New Park at 134 Portland Street

• Fall 2021 to Summer 2022: Community engagement and design development
• Fall 2022 to Summer 2023: Detailed design
• May 2024: Construction starts
• September 2024: Construction complete, park opens

The timeline is subject to change.

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May 2024

Construction Starts

Construction for the new park starts and is anticipated to be completed in September 2024.

Spring 2023

Park Detailed Design Completed

The detailed design phase is completed. Additional green space and tree plantings were added to the park design based on community feedback collected in the June 2022 online survey.

Phase 2: Preferred Design

June 2022

Online Survey

From May 26 to June 26, 2022, the City conducted an online survey to collect feedback on the preferred design for the new park and confirm previous feedback collected during the other phases of community engagement. The survey received 98 responses, which included feedback from 162 people of various ages. 70 per cent of respondents identified as residents living nearby.

Respondents were able to indicate their preference and final thoughts on the new park’s design:

• Most respondents were satisfied (48 per cent) or somewhat satisfied (29 per cent) with the preferred design
• The majority of respondents liked the design approach for the shade structure (56 per cent) and lighting (79 per cent)
• 60 per cent of respondents thought there were not enough plants or trees, and many respondents suggested that the park include more green space in the final design

Phase 1: Proposed Design

January 2022

Online Survey

From December 3, 2021, to January 3, 2022, feedback on the proposed design was collected in an online survey. The survey received 267 responses, which included feedback from 401 people of various ages.

Download the survey summary report.

November 2021

Stakeholder Meeting

On November 16, 2021, a stakeholder meeting took place, in advance of wider community engagement. The project team and local Councillor’s Office met with two resident’s associations (Garment District Neighbourhood Association and Wellington Place Neighbourhood Association) to hear more about community priorities and provide an opportunity to share perspectives and thoughts on the proposed design.

Key themes of discussion included:

• Ensuring the park is maintained properly throughout the seasons (e.g. winter maintenance) and has a sufficient number of waste receptacles for park users
• Additional bike rings should be added to the concept design
• Consideration of the shade structure to be rainproof (non-permeable)
• General support for the concept design overall
• Ensuring the park doesn’t try to fit in too much in a small space
• Materials used in the park should withstand pet/dog-use

The design was developed using feedback collected during the community engagement process. The design includes the following features:

• Custom designed roof pattern shade structure with a unique shape and coloured accents
  • Includes informal seating, tables and chairs below
  • Lighting will be integrated into the structure for ambiance
• Various park lighting fixtures, including light poles and recessed LED strip lighting along the bottom of the curved seat walls
• Park paving is textured granite to help separate the various zones of the park
• Various seating opportunities including café-style tables, seat walls, and pebble seating,
• Three large planting areas with canopy trees in horticultural beds that will feature native species
• A metal privacy screen at the park’s southern boundary, with an added planting buffer in front
• A water bottle filling station and drinking fountain
• Stair access and ramp access to retail units that are proposed as part of the development of 543 Richmond St. W.

Additional green space and tree plantings will be added to the park design based on community feedback collected in the June 2022 online survey.

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this site. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings, or any other content, please contact Katie Black at 416-338-0224.

1. Shade Structure: Permeable shade pavilion with informal seating, tables and chairs and lighting for ambiance
2. Park Lighting: Light Poles suited to organic design, and LED strip lighting along the bottom of curved seat walls
3. Park Paving: Textured granite paving to delineate various zones
4. Varied Seating: Informal seating opportunities. Large Cubical seating
5. Privacy Screen : Perforated metal screen on top of retaining wall for safety and visual termination of parkette’s southern boundary
6. Planting: Canopy trees in open planting beds with ornamental grasses and perennials as understory to create all year interest

As part of a new development at 543 Richmond St., a new 550m² municipal park will be created on Portland Street, just south of Richmond Street West. The City is working with the developer and their landscape architect on the design and construction of the new park. The proposed park will include:

• A shade structure
• Seating areas
• Planter beds with new plantings