Three new parks are coming to the neighbourhood around Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue West to meet the needs of the growing community. The new parks will be located on parts of land at 1528 to 1530 Bathurst St., 32/40 Raglan Ave., and 498 St. Clair Ave. W. The park designs will be developed with community input.

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 Andrey Pravosoudov at 416-420-5648.

Timelines are subject to change.

1528 to 1530 Bathurst St.

  • Fall 2022 to Spring 2024: Community engagement and design development
  • Summer 2024 to Winter 2024: Detailed design
  • Spring 2025: Construction starts
  • Fall 2025: Construction complete, park opens

498 St. Clair Ave. W.

  • Fall 2022 to Spring 2024: Community engagement and design development
  • Spring 2024 to Winter 2024: Detailed design
  • Summer 2025: Construction starts
  • Summer 2026: Construction complete, park opens

32/40 Raglan Ave.

Summer 2022: Community engagement to develop a park vision.

Further community engagement and design timelines are to be determined.

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Indigenous Community Engagement

If you are an Indigenous community member who would like to be involved in community engagement process for the park design development, please email William Skura at William.Skura@toronto.ca.

Park Naming

These parks do not have names yet. At the end of the design process, parks are often given names that describe the park’s features or location (e.g., Princess Street Park). These names, developed by City staff, make it easy for residents to identify and locate parks in their neighbourhoods and around the city. Alternatively, community members can develop and submit proposals for a commemorative park name before the end of the park design process. A proposal to give a park a commemorative name instead of a location-based name is first reviewed by City staff and then needs to be approved by Community Council.

Visit Property Naming to learn more and submit a commemorative property name.

Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as an Involve project based on the International Association of Public Participation Public Participation Spectrum. This means we work directly with the public, stakeholders, and rightsholders throughout the design process to ensure that ideas and aspirations are understood and considered in the design process.

A new 468 m2 park (about the size of a basketball court, or slightly smaller than two doubles tennis courts) is coming to 1528 to 1530 Bathurst St. on Bathurst Street, north of St. Clair Avenue West. The new park will connect to a Privately Owned Publicly-Accessible Space, together creating an east-west connection between Raglan Avenue and Bathurst Street.

This section is organized as follows:

  • Community Engagement Phase 1: Towards a Vision
  • Community Engagement Phase 2: Exploring Design Options
  • Community Engagement Phase 3: Setting the Direction
  • Indigenous Placekeeping

Community Engagement Phase 1: Towards a Vision

In this phase of the community engagement process, feedback was collected to develop a vision, to understand preferred features and seating styles, and to gather local knowledge to inform the design considerations for each park.

Park Vision and Design

Based on the outcomes of this phase, the vision for this new park is a green and calm thoroughfare that feels safe and has visual appeal.

Preferred features:

  • Trees and plants
  • Seating including benches, seatwalls
  • Small open lawn
  • Waste bins, cigarette disposals and dog waste stations
  • Community notice board
  • Indigenous placekeeping
  • A wide pathway through the park
  • Public art

Key design considerations:

  • People on bikes may cut through the park
  • Provide waiting spaces for the nearby bus stop
  • Provide clear sightlines between the park, street, and laneway
  • Consider the relationship with neighbouring buildings (e.g., noise and lighting concerns)

October 2022

Online Survey

From September 16 to October 9, feedback on the vision for each park was collected in an online survey. This feedback will help the project team develop a draft design for each park. The survey received 1,300 responses, which included participation from 1,629 individuals.

Feedback Summary:

  • Preferred character: green, calm, and sustainable
  • Preferred features: trees and plants, places to sit and eat, and an open lawn
  • Preferred seating styles: benches and seatwalls
In-Person Pop-Up Event

On October 7, pop-up boards were set up at two locations in the local neighbourhood to share information about the project and collect feedback on the vision for each park. Participants were asked to select their preferences for each park’s character, features, and seating options, and provide additional comments or suggestions. Approximately 100 people participated. One of the pop-ups was outside of Na-Me-Res to encourage feedback from Indigenous community members.

Feedback Summary:

  • Preferred character: green, playful, and calm
  • Preferred features: trees and plants, small play equipment, and open lawn
  • Preferred seating styles: seatwalls and benches

Indigenous placekeeping (discussions with Na-Me-Res staff):

  • Indigenous placekeeping should be included in designs, but does not have to be the same in all parks, or present in all parks (e.g., art with themes of water and fire, a fire pit)
  • Many Indigenous voices should be brought into discussions to help determine the placekeeping elements

Community Engagement Phase 2: Exploring Design Options

In this phase of the community engagement process, a draft park design will be presented to the community for feedback and revision.

September 2023

Online Survey

From August 4 to September 17, an online survey collected feedback from 384 community members.

Feedback Summary:

  • Most respondents were satisfied with the amount of seating, the bench-style seating, the proposed lighting plans in Layout Option 1, and the proposed planting plans in both layout options
  • Most respondents felt that there was nothing missing from Layout Option 1 or 2
  • Most respondents were satisfied with both layout options and had an almost equal preference between each option presented
  • Additional feedback included:
    • Do not include hostile architecture
    • Include tables
    • Ensure the space is well-lit
    • Add a drinking fountain
    • Add a feature for children
    • Add more waste bins
    • Add games tables
    • Concerns about pedestrian safety due to bikes through the space
In-Person Pop-Up Events

On September 12, pop-ups took place at various locations in the neighbourhood where approximately 40 people participated by reviewing and providing feedback on two draft park designs.

Layout 1:

  • Most respondents were dissatisfied with the proposed lighting plans
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the proposed planting plans
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the amount and type of seating
  • Satisfied with the overall design

Layout 2:

  • Most respondents were satisfied with the proposed lighting plans
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the proposed planting plans
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the amount and type of seating
  • Satisfied with the overall design
  • Respondents had a strong preference for design option 1
  • Respondents supported the Moccasin Identifier being included in the park
  • Additional feedback included:
    • Prioritize greenery and plantings throughout
    • Do not include hostile architecture
    • Provide separated and accessible benches
    • Ensure the space is well-lit
    • Ensure there are no hidden corners
    • Add tables to the space

Community Engagement Phase 3: Setting the Direction

In this phase of the community engagement process, a proposed design will be presented to the community for feedback and revision.

January 2024

Online Survey

From January 5 to January 28, an online survey collected feedback from 256 community members.

Feedback Summary:

  • Most respondents were satisfied with the amount of seating and the proposed lighting plan
  • A majority of respondents wanted a variety of tables in the seating area e.g. tables integrated in benches, chess top tables and metal tables
  • Most respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with the proposed planting plan
  • A majority of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with the preferred design. Additional feedback included:
    • Concerns about most of the park design being concrete instead of green space
    • Adding more greenery such as trees, natural shade, grass and plantings of various heights
    • Ensuring the park is child-friendly and includes a feature for children
    • Adding a dog-friendly drinking fountain
    • Ensuring the park is well-lit
In-Person Pop-Up Event

On January 8 and January 18, two pop-ups took place at the Wychwood Public Library to provide information and collect feedback on the preferred design for the new park. The events were offered as an in-person alternative to the online survey. Approximately 40 people participated in the pop-ups.

Feedback Summary:

  • Most respondents were satisfied with the amount of seating and lighting
  • Most respondents wanted a few tables to be provided in the seating area, including chess top table, metal table and tables integrated with benches
  • All respondents were satisfied with the proposed planting plans
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the overall design. Additional feedback included:
    • Add permeable paving and surfaces
    • Add benches throughout the park
    • Add canopy or other cover over benches
    • Add more lights at the front and back of the park
    • Ensure lights are dark sky compliant
    • Ensure there is a clear laneway connection to the Privately-Owned Publicly Accessible Spaces (POPS)
    • Add more spaces to linger
    • Add signs instructing cyclists to dismount
    • Add a washroom
Preferred Park Design

The preferred park design was developed using feedback in Community Engagement Phase 2. Key updates based on community feedback to date include:

  • A preference for Design Option 1
  • Recommendations to provide seating styles and arrangements with armrests for accessibility with separation/gaps between seating to allow space for mobility devices or strollers
  • Recommendation to provide different paving textures between the flow-through and seating areas to aid accessibility, especially for those with visual impairment
  • Recommendation to add a drinking fountain/bottle filler
  • Recommendation to increase the amount of lighting in the park to ensure the space is well-lit

An aerial layout of the proposed park design with labels. Centre is the pathway leading through the park. Two p-gates are at each entrance. On each of the north and south side of the park there are planting beds that continue along the length of the park. Light posts line the pathway through the park. Along the centre portion of the pathway are bench seating areas. On either side of the park are the existing low-rise appartment buildings, separated from the park by a tall, solid wooden fence. There is a spot reserved for a public art piece on the right near the park entrance, in the planting bed. A drinking fountain and community notice board are located centrally along the park pathways.

  1. P-Style swing gate
  2. Native plantings
  3. Concrete paving
  4. Light posts
  5. Benches
  6. Public art opportunity
  7. Waste receptacle
  8. Existing tree
  9. Wood screen fences
  10. Park sign
  11. Drinking fountain and bottle filler
  12. Community message centre

Indigenous Placekeeping

The Moccasin Identifier is proposed as an Indigenous placekeeping feature. The proposed Moccasin Identifier could include images of culturally specific moccasins that can be permanently set into a park feature (e.g. through carving, stone etching, or other) and are intended to promote public awareness of the ancestral presence of Indigenous Communities. Signage would accompany a marker to provide more information about the Moccasin Identifier and Indigenous placekeeping.

The Moccasin Identifier project was created by Carolyn King, former Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

The proposed Moccasin Identifier’s location and form will be determined based on further engagement with Indigenous community members. If you are an Indigenous community member who would like to be a part of these discussions, please email William Skura at William.Skura@toronto.ca.

A new 773 m2 park (slightly smaller in size than two basketball courts) is coming to 498 St. Clair Ave. W., on the northeast corner of Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue West.

This section is organized as follows:

  • Community Engagement Phase 1: Towards a Vision
  • Community Engagement Phase 2: Exploring Design Options
  • Community Engagement Phase 3: Setting the Direction
  • Engaging Indigenous Community Members
  • Park location map

Community Engagement Phase 1: Towards a Vision

In this phase of the community engagement process, feedback was collected to develop a vision, to understand preferred features and seating styles, and to gather local knowledge to inform the design considerations for each park.

Park Vision and Design

Based on the outcomes of this phase, the vision for this new park is a green, sustainable, eventful, and social place.

Preferred features:

  • Indigenous placekeeping
  • Trees and plants
  • Lots of seating including seatwalls, places to eat, and benches.
  • Barriers between the park and the road (with safety, acoustics, wind, and visuals in mind)
  • Transit waiting spaces including seating, and some shelter from the elements
  • A mix of sunny and shady spaces
  • Waste bins including cigarette disposal
  • Lighting

Key design considerations:

  • People wait for transit here
  • A good spot to eat lunch
  • Provide multiple seating areas so different groups can be in the space at once
  • The space is loud, the street is busy, and there is a wind-tunnel effect

October 2022

Online Survey

From September 16 to October 9, feedback on the vision for each park was collected in an online survey. This feedback will help the project team develop a draft design for each park. The survey received 1,300 responses, which included participation from 1,629 individuals.

Feedback Summary:

  • Preferred character: green, sustainable, eventful, and social
  • Preferred features: trees and plants and places to eat
  • Preferred seating styles: seatwalls, benches, and permanent umbrellas with tables
In-Person Pop-Up Event

On October 7, pop-up boards were set up at two locations in the local neighbourhood to share information about the project and collect feedback on the vision for each park. Participants were asked to select their preferences for each park’s character, features, and seating options, and provide additional comments or suggestions. Approximately 100 people participated. One of the pop-ups was outside of Na-Me-Res to encourage feedback from Indigenous community members.

Feedback Summary:

  • Preferred character: green, social, and sustainable
  • Preferred features: trees and plants, places to eat, and shade
  • Preferred seating styles: seatwalls, picnic tables, permanent umbrellas with tables, and benches

Indigenous placekeeping (discussions with Na-Me-Res staff):

  • Indigenous placekeeping should be included in designs, but does not have to be the same in all parks, or present in all parks (e.g. art with themes of water and fire, a fire pit)
  • Many Indigenous voices should be brought into discussions to help determine the placekeeping elements

Community Engagement Phase 2: Exploring Design Options

In this phase of the community engagement process, a draft park design will be presented to the community for feedback and revision.

Draft Park Design

The draft park design presented below was developed based on feedback collected through broad community engagement in 2022 and focused on Indigenous communities engagement in summer/fall 2023. Community feedback to refine the draft design is being collected from November 30 to December 21, 2023. Visit the Get Involved section for information.

A layout rendering of the proposed park design from above. Bathurst St. is on the left and St Clair Ave W is at the bottom of the image. The park is organised into four circular spaces, with plantings, trees, seating, and lighting a part of each space. The first circle, furthest west (left) includes seating pillars arranged into a circle , and a waste receptacle. The second circle (centre left) includes table and chair seating, decorative metal feature wall, and decorative paving showing a turtle (referencing Turtle Island). The third circle (centre right) includes bench seating and a feature ring light. The fourth circle (right) includes table and chair seating, as well as a projection lighting feature.

The park layout includes four circular spaces that connect to allow for easy access, fluid circulation and comfortable spaces for social interaction while creating a powerful sense of place. Paved gathering spaces and a variety of seating areas for socializing are balanced by raised planting beds and trees that will bring nature to this busy intersection (the park will be too high-traffic for grass lawn to survive). Indigenous placekeeping and culture are reflected and celebrated throughout the space. This includes mosaic paving that references the Turtle Island creation story; a large, raised circular ring light that symbolizes sacred fire and helps create an inviting circular gathering space; projection lighting as an eastern gateway marker and a feature wall that can bring Indigenous patterns, motifs, or teachings into the space; a circular seating area for smaller, more intimate gatherings; and interpretive signage to explain these placekeeping features. The park provides connections to bus shelters on both St. Clair and Bathurst, generous pedestrian sidewalks around the park, and a connection to a Privately Owned Publicly Accessible Space (POPS) to the north that leads to St. Michael’s College School and new residential tower developments.

  1. Signature paving design: Mosaic paving supporting Indigenous placekeeping with referencing the Turtle Island creation story
  2. Circular Open Spaces: The park layout of overlapping circles allows for easy access, fluid circulation and comfortable spaces for social interaction while creating a powerful sense of place. The circular, organic spaces connect to Indigenous cultural norms and invite sociability. These areas are paved with coloured recycled glass that water can flow through to provide natural drainage
  3. Waste and Recycling receptacles
  4. Raised open planting bed with mounded landform covered in dense plantings. The mounded landform lifts plantings for greater presence, better display, and helps shield the park from winds
  5. Drinking fountain and bottle filler
  6. Overhead light ring: A symbolic reference to an Indigenous sacred fire space
  7. Feature wall approximately 1.1 metres tall. Imagery across the wall is to be determined. Initial ideas include murals, a ‘welcome’ sign in multiple languages (including Indigenous languages), constellations or Indigenous symbols
  8. Seating:
    1. Café-style table and chairs, anchored to paving. Some tables have fewer chairs to allow people using mobility devices and strollers to pull under the tables
    2. Circular bench with backrest
    3. Circular bench without backrest to allow maximum visibility into the park from the street.
  9. Pole Light: Includes two lamps per pole
  10. Decorative projection lighting: Projects patterns and motifs onto the pavement below. Animal footprints are shown as a possible theme, connecting into Indigenous placekeeping and the seven grandfather teachings
  11. Entrance Marker: Colourful, patterned column that holds up the projection lighting feature
  12. Metal windscreens: Made of decorative and perforated metal. Helps shield the park from winds
  13. Social gathering circle: The circular seating arrangement encourages social interaction and gathering and is designed to support Indigenous placekeeping, reflecting the importance of circular gathering and programable space

December 2023

Online Survey

From November 30 to December 21, an online survey collected feedback from 250 community members.

Feedback Summary:

  • Most respondents wanted more trees and planting in the design
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the amount of shade
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the amount and type of seating
  • Most respondents wanted the drinking fountain/bottle filler station to also include a water bowl for dogs
  • Most respondents liked the inclusion of the proposed feature walls
  • Most respondents were satisfied with how Indigenous placekeeping is being incorporated into the new park
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the draft design
  • Additional feedback included:
    • Make the park greener (plantings, flowers, trees, native pollinators) and less grey
    • Ensure the sidewalks and pathways are wide for safety and accessibility
  • Seating:
    • Add back rest
    • Refining café seating
    • Add picnic tables
    • Add more benches including near the bus stops and sidewalks
    • Ensure seating is comfortable
    • Add seat walls throughout the space around planters
    • Ensure seating is accessible
  • Concerns the proposed paving that includes glass and stone will be bumpy, which is difficult to traverse for people using mobility devices like a walker
  • Ensure the park is safe and there is enough separation between the park users and the road
  • Ensure good long-term park maintenance
  • Add more bike racks
In-Person Pop-Up Events

On December 9 and December 11, pop-ups took place at Wychwood Library where approximately 45 people reviewed and provided feedback on the draft design.

Feedback Summary:

  • Most respondents were satisfied with the number of trees and plantings in the design
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the amount of shade
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the amount and type of seating
  • Most respondents wanted the drinking fountain/bottle filler station to also include a water bowl for dogs
  • Most respondents liked the inclusion of the proposed feature walls
  • Most respondents were satisfied with how Indigenous placekeeping is being incorporated into the new park
  • Most respondents were satisfied with the draft design

Additional feedback included:

  • Consider adding picnic tables and more benches
  • Improve seating accessibility by providing some arm rests, back rests, and gaps between benches for people with mobility devices/strollers
  • Add chess boards to tabletops
  • Ensure seating is comfortable
  • Include more plantings and greenspace, and support biodiversity
  • Use light-coloured paving to reduce the heat island effect
  • Ensure the lights are not too bright, be aware of light pollution
  • Do not include hostile architecture

Community Engagement Phase 3: Communicating the Direction

In this phase of community engagement, the final design will be shared with the community on this page and the subscribers on the project mailing list. The project will then move into the detail design phase, where the design team will work through the technical details and develop detailed plans and drawings to be used by the construction contractor.

Engaging Indigenous Community Members

Including Indigenous placekeeping in the new park was an outcome of Phase 1 community engagement. Responding to this, Tawaw Architecture Collective were hired to join the project team to lead the Indigenous Communities Engagement process and integrate Indigenous placekeeping into the park design.

On August 2, 2023, two half-day sessions were hosted to create a Cultural Interpretation Strategy to guide and root the park design in Indigenous values and perspectives. One session took place with Na-Me-Res residents, while the other took place with Sagatay residents. The sessions began with a cultural song and prayer followed by introductions, an overview of the project, and activities. Activities included a discussion about what is special about this place, which Indigenous narratives and features participants would like to see in the park, a visual preference collaging exercise and a value identification exercise. The Cultural Interpretation Strategy, which includes a summary of these sessions will be posted here when available.

The design team then used the feedback collected through the community-wide Phase 1 engagement in 2022, and the Cultural Interpretation Strategy developed through engagement with local Indigenous community members, to develop draft design options for the park.

The draft designs were shared at two half-day sessions with Na-Me-Res and Sagatay residents on November 2, 2023. At these sessions, preferences between designs and suggestions for improvement were collected. A single draft design was selected to be shared with the wider community for further feedback and refinement. A summary of these sessions will be posted here when available.

A new 426 m2 park (about the size of a basketball court, or slightly smaller than two doubles tennis courts) is coming to a part of 32/40 Raglan Ave., near Bathurst Street, just north of St. Clair Avenue West.

This section is organized as follows:

  • Community Engagement Phase 1: Towards a Vision
  • Community Engagement Phase 2: Exploring Design Options
  • Community Engagement Phase 3: Setting the Direction

Community Engagement Phase 1: Towards a Vision

In this phase of the community engagement process, feedback was collected to develop a vision, to understand preferred features and seating styles, and to gather local knowledge to inform the design considerations for each park.

Park Vision and Design

Based on the outcomes of this phase, The vision for this new park is a green and sustainable park, with separate calm and playful spaces.

Preferred features:

  • Trees and plants
  • Play equipment
  • A mix of seating
  • Clear sightlines
  • Indigenous placekeeping

Key design considerations:

  • Concern about connection to the busy laneway and street (consider safety barriers and sightlines)
  • Provide a mix of shade and sunny spaces
  • Include accessible play structures and sensory play for people with a range of abilities

October 2022

Online Survey

From September 16 to October 9, feedback on the vision for each park was collected in an online survey. This feedback will help the project team develop a draft design for each park. The survey received 1,300 responses, which included participation from 1,629 individuals.

Feedback Summary:

  • Preferred character: green, calm, sustainable, and playful
  • Preferred features: trees and plants, places to eat, shade structure, and play equipment
  • Preferred seating styles: benches and seatwalls
In-Person Pop-Up Event

On October 7, pop-up boards were set up at two locations in the local neighbourhood to share information about the project and collect feedback on the vision for each park. Participants were asked to select their preferences for each park’s character, features, and seating options, and provide additional comments or suggestions. Approximately 100 people participated.

One of the pop-ups was outside of Na-Me-Res to encourage feedback from Indigenous community members.

Feedback Summary:

  • Preferred character: green, calm, playful, and sustainable
  • Preferred features: trees and plants, play equipment, places to eat, and shade structure
  • Preferred seating styles: picnic tables and benches

Indigenous placekeeping (Discussions with Na-Me-Res Staff):

  • Indigenous placekeeping should be included in designs, but does not have to be the same in all parks, or present in all parks (e.g., art with themes of water and fire, a fire pit)
  • Many Indigenous voices should be brought into discussions to help determine the placekeeping elements

Community Engagement Phase 2: Exploring Design Options

In this phase of the community engagement process, a draft park design will be presented to the community for feedback and revision.

Community Engagement Phase 3: Setting the Direction

In this phase of the community engagement process, a proposed design will be presented to the community for feedback and revision.