Toronto Island Park has long been a place of cultural and ecological significance. For thousands of years, it has been a site of healing, ceremony and gathering for the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous communities. Today, it remains a cherished public space and one of Toronto’s most beloved parks.
Following City Council’s adoption of the Toronto Island Park Plan in July 2024, the City is moving forward with projects to enhance and protect the park over time, guided by the plan’s long-term vision.
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 Netami Stuart at 416-338-5901.
Take the online survey to help inform future improvements to Bike Share on Toronto Island Park.
Sign up for or unsubscribe from updates related to Toronto Island Park Projects.
After the Toronto Island Park Plan was adopted in 2024, City Council directed City staff to continue engaging key audiences on the implementation by forming working groups that meet regularly.
These groups bring together people with local knowledge and experience to work with City staff, explore issues and provide advice on projects identified in the Toronto Island Park Plan and on the overall management of Toronto Island Park.
In addition to the establishment of the three working groups, the City will continue to seek input from the broader public as new projects on Toronto Island are launched.
Meeting notes and presentation materials will be posted in this section after each working group meets.
The Hanlan’s Point Beach Working Group was formed to provide advice on projects and priorities relevant to 2SLGBTQ+ communities, both at Hanlan’s Point and across the Toronto Islands. The group includes about 20 members, made up of individuals with diverse backgrounds and connections to Hanlan’s Point Beach, as well as representatives from organizations that reflect broader communities.
The Indigenous Advisory Circle will reflect a diversity of Indigenous voices, perspectives, and interests in Toronto Island Park. Its structure, membership and guiding protocols will be shaped by the advice and interests of First Nations. The work of this group is a step toward shared decision-making and co-management of Toronto Island Park spaces.
The Toronto Island Park Working Group brings together a wide range of voices, including island residents, waterfront users, city-wide organizations, local businesses and advocacy groups. It also includes members selected through a civic lottery to ensure participation from underserved and underrepresented communities. The group provides input across all the goals of the Toronto Island Park Plan.
Over the next 25+ years, improvements will be introduced to Toronto Island Park through a phased approach. Projects will be developed in consultation with the working groups.
This section includes projects that are in early planning, design or implementation for 2025 and 2026. Projects will be added as they move forward. Not all projects identified in the Toronto Island Park Plan will appear here at once.
Over the winter and spring of 2024-2025, in response to direction from City Council, the City made significant changes to the landscape and access points to the Clothing-Optional Beach at Hanlan’s Point. These improvements aim to restore the area’s ecology and preserve the history and culture of Hanlan’s Point Beach and its surroundings.
Beach Road was realigned to provide beach access routes closer to the ferry landing.
Range fencing was installed to protect dunes by managing access points.
60 new bike racks were installed, providing parking for up to 240 bicycles.
Approximately 20,000 m2 of re-naturalization planting will be completed in spring and fall 2025.
A new Pride flagpole was installed at the north end of the beach.
The lifeguard station was relocated to Beach Access #3, and a new lifeguard shed was installed.
New signage was installed for beach access and trail closures. Canada’s first Pride heritage plaque was installed, along with Rainbow Road recognition signs provided by Friends of Hanlan’s and Pride Toronto.
Zones were installed 200 metres from the beach by Ports Toronto. An online Motorized watercraft exclusion zone survey is collecting feedback until September 30, 2025.
As part of ongoing efforts to improve access and support sustainability, a Bike Share pilot launched on Toronto Island Park in May 2025 and will run through September 2025. This pilot offers a convenient, eco-friendly way for visitors to get around and enjoy the park.
The City and Bike Share Toronto welcome feedback on the pilot. Questions, concerns, and general input can be sent to customerservice@bikesharetoronto.com. All feedback will help inform future planning for active transportation on Toronto Island.
A summary report, including key findings and community input, will be posted after the pilot is completed.
In late 2024, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), in partnership with the City, completed the Environmental Study Report for the Toronto Island Park Flood and Erosion Mitigation Class Environmental Assessment.
The next step is to begin detailed design, coordinated with and in support of the Toronto Island Park Plan. High-level updates will be posted on this page, with full project details available on TRCA’s Toronto Island Park Flood and Erosion Mitigation.
In 2025, the City will hire a landscape architect to develop design plans for servicing needs at Hanlan’s Breach. This includes lighting, water sources, planting, fencing, trail alignments and exterior landscape of Mermaid Café. The goal is to create an organized, safe and beautiful landscape along the approach to the beach.
In summer 2025, the City will engage consultants to develop conceptual and schematic designs, along with cost estimates, for the three Island-side ferry landings at Hanlan’s Point, Centre Island and Ward’s Island.
This work will help the City plan and budget for future design development and construction. The schematic design phase is expected to be completed by fall 2026
In 2025, the City will begin the hiring process for a transportation and movement study for Toronto Island. The study will help guide future upgrades to roads and paths, access to natural areas, docking needs for public vessels (such as water taxis and the seabus), Bike Share locations, on-island vehicles and parking, and City fleet vehicles.
The study is expected to be completed by winter 2026.
In 2025, the City will begin the hiring process for an interpretive planning consultant with Indigenous design leadership. The consultant will lead a collaborative process to help articulate stories, identify cultural and natural heritage features, and set priorities for interpretation and site-specific approaches to interpretive media.
This process will result in the design of the first phase of interpretive assets. The project is expected to be completed by spring 2027.
The Toronto Island Plan includes recommendations to guide improvements over the next 25 years. These recommendations are organized under six goals that work together to address the complexity and opportunities for Toronto Island Park. Each goal is supported by strategies and actions that provide a clear roadmap for investment, partnership, engagement, and other steps needed to achieve the Plan’s long-term vision.
Download the:
The Toronto Island Park Plan was co-created with Indigenous rights holders, local communities and the public through a series of engagement activities held between 2021 and 2024. In total, more than 4,500 people participated in activities such as Indigenous engagement and placekeeping meetings, virtual and in-person events, stakeholder discussions and a youth ambassador program.
The following provides a high-level overview of the engagement process.
To help shape the early stages of the Plan, the City held pre-engagement focus groups and interviews with Indigenous communities, local organizations, City divisions and partner agencies. These conversations helped build a preliminary understanding of key issues, existing conditions and opportunities on the Toronto Island
The pre-engagement phase also included a Public Life Study, which looked at how the Island is used, and a storytelling project that invited residents and visitors to share their personal connections to the Island.
These early activities introduced the project and helped shape how communities wanted to be involved throughout the planning process.
Download the:
This phase focused on developing a shared vision, values and guiding principles to inform the Plan. The What We Heard Summary Report brings together key insights and outcomes from all engagement activities and tools used during this phase.
Download the Phase 1 What We Heard Summary, Toronto Island Park Plan.
This phase built on the collective vision, values and guiding principles developed in Phase 1 to identify Big Ideas and develop a Draft Demonstration Plan. The What We Heard Summary Report summarizes the insights and outcomes from all engagement activities and tools used during this phase.
Download the:
This phase focused on confirming the direction of the Plan by refining the Demonstration Plan, shaping site-specific approaches, and identifying priorities for implementation.
Download the: