government is excited to be part of an initiative that signals a new beginning for the Port Lands, one of Toronto's oldest brownfields," said David Caplan, Ontario Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. "We are witnessing the start of a massive makeover that will transform the Port Lands into a vital and useful part of Ontario's capital city."
In addition to improving public access and drawing more people to the waterfront, these investments in the Port Lands "green infrastructure" will ultimately enhance the overall value of the area and make it more attractive for future investment.
"I am proud to be on Cherry Beach today to launch the start of something beautiful: Toronto's relationship with a renewed Port Lands," said Toronto Mayor David Miller. "Renewing Toronto's waterfront demonstrates our capacity for leadership in sustainable city building, architecture, urban design, community development and environmental stewardship."
TWRC in partnership with Evergreen and the Toronto Bay Initiative is organizing the first Port Lands community planting event for Saturday, May 14, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at Cherry Beach. For more information please visit the TWRC website at www.towaterfront.ca.
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Media contacts:
Stephen Heckbert, Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
stephen.heckbert@cic.gc.ca
Wilson Lee, Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal
416-325-8735
wilson.lee@pir.gov.on.ca
Andrea Addario, Office of the Mayor, City of Toronto
416-338-7119
aaddario@toronto.ca
Kristin Jenkins, TWRC
416-214-1479
kjenkins@towaterfront.ca
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