Two new parks are coming to the Etobicoke City Centre neighbourhood as a result of a mixed-use development project. One park (Park A) will be 4,054m2 (approximately the size of a baseball field and two basketball courts), and the other park (Park B) will be 2,568m2 (approximately the size of six basketball courts).

The parks will be located southeast of Shorncliffe Road and Dundas Street West, near Cloverdale Park, and will be separated by a new road that will be constructed as part of the development project.

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Park A will be constructed before Park B. Community Engagement Phase 1 will focus on both parks. Subsequently, the focus will shift to Park A for Phases 2 and 3. The timeline for Park B is still unknown and it will be revisited in the future once the developer understands the delivery timing.

Park A

  • Fall 2023: Hire a design team
  • Fall 2023: Community Engagement Phase 1
  • Fall 2024 to Summer 2025: Design development
  • Fall 2025: Hire a construction team and construction starts
  • Spring 2026: Construction complete, park opens

Park B

  • Fall 2023: Hire a design team
  • Fall 2023: Community Engagement Phase 1
  • Fall 2024 to Summer 2025: Design development

Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as an Involve project based on the International Association of 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.

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Project Advisory Groups

Community Advisory Committee

This project has a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) made up of representatives of the Etobicoke community surrounding the site. The CAC’s mandate is to provide a forum for feedback, guidance and advice to the project team at key decision points during the community engagement process. The CAC will meet approximately once per phase of the project. The CAC is not a decision-making body and does not speak on behalf of the entire community.

Indigenous Advisory Circle

This project has an Indigenous Advisory Circle (IAC) made up of representatives of the city’s Urban Indigenous population. The IAC’s goal is to inform Indigenous placemaking opportunities and provide feedback and guidance on the overall design for the new parks. The IAC will meet once per phase of the project. The IAC is not a decision-making body and does not speak on behalf of the entire community or the city’s Urban Indigenous population.

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City worked with community members, including the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and Indigenous Advisory Circle (IAC), to define an overall draft vision statement for the two new parks, including a series of guiding principles which will guide the development of design options for Park A and Park B in Community Engagement Phase 2.

Draft Vision Statement

The vision is co-created with the community to describe the ideal future park or facility. 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 near Dundas Street West and Thomas Riley Road will provide much needed green for the community, and honour Etobicoke and the city’s local Indigenous roots. The new park will be vibrant public spaces that weave together important community interests such as nature, fitness, gathering, and cultural heritage. This park will offer an inclusive and dynamic environment where community thrives, cultural roots can be learned, and natural elements are preserved.

Draft Guiding Principles

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.

Inclusive design

  • Fitness for all: add fitness areas or flexible open space and consider diverse age groups and abilities. Take inspiration from Cloverdale Park.
  • Seating variety: provide a mix of social and quiet seating options that are accessible and accommodate the diverse needs of families, older adults and youth.
  • Water elements: integrate splash pads or interactive water features that are aesthetic, practical and serve as landmarks.
  • Playground for kids: Add play structures that can be used by new families living and moving into the neighbourhood. Consider fun or educational themes for the play equipment.

Nature-centered spaces

  • Greenery and shade: prioritize planting trees for shade, reducing paving and emphasizing open green spaces for activities like Tai Chi.
  • Native and pollinator plantings: encourage biodiversity through native and pollinator-friendly plantings, considering community gardens with both decorative and functional (e.g., vegetable, medicinal) plants.
  • Natural materials: use natural materials in seating, playgrounds and other park features for durability and aesthetic harmony with the natural surroundings.

Indigenous placekeeping

  • Incorporate Indigenous placekeeping principles by integrating medicinal gardens and native plantings so the design reflects Indigenous knowledge, stories and symbols.
  • Indigenous cultural elements: embed cultural signifiers like the Medicine Wheel, traditional poems and teachings throughout the park making the experience interactive and educational.
  • Community programming: design spaces for community events like festivals so the park is a hub for community gathering and cultural exchange.

Interactive and educational play

  • Dynamic play areas: include play areas for various ages with natural materials and designs that encourage imaginative play and physical activity.
  • Educational elements: include elements that educate about local flora, fauna and cultural heritage so that play areas are also informative.

Sustainable and seasonal adaptability

  • Eco-friendly practices: use sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting for garden watering and use renewable construction materials.
  • Seasonal consideration: the park’s design should consider seasonal changes, providing shade in summer, wind protection and comfortable seating for year-round use.

Safety, accessibility and comfort

  • Lighting and pathways: ensure all pathways and program areas are well-lit and accessible for safety and easy navigation.
  • Noise reduction: add design elements to reduce noise from nearby roads.
  • Safety from roads: consider road safety, especially along Dundas Street West.

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

December 2023

Online Thought Exchange Activity

From November 8 to December 6, an online thought exchange activity collected ideas and idea ratings about the vision for the new parks.

Download the December 2023 thought exchange activity summary.

Community Advisory Committee Application (CAC)

From November 8 to December 6, community members could apply to be a member of the CAC to help develop the designs for the new parks. The CAC will meet in each phase of the community engagement process to review and discuss key project elements. Members will support the project team by providing feedback and sharing information about the project with their networks and communities.

Download the December 2023 CAC meeting summary.

October 2023

Indigenous Advisory Circle Application (IAC)

From October 13 to October 25, community members who identify as Indigenous to Canada could apply to be a member of the IAC to help develop the designs for the two new parks. The design for one of the parks will include meaningful Indigenous placekeeping.

Download the October 2023 IAC meeting summary.

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City and its design consultant will work off the outcomes of Community Engagement Phase 1 to develop two to three design options for Park A. These will be presented to the community for feedback, which will be used to develop a preferred design for this park.

The anticipated community engagement activities in this phase include:

  • An online survey
  • Two Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings
  • Two Indigenous Advisory Circles (IAC)
  •  A virtual workshop

In this phase of the community engagement process, the final design for Park A will be shared with the community, project advisory bodies and on the project webpage. The project will then move into the detail design phase, where the design team will work through the technical details and developing detailed plans and drawings to be used by the construction contractor.