Humber Bay Park offers a place for quiet refuge on Toronto’s waterfront. The Humber Bay Park Master Plan was launched in January 2016 to guide park improvements and maintenance, establish priorities and inform the budget and decision-making relating to this important Waterfront Park.
As part of the Master Plan process, architectural improvements are also being considered for the park. The Master Plan implementation and architectural improvements will happen simultaneously and will be developed in more detail as the project progresses.
Humber Bay Park is a destination park on Toronto’s western waterfront that was created through lake-filling during the 1970s and early 1980s. The parkland is owned by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and operated by the City of Toronto.
Over 43 hectares in size, the park is defined by two separate large peninsulas, Humber Bay Park East and Humber Bay Park West, bisected by Mimico Creek. The park has been loved by the community for several decades and is now showing signs of wear, tear and deterioration.
The Humber Bay Park Master Plan is a visioning tool intended to establish a design framework for future park improvements, to help define short and long-term goals, priority projects for the park and to guide the implementation of capital improvements for years to come. The ideas presented in the plan will be implemented over time. As funding becomes available and priorities are identified, individual projects will require additional study, design and community engagement before they are realized. The Master Plan is intended to be a living document that is to be updated and revised as the needs and vision for the park change over time.
The Master Plan has already helped to inform the new fishing nodes and shoreline restoration within the park. The Master Plan is also an important foundation for the current Architectural improvements being designed within Humber Bay Park East.
The vision of the Humber Bay Park Master Plan is to create a more integrated and ecologically resilient Humber Bay Park, while celebrating the unique character and setting of each area (East, West and Mimico Creek). The Master Plan intends to:
The Master Plan is a collaborative effort between the TRCA, the City of Toronto, community groups, residents, advocates and design professionals. The work spanned a two year period and was divided into a number of key phases:
After an extensive review of background documentation, meetings with City staff, the TRCA, park operations and maintenance staff and a site inventory, a series of design principles and objectives were developed to support the vision for the Master Plan.
After an extensive review of background documentation, meetings with City staff, the TRCA, park operations and maintenance staff and a site inventory, a series of design principles and objectives were developed to support the vision for the Master Plan.
The preliminary Master Plan synthesized initial concepts into what was presented to staff, public consultation as well as stakeholder and committee input for feedback and further refinement.
A high-level cost estimate was prepared for the implementation of the Master Plan. The cost estimate was divided into phases for possible implementation based on park user needs, opportunities for coordination with other improvement initiatives and funding availability.
A preferred design concept for the Park was developed based on a synthesis of the draft explorations and in response to staff, public consultation as well as stakeholder and committee input. The document includes a summary of the site analysis, design principles and guidelines and sets out recommendations for proposed improvements that support the vision for the park that was established in the earlier stages of the project.
Although the land occupied by the private boat clubs is not included in the scope of this Master Plan, a series of meetings were held with the clubs to understand their functional and operational requirements within the context of Humber Bay Park.
The document has been structured to provide guidance to both the City and TRCA to address any changes that would be required to the Master Plan to ensure it remains relevant as the needs of the city and neighbouring communities evolve. The Master Plan document is divided into 9 Chapters with the focus for each described as follows:
The architectural project includes a new parks building that is integrated with the landscape, including a revitalized wetland system and pond with improved walkways, boardwalk and bridges. These improvements will fall within the ‘East Entrance Meadow’ and the ‘Pond and Linear Wetland’ precincts of Humber Bay Park East.
The City and TRCA are working together to ensure that implementation will minimize impacts on habitat and ecology, and to promote a healthy diversity of riparian, terrestrial and avian environments. Works are scheduled for implementation in 2020-2023.
To ensure the relevance of the Master Plan to the public and local community, two Community Resource Groups were created to provide input, guidance and advice throughout the Master Planning and Architectural design process. All meetings were conducted to provide information and collect feedback and included a presentation, question-and-answer session and discussion.
A Community Resource Group (CRG) was established to represent the community, business groups and park/trail users and provide input to assist in the successful completion of the design phase of the Master Plan. Members of the CRG were selected through an open application process and includes the following member groups:
The Architectural Community Resource Group (ACRG) was selected through an open application process. The selection process was designed to include 15-20 people representing various interest groups and stakeholders in the Humber Bay Park area. A terms-of-reference specific to this group was shared to ensure the ACRG members understand their roles and responsibilities.
The ACRG represents the interests of the community, residents associations, businesses and park/trail users and provides input towards the development of a program and design features for the proposed building in Humber Bay Park East.
All applications from residents and group representatives were accepted, including those of the following local community groups:
A public information session was held in partnership with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to provide an update on the upcoming wetland revitalization, new building project and shoreline works at Humber Bay Park East.
Watch the full public information session on YouTube.
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On February 22, the Humber Bay Park Master Plan became available to the public.
On February 22, a TRCA Board Meeting was held.
On July 12, a meeting was conducted to provide information and gather feedback about the architectural component of the Humber Bay Park East Building Project.
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On December 5, this meeting was held.
On October 30, a meeting was conducted to provide information and gather feedback about the architectural component of the Humber Bay Park East Building Project.
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On August 30, a meeting was conducted to provide information and gather feedback about the architectural component of the Humber Bay Park East Building Project.
Download the meeting minutes.
On July 5, a meeting was conducted to provide information and gather feedback about the architectural component of the Humber Bay Park East Building Project.
Download the:
On April 5, a meeting was conducted to provide information and gather feedback about the architectural component of the Humber Bay Park East Building Project.
Download the meeting minutes.
On February 6, this meeting was held.
On October 26, a meeting was conducted to provide information and gather feedback about the architectural component of the Humber Bay Park East Building Project.
On September 29, the Project Team presented the preliminary results for the online survey that was conducted in May/June 2016. The feedback from this meeting was used to establish immediate and long-term objectives for the park. Applications for the Architectural Community Resource Group were available at this meeting.
On September 14, this meeting was held.
The City conducted a survey to gather feedback related to park programming and the proposed improvements. The survey was available to complete online from May 6 to June 30, 2016.
On June 15, a public meeting took place to share information about the project and gather feedback through the Master Plan process. The feedback from this meeting was used to establish immediate and long-term objectives for the park.
On June 11, a pop-up community engagement event was held during the weekly farmers market. Preliminary principles and objectives for the Master Plan were displayed and visitors were advised of upcoming public meetings.
On May 16, this meeting was held.
On April 6, this meeting was held.
On February 16, a public meeting took place to share information about the project and gather feedback through the Master Plan process. The feedback from this meeting was used to establish immediate and long-term objectives for the park.
Attend a virtual public information session to learn about the upcoming wetland revitalization and new building project, as well as the shoreline work at Humber Bay Park East.