The City of Toronto is carrying out wet weather management infrastructure work in the East Don Parkland (at the northwest corner of Sheppard Avenue East and Leslie Street) which includes the following phases of construction:
| Phase | Description | Approximate Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sewer replacement for an undersized existing sewer between Sheppard Avenue East and Leslie Street, removal of an existing concrete weir and river channel improvements. |
East side of river – mid-2021 to end 2024 West side of river – mid-2021 to mid‑2025 |
| 2 | Installation of a large underground storage tank and related sewer connections beneath the parking lot and demolition of the existing washroom building. | Mid-2025 to end 2027 |
| 3 | Construction of above-ground pump station and public washroom buildings. | 2028 to 2029 |
Construction is being carried out in phases and is expected to be completed by December 2029. The existing washroom and parking lot in East Don Parkland will be closed to the public during the construction period and will be replaced after the work is completed.
This project was developed as part of the City’s 2003 Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan and will provide essential wet weather management infrastructure. This project is also one of seven planned offline storage tank projects which are all part of the City’s 2012 Don River and Central Waterfront Class Environment Assessment. Please refer to the Don River and Central Waterfront & Connected Projects page for additional background information on both of these undertakings.
The City of Toronto shared information about the ongoing stages and progress of construction, in addition to upcoming works, and provided an opportunity for the public to ask questions. View the event presentation.
The multi-use asphalt path along the east side of the river has been reopened for public access.
Please note: there is no snow clearing and trail maintenance during winter months – all park trails are closed during the winter.
The Old Leslie Street entrance gate, the public washroom building and the parking lot will remain closed to the public until December 2029. A portable washroom unit will be kept at the Old Leslie Street site entrance for public use until the new washroom building is operational.
Please see the Construction Notice Update.
Phase 1 – Construction work on the east side of the East Don River is expected to be completed around the end of 2024. Public access to the multi-use asphalt path along the east side of the river will be restored at that time. The public washroom building, parking lot and site entrance will remain closed to the public until December 2029. A portable washroom unit will be kept at the Old Leslie Street site entrance for public use until the new washroom building is operational.
From Monday, October 30, to Friday, November 3, westbound travel on Sheppard Avenue will be reduced to a single lane from Leslie Street to Old Leslie Street for sewer work.
Please see the Construction Update Notice for work that will temporarily reduce traffic lanes on Sheppard Avenue for two weeks in early April.
Please see the revised Construction Notice to include work hours on Saturdays.
Please see the notice.
Please see the notice.
Please see the notice.
This segment of the Don River is a “non-scheduled” waterway following Transport Canada’s Canadian Navigable Waterways Act which requires a 30-day public notification and consultation on the sewer crossings, weir removal and channel improvements related to navigation. To learn about these plans, please see:
| Map | Description |
|---|---|
 |
Sewer Replacement |
 |
Forcemains and Sewer Connections |
 |
Weir Removal |
 |
Channel Improvements |
 |
Underground Tank & Pumping Station Building |
Note: This map will be updated when the relocation of the public washroom is confirmed.
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 Keith Chu at 416-397-0384 or eastdonriver@toronto.ca
The connection sewer between Sheppard Avenue and the Trunk sewer on Leslie Street needs to be replaced and increased in size to service the growing neighbourhoods.
The location and scope of the sewer replacement was combined with a similar project to construct an underground storage tank to improve the capacity in the sewer network. The removal of the concrete weir was also required and integrated into the plans. The benefit of combining these projects into a single construction program avoids future construction impacts to the park and river.
The new sewer will replace the existing undersized sewer connection located closer to the Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue intersection. This sewer replacement will extend from Sheppard Avenue through the East Don Parkland parking lot, across the East Don River to the location of the Trunk Sewer near the park trail next to Leslie Street.
The river has moved around the existing concrete weir located just east of the parking lot. The weir no longer serves its purpose to help control flows and the river has created an erosion scar along the east bank of the river. This erosion scar needs to be addressed and repaired to protect City infrastructure.
A 250 metre segment (approximate) of the river from the north-west corner of Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue East has been impacted by erosion due to high/fluctuating flows and severe storms. Improvements to this segment of the river will address erosion, reduce the risk of exposing the four new sewers and existing trunk sewer, and provide enhanced river stabilization. River stabilization will include additional trees and native plantings, vegetated boulder revetments along the river banks, and construction of alternating riffles, ribs, and shallow pools along the river bed following natural channelization design guidelines and principles.
The underground storage tank will be located below the park parking lot. To move the flows between the tank and the trunk sewer, a pumping station, two forcemain connections and a sewer connection will be built. The location of the pumping station will require the existing washroom to be demolished. It will be replaced on the south side of the parking lot near the end of the project.
Construction is anticipated to start in late 2021 and require eight to nine years to complete. It will be carried out in phases which will be provided in a construction notice to the community and will also include additional information and dates.
Please sign up to receive Construction Notices and updates by email eastdonriver@toronto.ca
An open-cut construction method will expose sections of the river bed to allow the sewer lines to be installed across the river. This is a common practice used internationally and locally.
The river will continue to flow and be diverted around the open-cut sections. Both upstream and downstream of the work site, pea gravel bags will direct the water flows around temporary cofferdams. These temporary cofferdams will be built with sheet piles inserted about four metres deep and extend two metres above the river bed. The temporary cofferdams and pea gravel bags will be removed after the sewer connections are installed.
Pre-construction and construction notices will be sent to the community and include further details such as:
Please sign up to receive Construction Notices and updates by email eastdonriver@toronto.ca
Construction will be impacting local trails and trail accesses intermittently throughout the construction schedule. This webpage tab will be updated as construction changes. Thank you for your patience.
The multi-use asphalt path along the east side of the river has been reopened for public access.
Please note: there is no snow clearing and trail maintenance during winter months – all park trails are closed during the winter.
The Old Leslie Street entrance gate, the public washroom building and the parking lot will remain closed to the public until December 2029. A portable washroom unit will be kept at the Old Leslie Street site entrance for public use until the new washroom building is operational.
Phase 1 construction work on the east side of the East Don River is expected to be completed around the end of 2024. Public access to the multi-use asphalt path along the east side of the river will be restored at that time. The public washroom building, parking lot and site entrance will remain closed to the public until December 2029. Two portable washroom units will be kept at the Old Leslie Street site entrance for public use until the new washroom building is operational.
Closed Access to Trails:
Open Access to Trails: