Three planned parks, including two new parks and one park expansion, are coming to the Taxiway West District, adding 1.43 hectares (about the size of two soccer fields) of new parkland. A new 6,000 m2 park – roughly the size of a soccer field – will be located at the south end of the district. Another new park, 5,300 m2 in size – about the size of a baseball diamond and four basketball courts – will be centrally located. Additionally, Robert Leek Memorial Park will be expanded by 2,984 m2, creating a direct connection to Ancaster Road and Powell Road.
Community engagement for the park at Garratt Boulevard and Gilley Road will launch in summer 2025, with engagement for the other parks to follow at a later date.
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The timeline is subject to change.
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This project has been classified as a Consult project based on the International Association of Public Participation Spectrum. This means we invite ideas and aspirations for the park’s character, design and features and obtain public feedback on design options.
In this phase, the City worked with the community to develop a vision statement and guiding principles for the new park at Garratt Boulevard and Gilley Road. These outcomes will help inform the development of design options in Community Engagement Phase 2.
In addition to feedback collected through community engagement, the park design process will build on the Facilities Plan, the Downsview Community Development Plan and the district’s focus on sustainability and green infrastructure. The outcome will be a park with the following amenities:
In this phase, the community identified which priorities from the Downsview Community Development Plan are most important to shape the design of the new park. Using this feedback, a draft vision statement and guiding principles were developed.
The vision is co-created with the community to describe the ideal future park. It is a big-picture statement that should inspire everyone toward a common understanding of the project’s overall goals and objectives.
The new park at Garratt Boulevard and Gilley Road will be a vibrant and inclusive green space that brings people of all ages and abilities together to relax, play and connect with nature. It will prioritize biodiversity and climate resilience and heat mitigation, while considering ways to reflect the area’s unique aviation history through design and storytelling.
The guiding principles are high-level directions that reflect the community’s most important values and ideas for how the park should look and feel. They help to clarify the vision statement and guide how the park should be designed by describing the desired outcomes. The draft guiding principles for the new park are as follows.
Create welcoming spaces for all ages and abilities, with accessible walking paths, inclusive play areas and communal seating for rest and recreation.
Use diverse native and pollinator-friendly plants to promote biodiversity and connect people with the natural environment.
Incorporate ample shade trees, green plantings and cooling design strategies to create a pleasant space in all seasons and reduce heat islands.
Celebrate the area’s history through the park’s visual identity, storytelling elements, and interpretive signage that connects visitors to the site’s past.
Design the park as a community hub where nature, comfort, and shared experiences come together to support daily use, reflection, and gathering.
From May 2 to 16, an online survey collected feedback on the community’s vision for the new park at Garratt Boulevard and Gilley Road.
The priorities from the Downsview Community Development Plan for this park were:
84 per cent of respondents prioritized “creating green spaces that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities”. Preferred features:
56 per cent prioritized “supporting biodiversity efforts that protect nature”. Preferred features:
55 per cent prioritized “considering heat mitigation strategies and ways to keep the park and neighbourhood cool”. Preferred features:
35 per cent prioritized “recognizing the area’s history”. Preferred features:
Respondents ranked the following histories as most important to recognize in this new park:
17 per cent prioritized “incorporating Indigenous design principles”. Preferred features:
Preferred park activities:
Preferred seating:
Preferred play equipment:
Additional comments:
In this phase, the City and its design consultant will work off the outcomes of Community Engagement Phase 1 to develop two design options for the new park. These designs will be presented to the community for feedback and will be used to develop a preferred design.
The community engagement events anticipated in this phase include:
In this phase, the City will share the preferred design on this page and with the subscribers on the project mailing list. The project will then move into the detailed design phase, where the design team will finalize the design by working through the technical details and developing detailed plans and drawings for the construction contractor.
The anticipated outcome of this phase is a refined preferred design for the park.
The Taxiway West District is a 40.7-hectare (101-acre) area bordered by the GO Train railway line to the west, adjacent to the future Taxiway East District. The district has a rich aviation history and currently includes former Bombardier hangar buildings, a section of the former airport taxiway, office buildings and a large parking lot.
The vision for Taxiway West focuses on job creation, new housing, a walkable and connected public realm, vibrant public spaces, and sustainability. As part of the Downsview Secondary Plan, the district will integrate green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to manage stormwater. This approach will enhance climate resilience and support a sustainable, long-term future for the community.
New development in Downsview will feature an innovative, decentralized stormwater management system. This system uses nature-based solutions to temporarily hold rainwater, filter it through the soil and reduce how much enters the sewer system. This helps manage water that would otherwise flow directly into storm pipes and downstream, where it could lead to flooding and damage.
Part of this system will be in the new park at Garratt Boulevard and Gilley Road. This area will include floodable recreational features and green infrastructure, such as a basketball court and a rain garden, that are designed to safely flood and drain following major rainstorms.
The stormwater management system in the district is interconnected.